Student Organizations
Student organizations provide an excellent opportunity to supplement classroom education through contact with faculty, practicing engineers and fellow students.
AEI is a nationally affiliated technical organization new to CEES here at the University of Oklahoma. The AEI student chapter was founded in 2006 by interested architectural and civil engineering students.
The purpose of AEI is to promote and disseminate knowledge regarding the profession of architectural engineering through study, research, and discussion. AEI also provides the opportunity for interaction between students and professionals in the field through sponsored site tours, seminars and social events.
All students interested in architectural engineering are welcome to attend all gatherings and are encouraged to become a member. For additional information, contact a student officer or the Student Chapter Faculty Advisor, Dr. Jeffery Volz, at volz AT ou.edu.
ASCE has established over 125 chapters in U.S. engineering colleges. The parent society keeps in touch with students and engineering education through these student chapters. Membership in the student chapter is open to all undergraduate and graduate CEES students.
ASCE meets each month, usually in the evening, and hosts speakers from the practice of engineering. In addition, they sponsor field trips, attend national, regional and local meetings of the parent organization, and coordinate the College of Engineering Open House. For additional information, contact a student officer in the ASCE office or the Student Chapter Faculty Advisor, Dr. Chris Ramseyer, at ramseyer AT ou.edu.
Chi Epsilon is the Civil Engineering Honor Society. It recognizes outstanding student achievements and promotes development of characteristics for a successful engineering career. The University of Oklahoma Chapter is part of a network of more than 60 chapters formed since the organization was founded at the University of Illinois in 1922. Membership in Chi Epsilon conveys both an honor and an obligation. Consideration for membership in Chi Epsilon requires junior status or higher with a grade point average equal to or greater than 3.00 at the University of Oklahoma. For more information, contact the Chapter Faculty Advisor, Dr. Scott Harvey, at harvey AT ou.edu.
ESSA was established in 1992 and is an independent organization of undergraduate environmental science students. Its major purpose is to invite speakers from academia, government, and industry to provide both technical perspectives on environmental problems, and career guidance. In addition, it provides networking opportunities for environmental science students, who usually do not take ES classes until their junior year, and consequently often don't meet their peers until the third year of the program. Other activities include placement of newspaper recycling bins in Carson Engineering Center, organization of the first Environmental Fair at a local mall to bring current environmental issues to area residents, and field trips to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality laboratories. For more information, contact the Chapter Faculty Advisor, Dr. Robert Nairn at nairn AT ou.edu.
E- Club fosters the high ideals of the engineering profession, stimulates interest in school and college activities and develops professional awareness and leadership qualities. Activities of the Engineers' Club include organization of OU Engineers' Week activities and Engineering Open House.
The University of Oklahoma recently expanded the student organization “Engineers Without Borders” to “Sooners Without Borders.” The move was made to develop the organization into a campus wide group and invite involvement of all disciplines. In February, SWB, along with the Center for Social Justice and the University of Oklahoma Women’s and Gender Studies Program, hosted a talk by 2007 CNN Hero Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe. Nyirumbe spoke to students, faculty and members of the Norman community about her work at the St. Monica Girls Tailoring School in Gulu, Uganda. The purpose of the school is to give shelter to girls and women who were abducted and raped by members of the Lord’s Resistance Army.
The LRA, a once-popular rebel group in northern Uganda, has lost support over the last 21 years of war due to its infamous policy of abducting children and forcing them into servitude as soldiers and “wives.” As a result, these young women are shunned by their families and communities and many now have children. The St. Monica Girls Tailoring School empowers women and teaches them the skills necessary to make a living for themselves and their children as well as providing needed psychological and medical assistance.
To get involved with Sooners Without Borders, E-mail swb AT ou.edu.
