# Epsilon Tau Pi

Epsilon Tau Pi (ΕΤΠ) Fraternity was founded in 1999 at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Its objective is to provide a collegiate fraternity for Eagle Scouts at universities and colleges in the United States.

## History

Epsilon Tau Pi fraternity was founded by Michael Hammes and Michael A. Mahon, who, with six other students at the University of Dayton, became the founding members of the Alpha chapter. All eight were experienced Eagle Scouts, which became the focus of the new organization. This group of eight formally commenced operation of Alpha chapter on April 28, 1999; This date is celebrated by the fraternity as its national Founder's Day.
In 2001, the Alpha chapter authorized the formation of a 5-member national executive board. The board serves to support and bolster the expansion of the fraternity, as well as to support existing collegiate chapters.
In 2003 the fraternity began to hold biennial convocations, where alumni and collegiate members alike could meet and conduct fraternity business. Officers and alumni delegates to the national executive board are elected at the convocation.
The fraternity was incorporated in the State of Ohio on January 21, 2006.
The Epsilon Tau Pi Foundation, a charitable and educational 501(c)3 organization, was registered on December 19, 2011, to provide scholarship assistance.
While not a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, Epsilon Tau Pi has aspects of both an honor society and service fraternity and is characterized by regular projects undertaken for the local communities where chapters are present.

## Purpose

The fraternity was formed with several goals in mind. Foremost, the fraternity dedicated itself to upholding the high ideals of Scouting's Eagle rank. The fraternity enables its members to participate in and promote service to others, to Scouting, the community, their university, and the fraternity itself. Members of the fraternity must maintain strict academic standards, in addition to participation in individual, group, and chapter-wide service projects.
Epsilon Tau Pi was formed for five different purposes.
* To create a brotherhood of Eagle Scouts.
* To serve Scouting and the community.
* To uphold the principles of Scouting.
* To promote the achievement of the rank of Eagle Scout.
* To provide an example to all students of loyalty to the Alma Mater.

## Symbols

The fraternity's colors are red, white, blue, and black. Its symbol is the Bald eagle. Its motto is "May eagles forever soar."

## Membership

There are five classes of Membership: Candidate, Active, Honorary, Alumni, and Advisory (Faculty).
Membership in Epsilon Tau Pi shall be open to all university students who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Scouts BSA or have attained the highest award possible in their respective country’s scouting organization.
Membership is available to students at those institutions where the Fraternity has chapters, or who are attending nearby schools.
The Fraternity requires a Candidacy period of at least six and no more than ten weeks.

## Governance

The chairman of the national executive board (NEB) is elected by all members of the fraternity at convocation and serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of the fraternity. The position was established in 2003, approximately two years after the formation of the board.
Other elected positions on the NEB include Vice-Chairman, Secretary, South Atlantic Regional Director, Midwest Regional Director, and North Central Regional Director. Appointed positions on the NEB include national fraternity education officer (FEO), financial director, marketing director, IT director, social media director, and Scholarship Director/Foundation Chairman. All positions have a term of two years.

## Activities

One of the more prominent activities of the fraternity is the Merit Badge College (MBC) in support of local scouting troops. MBCs are annual events hosted by chapters or colonies of Epsilon Tau Pi, offering scouts the opportunity to earn merit badges not otherwise offered outside of summer camps. Badges such as Chemistry and Programming may be earned with the advantage of college-level facilities, to which scouts would not otherwise have access. The MBC is held annually by the Alpha, Beta, and Iota chapters.

## Chapters

Following is a list of Epsilon Tau Pi chapters and colonies. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.
| Chapter | Charter date and range | Institution | Location | Status |
| Alpha | April 28, 1999 | University of Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | Active |
| Beta | May 2002 ?–20xx ?; November 29, 2016 | Ohio State University | Columbus, Ohio | Active |
| Gamma | March 27, 2007 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Active |
| Delta colony | N/A | Indiana State University | Terre Haute, Indiana | Inactive |
| Epsilon colony | N/A | California University of Pennsylvania | California, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Zeta | May 20, 2012 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, West Virginia | Active |
| Eta | April 16, 2011 | Appalachian State University | Boone, North Carolina | Active |
| Theta | April 17, 2014 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, Georgia | Active |
| Iota | August 28, 2014 | Robert Morris University | Pittsburgh Area, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Kappa colony | N/A | Augustana College (Illinois) | Rock Island, Illinois | Inactive |
| Lambda colony | N/A | Missouri Western State University | St. Joseph, Missouri | Inactive |
| Mu | April 6, 2019 | East Carolina University | Greenville, North Carolina | Inactive |
| Nu colony | November 13, 2017 | Northwest Missouri State University | Maryville, Missouri | Active |
| Xi colony | N/A | Kansas State University | Manhattan, Kansas | Inactive |
| Omicron | April 19, 2021 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill, North Carolina | Active |
| Pi | July 12, 2021 | University of South Carolina | Columbia, South Carolina | Active |
| Rho colony | N/A | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, Ohio | Inactive |
| Sigma colony | February 18, 2019 | Miami University | Oxford, Ohio | Active |
| Tau colony | N/A | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, North Carolina | Inactive |
| Upsilon | December 18, 2024 | Ohio University | Athens, Ohio | Active |
| Phi | April 16, 2022 | Clemson University | Clemson, South Carolina | Active |
| Chi colony | August 23, 2021 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, Missouri | Active |