Kappa Mu Epsilon

National Mathematics Honor Society

Founded 1931

History and Origination of KME
Who May Become a Member?
Reasons for Becoming a Member
Miscellaneous Information
How May New Chapters Be Formed?
National Officers
Return to KME Homepage

History of KME

The rapid growth of colleges and universities in the United States during the latter part of the 19th Century led to the development of professional societies in every field. Local clubs were formed in educational institutions to promote professional interests, and the desire for affiliation with other groups of similar ideals led to the organization of these local clubs into national and state societies. Various fields, such as law, medicine, science, engineering, and teaching, eventually developed societies with large memberships.

In mathematics, Pi Mu Epsilon became the national fraternity for instructors and advanced students in educational institutions offering graduate work. Since the first fraternities open to mathematics students on the undergraduate level were organized by science departments, the need for a national fraternity that would attract such students through their mathematics departments was recognized. Kappa Mu Epsilon was organized to fill this need, and Dr. Emily Kathryn Wyant is considered to be its founder.

Origination of KME

Dr. Wyant was a graduate of the University of Missouri and a member of Pi Mu Epsilon. In 1930, she went to Northeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College as a professor of mathematics. Her vigor and enthusiasm helped to transform the mathematics club, which had been in existence since 1927, into the first chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon. Professor L. P. Woods, who was head of the Department of Mathematics and Dean of Men at that time, became a valuable co-worker concerned with many details pertaining to the project, including the first rituals used for initiation of members and installation of officers.

Together Dr. Wyant and Professor Woods along with twenty-two other faculty and students became charter members of Oklahoma Alpha, Northeastern Oklahoma State Teachers College, Tahlequah, April 18, 1931. Since Dr. Wyant maintained an extensive correspondence with faculty members at other institutions, the second chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon, Iowa Alpha, was installed at Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, May 27, 1931. Kansas Alpha, the third chapter, was installed January 30, 1932, at Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg. Then came Missouri Alpha, Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield, May 20, 1932.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State College for Women and Mississippi State College were preparing to inaugurate an independent fraternity. But rather than starting a competing organization, they agreed to unite with the other chapters of Kappa Mu Epsilon that had already been formed. Thus, Mississippi Alpha, Mississippi State College for Women, Columbus, was installed May 30, 1932, and Mississippi Beta, Mississippi State College, Mississippi State, was installed December 14, 1932, bringing the membership to six chapters in five states by the end of 1932.

Today Kappa Mu Epsilon has become a specialized honor society with one hundred twenty-nine or more active chapters, located in colleges and universities of recognized standing, which offer a strong mathematics major, in thirty-four states. The chapters' members are selected from students of mathematics or closely related fields, who have professional merit and attain academic distinction. Approximately sixty thousand students have been initiated so far, and since Kappa Mu Epsilon was founded, they have helped it become more than a group of isolated chapters devoted solely to the election of honor students to membership. Indeed, each chapter is encouraged to be a working organization throughout the academic year, functioning as an integral part of the mathematics department through worthwhile extra-curricular activities.

Who May Become a Member?

A member (a) must be or have been a faculty member or a regularly enrolled student at an institution where a Kappa Mu Epsilon chapter is installed, (b) must have completed at least three semesters or five quarters at the institution ranking in the upper 35% of his or her class, and (c) must have completed at least three college courses in mathematics including at least one semester or two quarters of calculus and attained an average grade of B or higher in all mathematics courses, or (d) must have completed at least one semester or one quarter at the institution, if having transferred from another institution, and have completed at least one mathematics course with a grade of B or higher at the institution, prior to his or her induction into membership.

Election to membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon is independent of membership in any other organization, and no one shall be disqualified by their sex, race, creed or color. Members may transfer their affiliation from one chapter to another by presenting credentials of membership in good standing.

Reasons to Become a Member

The following reasons explain why students aspire to membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon.

Membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon recognizes individual achievement in mathematics that provides distinction and encouragement at a time when the training needs of our society are becoming more quantitative. Chapter officers, committee members, and individual students also obtain excellent opportunities for leadership experience. Since the society is not a secret organization, its symbolism may be explained to anyone interested and guests may be invited to the installation/initiation ceremonies or any other program arranged by the chapter.
Chapters of Kappa Mu Epsilon sponsor many activities for their members. The chapters sponsor public meetings and bring speakers of local and national prominence before the group. Individual members are invited to present papers and to discuss topics of mutual interest before a friendly audience, thus broadening their knowledge and increasing their interest in mathematics, while furnishing opportunity for individual expression. Participation in related activities, such as the Annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, is also encouraged.
An attractive membership certificate and valuable key pin are prepared for each member as part of their national registration and initiation fees. Each initiate also receives an automatic two-year subscription to The Pentagon, which is the official journal of the Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society, and by returning some of the national registration and initiation fees for program or travel expenses, the National Council encourages local chapters to participate in regional and national conventions.
Election to membership in Kappa Mu Epsilon or any one of the national honorary societies that meet the requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies qualifies a member for a GS-7 rating by the United States Civil Service Commission.

Miscellaneous Information

The Association of College Honor Societies, which serves as a general coordinating agency, maintains high standards for the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in higher education. Kappa Mu Epsilon became a member of this association in 1968 and is pleased to be counted among the sixty cooperating societies, representing many different areas of knowledge, that have joined so far. Dr. J. A. G. Shirk of the Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg, who succeeded Dr. Wyant as the second President of Kappa Mu Epsilon, aptly said, "History renders the ultimate verdict as to the value of any movement, and the growth and the influence of Kappa Mu Epsilon in a little over a decade give a portent of its greater contributions in the decades yet to come."

Official business of Kappa Mu Epsilon is transacted at the national convention by delegates from each chapter and members of the National Council: the National President, National President-Elect, National Secretary, National Treasurer, and National Historian. A national convention is held during odd-numbered years for the purpose of receiving student papers, electing officers, voting on motions to amend the constitution or by-laws, voting on motions relating to establishment of new chapters, and deciding matters concerning the society. Since 1972, regional conventions are also held during even-numbered years under the sponsorship of a regional director in cooperation with the national council. When a chapter decides to host a regional convention, the chapters in the region as well as those from surrounding states are invited to attend.

Student papers are featured at regional as well as national conventions, and by the time a paper reaches a convention its academic level is sufficiently good to be considered for publication in The Pentagon. The Pentagon, which is published twice each year, is the official journal of the Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society, and it may have been named after the mathematics club that eventually became the first chapter of Kappa Mu Epsilon. In addition to student papers, it contains news items about various chapters and their activities, as well as interesting problems and book reviews that help to promote the following five-fold objectives of the society:

to further the interests of mathematics in those schools which place their primary emphasis on the undergraduate programs,
to help undergraduate students realize the important role that mathematics has played in the development of civilization,
to develop an appreciation of the power and beauty possessed by mathematics, due mainly to its demand for logical and rigorous modes of thought,
to provide a society for the recognition of outstanding achievement in the study of mathematics at the undergraduate level, and
to disseminate the knowledge of mathematics and to familiarize its members with current progress in this important area of human interest.

How May New Chapters Be Formed?

Kappa Mu Epsilon invites inquiry from accredited colleges and universities, where it can be shown that the organization of a chapter would promote the five-fold objectives, outlined above. In particular, the Constitution provides that "An organized group of at least 10 members from an accredited (by the appropriate regional accrediting agency) four-year college or university may petition for a chapter." However, there is no particular type of institution where Kappa Mu Epsilon functions best. The organization is such that active chapters can be maintained in many sizes and varieties of colleges or universities. Though some of the most active chapters have been small, others may have as many as 100 active members at any one time. Information about the petitioning process is available from the National President.

National Officers for 2011-2013

President: Dr. Ron Wasserstein
American Statistical Association
732 N Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22015
ron@amstat.org

President-Elect: Dr. Rhonda McKee
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
University of Central Missouri
Warrensburg, MO 64093-5045
(660) 543-8929
mckee@ucmo.edu

Secretary: Dr. Mark Hamner
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX 76204
mhamner@twu.edu

Treasurer: Cynthia Woodburn
Department of Mathematics
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg, KS 66762-7502
(620) 235-4409
cwoodbur@pittstate.edu

Historian: Peter Skoner
Department of Mathematics
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA 15940
pskoner@francis.edu

Webmaster: Kevin Reed
Department of Science and Technology
Evangel University
1111 N. Glenstone Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802

KME National Website: http://www.kappamuepsilon.org/

The Pentagon

Editor: Chip Curtis
Department of Mathematics
Missouri Southern State University
3950 E Newman Road
Joplin, MO 64801-1595
curtis-c@mssu.edu

Associate Editors:

The Problem Corner: Pat Costello
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Eastern Kentucky University
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475-3102
pat.costello@eku.edu

Kappa Mu Epsilon News: Peter Skoner
Department of Mathematics
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA 15940
pskoner@francis.edu

Business Manager: Dr. Donald Tosh
Dept. of Science and Technology
Evangel University
1111 N. Glenstone Ave.
Springfield, MO 65802-2191
(417) 865-2815
toshd@evangel.edu

The quotation of Dr. Shirk and related material were obtained from his article. "The Early Years of Kappa Mu Epsilon," The Pentagon 1:2 (Spring 1942), pages 80-83. Information on this web page are from the general information brochure of Kappa Mu Epsilon. Further information can be obtained from the National Officers as well as additional items published by The Pentagon.

Webpage designed and created 9/22/96 by John Callaway of the KME Alpha Chapter of Oklahoma at Northeastern State University.
Currently maintained by Joan E. Bell. Last update: 5/4/12