Alpha Epsilon Rho () is an international scholastic

honor society In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...

recognizing academic achievement among students in the field of

electronic media Electronic media are media that use electronics or electromechanical means for the audience to access the content. This is in contrast to static media (mainly print media), which today are most often created digitally, but do not require ele ...

(including web/internet technologies, broadcasting, mass communication, radio, television, cable, and/or film). The honor society is managed as part of the larger Broadcast Education Association (BEA).

History

Stephens College Stephens College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Timeline of women's colleges in the United States#First and oldest, the second-oldest women's educa ...

students interested in radio technology formed a recognition group called Beta Epsilon Phi on December 1, 1941. With an interest in national expansion, the group reached out to similarly inclined students at other institutions, including representatives from

Syracuse University Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...

and the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

. A series of meetings were held at the Institute for Education by Radio, in Columbus, Ohio, resulting in the creation of a new national organization. The new national organization adopted the name Alpha Epsilon Rho on April 30, 1943, which is considered its founding date. On April 13, 1947, radio station at Syracuse University began regularly scheduled broadcasts on the FM band using the call sign letters of

WAER WAER (88.3 FM) is a radio station in Syracuse, New York. It is located on the campus of Syracuse University, and is a part of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The station features a jazz music and National Public Radio form ...

(W Alpha Epsilon Rho). In 1975, the organization became a part of the

National Electrical Manufacturers Association The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is the largest trade association of electrical equipment manufacturers in the United States. Founded in 1926, it advocates for the industry and publishes standards for electrical product ...

, changing its name to The National Broadcasting Society - Alpha Epsilon Rho (NBS-AERho), indicating its change from a recognition society into a professional society. In 1977, it had 56 active chapters and 11,600 initiated members. As a unit of the National Broadcasting Society (NBS), Alpha Epsilon Rho would later become an honor society. Alpha Epsilon Rho was admitted to the

Association of College Honor Societies The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a voluntary association of national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. It was established on December 30, 1925 by six organizations: Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi B ...

in 2009. In 2011, it had 83 active chapters and 41,043 members. Alpha Epsilon Rho became affiliated with

Broadcast Education Association The Broadcast Education Association (BEA) is an international academic organization originating and operating mainly out of the United States. The BEA is devoted to multimedia research and teaching, and retains the historical purpose to prepare col ...

(BEA) on May 1, 2023.

Symbols

The society's colors are red and green, symbolizing courageous ambition and growth.Robson, John, ed. (1963). ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities'' (17th ed.). Menasha, Wisconsin: The Collegiate Press, George Banta Company, Inc. pp. 640-641. Later, this was updated to red representing energy and courage, with green symbolizing faithfulness and integrity. There is graduation regalia for students. Its badge was in the shape of a microphone with seed pearls along either side, with the Greek letters across the top. Its emblem combined a stylized single-sprocket film cell, a poly-directional microphone, and the front turret of a three-lens camera into a symbol that was on top of a stylized motion picture film frame. The society's creed is:

To bind together, in a fraternal and professional bond, men and women dedicated to the future, the development, and the profession of the field of electronic media. To make responsibility our action, achievement our goal, and excellence our ideal, realizing that the trust placed within us, with our profession, can change the destiny of the world.

Activities

Alpha Epsilon Rho hosts an annual convention for students and professionals. Chapters sponsor speakers and go on field trips.

Chapters

Alpha Epsilon Tau had chartered more than 89 chapters. Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. ''Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20th edition.'' Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991, p. V67–V68''.''

Membership

Potential members must be in the top third of their college class and have a

GPA Grading in education is the application of standardized measurements to evaluate different levels of student achievement in a course. Grades can be expressed as letters (usually A to F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), percentages, or as num ...

of 3.25 overall and in electronic media courses.

Notable members

Brian Jude Brian Jude is an American screenwriter, film producer, director, actor, internet radio host and motivational speaker. Early life and education Brian Jude was born on August 21, 1971, in Long Branch, New Jersey and grew up in Howell Township ...

, screenwriter * Dennis Stapleton,

Ohio House of Representatives The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate. The House of Representatives first met in ...

* Bobbie Wygant, television news reporter and interviewer * Antonio Zarro, director and actor

References

{{authority control Association of College Honor Societies Honor societies Student organizations established in 1943 1943 establishments in Missouri Stephens College History of Columbia, Missouri