Eastern Michigan University has several Occupational Therapy Student Organizations. Beatrice Ward, the director of the Occupational Therapy program, created the Occupational Therapy Club in December 1941 for the mutual support of students enrolled in the program. Pi Theta Epsilon is an Occupational Therapy honor society that began at the University of New Hampshire in the fall of 1958. The Eastern Michigan University chapter was established in the early 1960s, but Pi Theta Epsilon was not recognized as a national organization until 1988. Its mission is to support the practices of occupational sciences and authentic occupational therapy by promoting research and other scholarly activities. Members must demonstrate their superior scholarship in the occupational therapy program. Those who are eligible shall not rank lower than the highest 35% of their class in scholarship, have a GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale since entering the occupational therapy program and shall have completed the number of credit hours used by the institution to designate one full academic term equivalency in an entry-level baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate program in occupational therapy. The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) was established to promote occupational therapy through education, public awareness and advocacy. Students organize activities on Eastern Michigan University's campus and in the local community, and these activities include social events, service projects, and fundraising.