College-wide Organizations

Black and Brown Women in Engineering Science Technology Sisterhood (BBWESTS)
An organization that embodies the support and advancement of all underrepresented women-identifying looking to succeed. With the core values of respect, equity, ethical leadership, integrity and involvement, we strive to offer resources and opportunities to achieve the retention and elevation of our sisters to further the development of diverse and adaptable communities.

Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW)
ESW is a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to the implantation of sustainable solutions in communities through the core disciplines of Design, Educate and Build. The vision of ESW is a world of environmental, social and economic prosperity created and sustained by local and global collective action. The URI chapter has applied this vision to a clean water project in rural San Mateo, Guatemala, as well as various projects on the URI campus. The chapter accepts students from all majors and is always looking for new members who have innovative ideas and are passionate about the community’s devotion to sustainable solutions.

HydRobotics
A student-run club for undergraduates interested in all things robotics, marine science, and oceanography.

The club offers students access to great lab and office facilities on URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus. These facilities are generously donated by the Department of Ocean Engineering and they allow the club to take on multiple projects of varying scope and scale at the same time. With help from our sponsors in the academic and professional world, the club aims to compete in two competitions hosted by RoboNation in the coming years. The competitions we aim to compete in are robosub and/or roboboat. Hydro also provides guidance and support for our members that wish to pursue their own projects and studies with funding provided by URI’s Undergraduate Research Initiative.

Marine Technology Society (MTS)
MTS is a professional organization dedicated to advancing the understanding and application of marine technology. MTS is a community that aims to create an environment where all individuals are welcomed, respected, and given equal opportunities to participate and contribute. 

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Dedicated to the academic and professional success of African American engineering students. Members are offered leadership training, professional development and mentoring opportunities, career placement services and more.

Rhody Racing
URI SAE was founded in the spring of 2021. Since then, we have organized a talented team full of passionate and astute individuals from all majors and backgrounds. We challenge our members to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with Formula and Baja SAE style cars. We offer all undergraduate students at URI an opportunity to gain real world engineering and teamwork skills. You do not need any prior experience; our members are supported every step of the way as they grow and reach their full potential. As long as you are willing to learn and put forward your best work, we’ll find the perfect spot for you on one of our five design teams!

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers’ (SHPE) vision is a world where Hispanics are highly valued and influential as the leading innovators, scientists, mathematicians and engineers. We strive to become more professional and better ourselves in our career.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) empowers women at the University of Rhode Island to achieve their full potential as future engineers and leaders. SWE members organize and participate in outreach activities, social and professional events, networking opportunities and conferences.

Theta Tau (Professional Engineering co-ed Fraternity)
Theta Tau is a co-ed professional engineering fraternity. The purpose of Theta Tau is to develop and maintain a high standard of professional interest among its members and to unite them in a strong bond of fraternal fellowship. Theta Tau separates itself from being a social fraternity by encompassing a common, professional goal.

Women in Engineering Mentorship Program (WEM)
WEM is a group of students that wants to promote a sense of belonging for women-identifying students on campus, especially in majors where it can feel isolating. Freshman women-identifying engineers are paired with upper-class students as an immediate support system. WEM strives to promote supporting others: being the person that cheers someone else on, even when things get tough, academically or socially. To summarize, the program aims to align with the following mission statement: Through training and strategic outreach, establish genuine and effective mentor/mentee relationships that support academic, social, and personal growth to build a network within the College of Engineering and the URI community.

Professional Chapters

• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) 
• The objective of the AIAA is to further, within its locality, the purposes and programs of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
• To influence the aeronautical and astronautical education process at the University of Rhode Island
• To increase knowledge of aerospace science and technology among members and the community
• To assist our members in fulfilling their career goals in the aerospace field

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 
The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is geared toward chemical engineers of all disciplines. Members range from professionals to students of multiple universities. At the University of Rhode Island, we strive to expand our chapter as much as possible. For that to be possible, we need the help of student members.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 
The URI chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) works with the civil engineering community, the University, the public and practicing professionals to promote ASCE missions and a sustainable infrastructure for the future.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 
From college students and early-career engineers to project managers, corporate executives, researchers and academic leaders, the ASME membership is as diverse as the engineering community itself.

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS)  
Welcome to the University of Rhode Island Engineering’s Medicine and Biology Society student chapter. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) is the world’s largest international society of biomedical engineers. The organization’s 12,000 members reside in some 97 countries around the world. EMBS provides its members with access to the people, practices, information, ideas and opinions that are shaping one of the fastest growing fields in science. The EMBS chapter is a newly-founded student organization that is dedicated to unifying engineering students, professionals and the community at URI.

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) 
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) partners with underserved communities both at home and abroad to develop engineering solutions to their needs. Our goal is to build leaders, provide pathways to opportunities, and support a world where every community is built to thrive.

The URI EWB Student Chapter is paired with an existing international or domestic development project through EWB-USA. Our group’s mission is to work closely with the community and develop sustainable engineering solutions to their needs. 

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.

Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) 
IISE is the world’s largest professional society dedicated solely to the support of the industrial engineering profession and individuals involved with improving quality and productivity.

Honor Societies

Tau Beta Pi
The Tau Beta Pi Association is the oldest engineering honor society and the second oldest collegiate honor society in the United States. It honors engineering students in American universities who have shown a history of academic achievement as well as a commitment to personal and professional integrity.

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering:
Chi Epsilon
Students majoring in Civil Engineering may be invited to join Chi Epsilon through election by their collegiate chapter. Eligibility is based on demonstrating Chi Epsilon’s qualities of Scholarship, Character, Practicality, and Sociability.

Department of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering:
Eta Kappa Nu (IEEE-HKN)
The honor society of IEEE promotes excellence in the profession and in education with ideals of Scholarship, Character and Attitude.

Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Systems Engineering:
Pi Tau Sigma
PI TAU SIGMA members are chosen on a basis of sound engineering ability, scholarship service, leadership, and integrity. The Pi Tau Sigma mission is to strive to create better engineers through commitment to academic excellence and dedication to service. Pi Tau Sigma prides itself in the core values: Integrity (soundness of character and moral conduct), Service (serving the mechanical engineering profession and the community), and Leadership (fostering initiative through example in a professional manner). Pi Tau Sigma is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

Department of Ocean Engineering:
Omega Epsilon