Omicron Delta Epsilon @ MU

(Pictured above - ODE Class of 2019: Liam Bellew, Justin Creighton, Nicholas Armstrong, and Jacqueline Buck) 

 

Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society

Omicron Delta Epsilon is one of the world's largest academic honor societies. The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon are recognition of scholastic attainment and the honoring of outstanding achievements in economics; the establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics within colleges and universities, and among colleges and universities; the publication of its official journal, The American Economist , and sponsoring of panels at professional meetings as well as the Irving Fisher and Frank W. Taussig competitions.

Currently, Omicron Delta Epsilon has 578 chapters located in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Egypt, France, and United Arab Emirates. With such a broad, international base, chapter activities vary widely, ranging from invited speakers, group discussions, dinners, meetings, etc., to special projects such as review sessions and tutoring for students in economics. Omicron Delta Epsilon plays a prominent role in the annual Honors Day celebrations at many colleges and universities.

History of Ο Δ Ε

Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the worlds largest academic honor societies, was created in 1963 through the merger of two honor societies, Omicron Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon. At the time of their merger, both societies had 28 chapters. Omicron Delta Gamma's chapters were primarily in the Midwestern and Pacific states while the chapters of Omicron Chi Epsilon were concentrated at Colleges and Universities along the Eastern Seaboard and in Texas.

Omicron Delta Gamma (The Order of Artus) was founded in 1915 by John R. Commons, University of Wisconsin and Frank Taussig, Harvard University through the union of the economics societies of their Universities. The intent of the society was the encouragement of a closer academic and social relationship between honor students and faculty on an informal basis, facilitating the exchange of information and views.

Omicron Chi Epsilon was the younger of the two organizations but of equal chapter strength at the time of the merger, having been founded in 1955 by Alan A. Brown while he was a student at City College of New York. From its inception, the Society sought to provide means not only to confer suitable honors on the more promising students but also to encourage scholarship by organized meetings at conferences and through the publication of its official journal.

Omicron Delta Epsilon Student Awards

To implement its objectives, Omicron Delta Epsilon sponsors the John R. Commons Award and two international competitive awards, the Irving Fisher Award and the Frank Taussig Award for ODE members, graduate, and undergraduate students, respectively. Also, each year there is recognition for acting leadership roles in local chapters in the Outstanding Student Awards. Chapters can apply for grants of up to $1500 for innovative programs.

The Frank W. Taussig Article Award is a competitive award bestowed upon the undergraduate or recent graduate in economics submitting the best article in any year. (Economics refers to both theoretical and applied economics, and students writing papers in agricultural economics or other areas of applied economics are eligible for the award as long as there is an Omicron Delta Epsilon chapter on their campus and they are members thereof.)

Who is Eligible - Anyone satisfying one of the following 3 criteria: (1) Any undergraduate student in a school with an Omicron Delta Epsilon chapter; (2) Any student who received a bachelor's degree from such a school not more than two years prior to entering the competition, and (3) Any member of Omicron Delta Epsilon who received a bachelor's degree from any school not more than two years prior to entering the competitions.

Eligible Entries - Articles may be on any topic in economics. Entries of up to 5,000 words are preferred, but up to 10,000 words are acceptable.

Nature of Award - The Frank W. Taussig Award consists of a cash prize of $1000 and publication in The American Economist. In addition, the chapter submitting the winning entry receives $200.

Procedure for Participation - Submit three copies of your entry to the Selection Committee in your department. If no Committee exists in your department, submit entry with supporting letters from two faculty members to the Chairman of the Fisher/Taussig Competitions. Electronic submissions are preferred.

Deadline - August 1 of each year.

Selection Process - One or more entries judged to be of superior quality in department competitions will be forwarded to the International Editorial Board. All entries judged to be of superior quality by this board will be entered in the final competition and will be judged by the Final Selection Board.

Award Announcement - The winner is determined December 15 each year, and is announced at the ASSA meetings in January and is published on the ODE website.

More Information - For more information, write Dr. Mary Ellen Benedict, Vice President for Competitions, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403.

2007 Frank W. Taussig Award Recipient:

Patricia (Grieggs) Selim (Class 2007)