Department of Economics
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Butte Hall, Room 603
econ@csuchico.edu
530-898-6141

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Economics Department
400 W. First St.
Chico, CA 95929–0430

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Omicron Delta Epsilon (ΟΔΕ)

Rho Chapter of California

International Honor Society in Economics
(See Objectives, History & Additional ΟΔΕ Information)

Omicron Delta Epsilon is an international honor society in Economics for all Economics majors and minors. The society's objectives are recognition of scholastic attainment, honoring outstanding achievements in economics and the establishment of closer ties between students and faculty in economics.

Membership includes a membership card and scroll, and a year's subscription to the society's official journal, The American Economist. The journal provides an outlet for essays and papers of merit written by graduate and undergraduate students, and it serves as a means to acquaint young economists with current developments in pure and applied economics.

Membership in this organization will look good on your resume! The fee is $30.00. Minimum requirements for undergraduate admission are:

  • completion of 12 semester hours of economics courses;
  • attainment of at least a "B" average in economics courses;
  • an overall "B" average GPA in all classes.

If you are interested in joining ΟΔΕ, please contact Anita Chaudhry by mid December of any given year. Office: Butte 649B   Tel: 898-5494, or email: achaudhry@csuchico.edu, or contact the Economics Department Office in Butte Hall 603 (898-6141).

Objectives:

The objectives of Omicron Delta Epsilon are:

  • the 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
  • the sponsoring of panels at professional meetings as well as the Irving Fisher and Frank W. Taussig competitions.

History:

Omicron Delta Epsilon, one of the world's largest academic honor societies, was created through the merger of two honor societies, Omicron Delta Gamma and Omicron Chi Epsilon.

  • Omicron Delta Gamma (The Order of Artus) was founded in 1915 by John R. Commons, University of Wisconsin, and Frank Taussig, Harvard University.
  • Omicron Chi Epsilon was founded in 1955 by Alan A. Brown while he was a student at the City College of New York.

Omicron Delta Epsilon has over 578 chapters located in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Egypt, and France.

Activities:

Chapter activities vary widely, ranging from invited speakers, group discussions, dinners, meetings, and field trips to special projects such as review sessions and tutoring for students in economics.

Awards:

  • The Irving Fisher Graduate Article Award, pays $500 and provides an opportunity for publication in The American Economist.
  • The Frank W. Taussig Undergraduate Article Award, pays $500 to the winner and $200 to the winner's ODE chapter, with the opportunity to publish in The American Economist.
  • The Outstanding Student Awards provide recognition to students who assume active leadership roles in their ODE chapters.
  • Grants of up to $500 are available to ODE chapters to develop innovative programs that promote a closer relationship between and among students and faculty in economics.
  • Biennially, Omicron Delta Epsilon grants the John R. Commons Award to an outstanding economist in recognition of his or her achievements and service both to the economics profession and to Omicron Delta Epsilon.

No one shall be denied membership because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin.

A life-membership fee is paid by each prospective member of Omicron Delta Epsilon upon election to the Society. In return, the member receives a membership card, scroll, and a year's subscription (two issues) to The American Economist. The purchase of the official key or pin by the initiates is optional but highly encouraged.