Editing Upsilon Pi Epsilon

{{Short description|International honor society for computing and Information}}
{{Infobox fraternity
| name = Upsilon Pi Epsilon
| letters = {{lang|grc|ΥΠΕ}}
| coat of arms = UPE Logo.png
| image_size = 120px
| alt = 
| caption = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|1967|01|10}}
| birthplace = [[Texas A&M University]]
| affiliation = ACHS
| status = Active
| type = Honor
| emphasis = Computing and Information Disciplines
| scope = International
| mission = 
| vision = 
| object = 
| motto = <!-- or | mottos = -->
| slogan = 
| colors = {{color box|#800000}} [[Maroon]] and {{color box|#FFFFFF}} [[White]]
| symbol = [[Abacus]]
| flower = <!-- use [[ and ]] around the flower -->
| jewel = <!-- use [[ and ]] around the jewel, if any-->
| publication = ''UPE NewsBrief''
| chapters = 270+
| members = <!--This is the number of active members (optional).-->
| lifetime = 229,800+
| nickname = UPE
| free1 = 
| free_label1 = 
| free2 = 
| free_label2 = 
| address = 158 Wetlands Edge Road
| city = [[American Canyon, California|American Canyon]]
| state = [[California]]
| ZIP code = 94503
| country = United States
| website = {{url|http://upe.acm.org/}}
| footnotes = 
}}
'''Upsilon Pi Epsilon''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΥΠΕ}}''') is the first [[honor society]] dedicated to the computing and information disciplines. Informally known as '''UPE''', Upsilon Pi Epsilon was founded in 1967, at [[Texas A&M University]]. It has more than 300 chapters worldwide. 

== About ==
Upsilon Pi Epsilon was established at [[Texas A&M University]] in January 1967 as an honor society for computer information.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=1974-03-24 |title=New Frat at MSU |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-new-frat-at-msu/151517334/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=Clarion-Ledger |location=Jackson, Mississippi |pages=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2003-04-17 |title=Cooper Accepted in Upsilon Pi Epsilon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-clarke-county-tribune-cooper-accepte/151518140/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The Clarke County Tribune |location=Quitman, Mississippi |pages=9 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2012 |title=Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society- Computing and Information Disciplines |url=http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=upe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414194222/http://www.achsnatl.org/society.asp?society=upe |archive-date=2012-04-14 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Association of College Honor Society}}</ref> It was founded with 22 original members.<ref name=":0" /> Dr. Dan Drew, head of the university's Department of Computer Science, was the society's advisor and, later, its national president.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=1969-12-09 |title=24 at University Become Members of Honor Society |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-24-at-university-beco/151518492/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=Centre Daily Times |location=State College, Pennsylvania |pages=19 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 

The purpose of Upsilon Pi Epsilon was "the promotion of high scholarship and original investigation in the field of computer science and the advancement of the art and profession of computer science and related endeavors."<ref name=":2" /> It al recognized talent and sought to maintain high standards in the field.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=1974-10-30 |title=Computer Group Formed at UW-L First in Area |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-computer-group-for/151519462/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |work=The La Crosse Tribune |location=La Crosse, Wisconsin |pages=7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It was the first society developed for computer science in the United States.<ref name=":3" />

A second chapter, ''Alpha of Pennsylvania'', was formed at [[Pennsylvania State University]] in December 1969.<ref name=":2" /> The group expanded to other colleges in the United States and abroad, becoming the first international honor society for the computer and information disciplines.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

Upsilon Pi Epsilon became a member of the [[Association of College Honor Societies]] in 1997.<ref name=":4" /> Upsilon Pi Epsilon is endorsed by the [[Association for Computing Machinery]] and the [[Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers]] Computer Society (IEEE-CS).<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Upsilon Pi Epsilon |url=https://upe.acm.org/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> It was also a founding member of the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies.<ref name=":5" />

In 2012, Upsilon Pi Epsilon had 247 active collegiate chapters and 235 active alumni chapters.<ref name=":4" /> That same year, its annual initiations totaled 2,138 and its total membership was 229,800.<ref name=":4" />

== Symbols ==
The Greek name Upsilon Pi Epsilon was selected for the first letters of the Greek words for computer, information, and science.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academic Honor Societies |url=https://www.wtamu.edu/academics/college-business/academics/academic-honor-societies.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=West Texas A&M University}}</ref>

The UPE emblem or key features three symbols that are important historically to the computing and information disciplines: the zero, the one, and the abacus.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Teixeira |first=Damaris R. |date=March 18, 2019 |title=JWU Chartered and Inducted into Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society |url=https://www.jwu.edu/news/2019/03/jwu-chartered-and-inducted-into-upsilon-pi-epsilon-honor-society.html |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Johnson & Wales University |language=en}}</ref> The numbers are arranged as eleven binary bits. During the society's initiation ceremony, inductees sit in front of a table that features nine lit candles and two unlit candles that are arranged as the eleven binary bits of its key.<ref name=":6" />

The colors of Upsilon Pi Epsilon are maroon and white.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Distinctive Honors - Commencement |url=https://commencement.richmond.edu/main/distinctive-honors.html |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=University of Richmond |language=en}}</ref> Its symbol is the [[abacus]]. Its quarterly publication is the ''UPE NewsBrief''.<ref name=":4" />

== Activities ==
Upsilon Pi Epsilon holds an annual convention.<ref name=":4" /> The society gives out several scholarships for its members and those who are active student members.<ref name=":4" /> It also cosponsors the [[International Collegiate Programming Contest]] with the [[Association for Computing Machinery|Association of Computing Machinery]].<ref name=":4" /> 

== Membership ==
Membership is available to undergraduate and graduate students in computer science who have a high [[grade point average]].<ref name=":0" /> Eligible undergraduates must complete 48 credits, rank in the upper third of their class, and have a 3.25 GPA overall.<ref name=":4" /> Graduate students must have completed 15 units of graduate coursework in computing and must be in the top third of their class.<ref name=":4" /> Alumni who majored in computer science can also be offered membership into the fraternity, along with faculty members.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Faculty must have taught in field for one year.<ref name=":4" /> Membership in UPE is lifetime.

== Chapters ==
{{Main|List of Upsilon Pi Epsilon chapters}}Upsilon Pi Epsilon has more than 300 chapters in the United States and overseas.<ref name=":5" />

== Notable members ==

* [[Thomas G. Dietterich]], [[emeritus professor]] of [[computer science]] at [[Oregon State University]] and a pioneer of the field of [[machine learning]]
* [[Devin Gaines]], student at the [[University of Connecticut]] who earned five [[Bachelor's degree|bachelor's degrees]] simultaneously 
* [[Timothy P. McNamara]], psychologist and the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Chair in social and natural sciences at [[Vanderbilt University]]
* [[Joseph Monroe (computer scientist)|Joseph Monroe]], computer scientist and academic
* [[Andrea Grimes Parker]], computer scientist and professor at [[Georgia Tech]]
* [[Bryan Simonaire]],  [[Maryland Senate|Maryland state senator]] 
* [[Angela Y. Wu]], computer scientist and a professor emerita at [[American University]]

==See also==

* [[Honor cords]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://upe.acm.org UPE Homepage]

{{Association of College Honor Societies}}
{{Association for Computing Machinery}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Association of College Honor Societies]]
[[Category:Student organizations established in 1967]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Engineering honor societies]]