Tau Beta Pi
The Engineering Honor Society
Tau Beta Pi Information Book
Note: This document is also available for viewing or downloading in PDF form.
In addition to this information book, a history of the origin and early years of the Tau Beta Pi Association was written by E.S. Stackhouse and is available online.
General Facts
Founded
- June 15, 1885
- At Lehigh University
- By Edward H. Williams, Jr.
Number of Collegiate Chapters:
- Active: 257
- Inactive: 6
- TOTAL: 263
Number of Alumni Chapters:
- Active: 52
- Inactive: 30
- TOTAL: 82
Number of Initiated Members:
- Number of initiated members: 640,383
Association History
The Tau Beta Pi Association, engineering honor society, was founded at Lehigh University in 1885 by Dr. Edward Higginson Williams Jr., "to mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as undergraduates in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." Preamble to the Constitution.
An honor society is an association of primarily collegiate members and chapters whose purposes are to encourage and recognize superior scholarship and/or leadership achievement either in broad fields of education or in departmental fields at either undergraduate or graduate levels. The honor society has followed the expansion and specialization of higher education in America. When Phi Beta Kappa was organized in 1776, no thought was given to its proper "field," since all colleges then in existence were for the training of men for "the service of the church and the state." With the expansion of education into new fields, a choice had to be made, and the society elected to operate in the field of the liberal arts and sciences. Although this was not finally voted until 1898, the trend was evident years earlier, and 1885 saw the establishment of Tau Beta Pi.
Founder Edward H. Williams, Jr., was born at Proctorsville, Vermont, on September 30, 1849; he died at Woodstock, Vermont, on November 2, 1933. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, he was head of the mining department of Lehigh University when he determined to offer technical men as good a chance of recognition for superior scholarship in their field as that afforded by the other society in the liberal arts and sciences.
Working alone he conceived an organization, gave it a name, designed its governmental structure, drew up its constitution, prepared its badge and certificate, established its membership requirements, and planned all the necessary details for its operation including the granting of chapters and the holding of conventions.
Thus, with only a paper organization, he offered membership to qualified graduates of Lehigh and received their acceptances and enthusiastic endorsement. Late in the spring of 1885 he invited the valedictorian of the senior class, Irving Andrew Heikes, to membership and he accepted, becoming the first student member of Tau Beta Pi; but there was no time to initiate the rest of the eligible men from the class of 1885.
Mr. Heikes returned for graduate work, however, and in the fall of 1885, he, Dr. Williams, and two alumni who had earlier accepted membership, initiated the eligible men from the class of 1886 and organized the chapter.
Edward H. Williams, Jr., A.B., A.C., E.M., Sc.D., LL.D. (1849-1933) Founder of The Tau Beta Pi Association |
The parent chapter, Alpha of Pennsylvania, existed alone until 1892 when Alpha of Michigan was founded at Michigan State University.
A detailed account of the founding and early history of Tau Beta Pi was written by Edwin S. Stackhouse, Pennsylvania Alpha '86, after years of painstaking research work (THE BENT, April 1941). Records of essential dates were lost, but Mr. Stackhouse deduced that June 15, 1885, was the day on which the first undergraduate student was initiated. Subsequent evidence, in the form of Mr. Heikes' original invitation to membership, discovered in 1943, confirmed this date. Since the founding of the Michigan Alpha chapter, Tau Beta Pi has grown steadily; there are now collegiate chapters at 234 institutions, chartered alumnus chapters in 59 cities, and a total initiated membership of 500,876.
The Association was incorporated under the laws of Tennessee on December 1, 1947. The official name of the society is The Tau Beta Pi Association, Incorporated. It is a not-for-profit, educational organization with no stock-issuing power. Its assets are held in its corporate name or in trust. The Association is classified under Section 501(c)(3) (not private) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, and gifts and bequests to it are tax deductible.
Tau Beta Pi is a founding member of the Association of College Honor Societies, an association member of the American Society for Engineering Education, an associate member of the American Association of Engineering Societies, and an affiliate of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
The official badge of the Association is a watch key in the form of the bent of a trestle, engraved on the reverse side with the member's name, chapter, and class. The colors of the Association are seal brown and white. The official quarterly magazine is THE BENT of Tau Beta Pi. The name of the Association, its badge, and the title of its magazine are registered in the United States Patent Office. The creed of Tau Beta Pi, adopted in 1991, is Integrity and Excellence in Engineering.
The word key describes the insignia of many organizations. It comes from the fact that it was first designed, in the late eighteenth century, to include a pocket watch winding feature, hence key. The bottom stem, added to the basic insignia, had a tapered square hole fitting the common sizes of watch-winding shafts. The top stem and ring were added so that the key could be worn as a pendant from a chain, rather than as a pin or badge, thus easily used to wind watches. When the "stem-winder" watch was introduced in the late nineteenth century, it replaced the key-winder. But the insignia key remained, although with a vestigial hole now round for manufacturing ease and economy.
The Headquarters of Tau Beta Pi are located on the campus of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, and have been there since R. C. Matthews went to the University as a young instructor in 1907. R. C. Matthews served as Tau Beta Pi's Secretary from 1905 to 1912 and as Secretary-Treasurer from 1912 until his retirement in 1947. Before he assumed office in 1905 the headquarters offices had been moved to wherever the offices of the Secretary were located. Professor Matthews' long service to Tau Beta Pi and the University of Tennessee has made the university the permanent headquarters of the Association. In 1963, the headquarters staff moved into a suite of offices designed specifically for Tau Beta Pi in the then-new Nathan W. Dougherty Engineering Building.
Merger with Sigma Tau
On January 1, 1974, the Sigma Tau Fraternity merged into The Tau Beta Pi Association. The action was taken by the collegiate chapters of the two organizations following lengthy study and recommendation by their Councils. Sigma Tau was founded in 1904 at the University of Nebraska as an engineering honor society. At the time of merger, it had 34 collegiate chapters and a total initiated membership of 45,000. The basis of merger was the conviction that a single, strong honor society would better serve the engineering profession.
The resulting organization is Tau Beta Pi, unchanged in name, purpose, governance, operating procedures, and membership requirements (except for the automatic Tau Beta Pi membership eligibility of all Sigma Tau members).
The 22 Sigma Tau chapters at institutions formerly without Tau Beta Pi chapters began functioning under Tau Beta Pi rules on January 1, 1974, and were converted to chapters of the Association in formal ceremonies on the dates shown in the roster of chartered collegiate chapters following. The 12 Sigma Tau chapters co-existing on campuses with Tau Beta Pi were merged into the Association, by initiation of their active members in early 1974. The Headquarters office of Sigma Tau in Lincoln, Nebraska, was closed on June 30, 1974, and its records were transferred to the Headquarters of Tau Beta Pi in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Under terms of the merger plan, the financial assets of the Sigma Tau fraternity were used in meeting the costs of converting and merging its chapters, of giving its initiated active members all the insignia and materials regularly going to new members of Tau Beta Pi, and of extending all paid Sigma Tau magazine (The Pyramid) subscriptions to subscriptions to Tau Beta Pi's magazine (THE BENT). The Sigma Tau Foundation, Inc., was dissolved and its assets were transferred directly to Tau Beta Pi's Fellowship Fund. There, the invested sum will earn a return to assist in providing an annual Tau Beta Pi-Sigma Tau fellowship under the Association's regular graduate-study award program.
Under terms of the merger plan, all Sigma Tau alumni have been offered membership in Tau Beta Pi at the current national initiation-fee charge. Those who choose not to join the Association will have all Sigma Tau membership services (except for The Pyramid, which has been discontinued) available to them through the Tau Beta Pi Headquarters.
The last national officers of the Sigma Tau Fraternity were: President G. W. Forman, Vice President H. H. Bartel, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer J. P. Colbert, and Councillors C. W. Leihy, R. P. Moser, R. E. Peterson, and J. W. Straight.
Tau Beta Pi Chapters & Districts
Chartered Collegiate Chapters: (List of chapters by state with links to chapter homepage.)
No. | Chapter | Establishment Date | Institution | City | Members |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pennsylvania Alpha | June 15, 1885 | Lehigh University | Bethlehem, PA | 5,439 |
2 | Michigan Alpha | November 5, 1892 | Michigan State University | East Lansing, MI | 4,918 |
3 | Indiana Alpha | April 10, 1893 | Purdue University | West Lafayette, IN | 12,410 |
4 | New Jersey Alpha | March 27, 1896 | Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken, NJ | 3,560 |
5 | Illinois Alpha | June 2, 1897 | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL | 10,840 |
6 | Wisconsin Alpha | May 5, 1899 | The University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | 6,126 |
7 | Ohio Alpha | May 19, 1900 | Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, OH | 4,311 |
8 | Kentucky Alpha | April 5, 1902 | University of Kentucky | Lexington, KY | 4,226 |
9 | New York Alpha | April 11, 1902 | Columbia University | New York, NY | 4,384 |
10 | Missouri Alpha | November 15, 1902 | The University of Missouri-Columbia | Columbia, MO | 4,691 |
11 | Michigan Beta | August 6, 1904 | Michigan Technological Univ. | Houghton, MI | 4,639 |
12 | Colorado Alpha | May 5, 1905 | Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 4,616 |
13 | Colorado Beta * (Iota) | June 8, 1905 | University of Colorado at Boulder | Boulder, CO | 5,170 |
14 | Illinois Beta | April 6, 1906 | Illinois Institute of Technology | Chicago, IL | 4,279 |
15 | New York Beta | May 16, 1906 | Syracuse University | Syracuse, NY | 3,084 |
16 | Michigan Gamma | June 14, 1906 | The University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | 10,981 |
17 | Missouri Beta | December 21, 1906 | Missouri University of Science and Technology | Rolla, MO | 7,693 |
18 | California Alpha | April 10, 1907 | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | 8,531 |
19 | Iowa Alpha | December 20, 1907 | Iowa State University | Ames, IA | 8,703 |
20 | New York Gamma | June 12, 1908 | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | 7,745 |
21 | Iowa Beta | March 30, 1909 | The University of Iowa | Iowa City, IA | 2,523 |
22 | Minnesota Alpha | June 9, 1909 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN | 5,825 |
23 | New York Delta | January 17, 1910 | Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 7,015 |
24 | Massachusetts Alpha | May 14, 1910 | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Worcester, MA | 5,491 |
25 | Maine Alpha | March 11, 1911 | University of Maine | Orono, ME | 3,038 |
26 | Pennsylvania Beta * (Kappa) | May 4, 1912 | Pennsylvania State University | University Park, PA | 8,827 |
27 | Washington Alpha | June 4, 1912 | University of Washington | Seattle, WA | 5,496 |
28 | Arkansas Alpha | December 14, 1914 | University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 3,315 |
29 | Kansas Alpha | December 17, 1914 | The University of Kansas | Lawrence, KS | 4,471 |
30 | Ohio Beta | November 26, 1915 | University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | 4,034 |
31 | Pennsylvania Gamma | February 19, 1916 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | 3,583 |
32 | Texas Alpha | June 10, 1916 | The University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | 8,699 |
33 | Ohio Gamma | February 12, 1921 | The Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | 6,930 |
34 | Maryland Alpha | April 9, 1921 | The Johns Hopkins University | Baltimore, MD | 3,065 |
35 | Pennsylvania Delta * (Gamma) | April 11, 1921 | University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 3,011 |
36 | Pennsylvania Epsilon | May 7, 1921 | Lafayette College | Easton, PA | 2,163 |
37 | Virginia Alpha | May 28, 1921 | University of Virginia | Charlottesville, VA | 3,766 |
38 | Alabama Alpha | May 30, 1921 | Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 6,879 |
39 | California Beta | June 11, 1921 | California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 2,600 |
40 | West Virginia Alpha | June 3, 1922 | West Virginia University | Morgantown, WV | 3,713 |
41 | Missouri Gamma | June 5, 1922 | Washington University | St. Louis, MO | 3,084 |
42 | Massachusetts Beta | June 5, 1922 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 8,497 |
43 | Washington Beta * (Eta) | March 17, 1923 | Washington State University | Pullman, WA | 3,699 |
44 | Massachusetts Gamma * | June 6, 1923 | Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | 151 |
45 | Connecticut Alpha | December 15, 1923 | Yale University | New Haven, CT | 2,192 |
46 | Oregon Alpha * (Zeta) | March 29, 1924 | Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | 3,418 |
47 | Georgia Alpha | February 6, 1925 | Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA | 9,029 |
48 | North Carolina Alpha | October 10, 1925 | North Carolina State University | Raleigh, NC | 6,432 |
49 | Oklahoma Alpha * (Mu) | April 3, 1926 | University of Oklahoma | Norman, OK | 4,575 |
50 | Montana Alpha | April 15, 1926 | Montana State University | Bozeman, MT | 2,841 |
51 | Alabama Beta | November 20, 1926 | University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 3,884 |
52 | Arizona Alpha | November 24, 1926 | The University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 3,883 |
53 | Massachusetts Delta | December 16, 1927 | Tufts University | Medford, MA | 3,031 |
54 | South Carolina Alpha | November 23, 1928 | Clemson University | Clemson, SC | 4,748 |
55 | North Carolina Beta * | November 24, 1928 | The University of North Carolina | Chapel Hill, NC | 110 |
56 | Indiana Beta | December 8, 1928 | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Terre Haute, IN | 2,315 |
57 | Mississippi Alpha | December 15, 1928 | Mississippi State University | State College, MS | 4,361 |
58 | Tennessee Alpha | November 15, 1929 | The University of Tennessee | Knoxville, TN | 5,757 |
59 | Maryland Beta | November 21, 1929 | The University of Maryland | College Park, MD | 4,484 |
60 | Pennsylvania Zeta | November 24, 1930 | Drexel University | Philadelphia, PA | 3,762 |
61 | New York Epsilon * | December 4, 1931 | New York University | Bronx, NY | 1,851 |
62 | New York Zeta * | December 5, 1931 | Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn | Brooklyn, NY | 1,579 |
63 | Wisconsin Beta | December 3, 1932 | Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | 3,267 |
64 | Virginia Beta | November 24, 1933 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Blacksburg, VA | 5,753 |
65 | Delaware Alpha | November 25, 1933 | University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 2,807 |
66 | Utah Alpha | December 8, 1933 | University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT | 3,049 |
67 | New Jersey Beta | December 14, 1934 | Rutgers University | New Brunswick, NJ | 4,645 |
68 | California Gamma | January 26, 1935 | Stanford University | Stanford, CA | 4,731 |
69 | Louisiana Alpha | November 30, 1936 | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA | 3,994 |
70 | Louisiana Beta | December 1, 1936 | Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | 1,781 |
71 | Texas Beta | December 11, 1937 | Texas Tech University | Lubbock, TX | 4,505 |
72 | New York Eta | November 30, 1940 | City College of CUNY | New York, NY | 3,818 |
73 | Texas Gamma * (Alpha Zeta) | December 18, 1940 | Rice University | Houston, TX | 2,047 |
74 | Michigan Delta | January 20, 1941 | University of Detroit Mercy | Detroit, MI | 1,885 |
75 | New Jersey Gamma | November 29, 1941 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark, NJ | 4,711 |
76 | New York Theta | December 4, 1941 | Clarkson University | Potsdam, NY | 3,833 |
77 | Illinois Gamma | December 6, 1941 | Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | 3,557 |
78 | Massachusetts Epsilon | December 13, 1941 | Northeastern University | Boston, MA | 5,007 |
79 | Tennessee Beta | December 7, 1946 | Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | 2,985 |
80 | California Delta | January 10, 1947 | University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | 3,588 |
81 | New York Iota | January 11, 1947 | The Cooper Union School of Eng'g. | New York, NY | 1,967 |
82 | Pennsylvania Eta | December 11, 1947 | Bucknell University | Lewisburg, PA | 1,846 |
83 | New York Kappa | December 13, 1947 | The University of Rochester | Rochester, NY | 1,841 |
84 | North Carolina Gamma | January 10, 1948 | Duke University | Durham, NC | 2,718 |
85 | Texas Delta | October 11, 1948 | Texas A&M University | College Station, TX | 8,782 |
86 | Connecticut Beta | January 8, 1949 | The University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 2,842 |
87 | North Dakota Alpha | January 14, 1950 | North Dakota State University | Fargo, ND | 2,638 |
88 | New Hampshire Alpha | December 9, 1950 | University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH | 2,071 |
89 | Louisiana Gamma | February 17, 1951 | Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, LA | 2,431 |
90 | Michigan Epsilon | March 10, 1951 | Wayne State University | Detroit, MI | 2,458 |
91 | California Epsilon | March 29, 1952 | University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 4,468 |
92 | New York Lambda * | April 19, 1952 | Pratt Institute | Brooklyn, NY | 1,161 |
93 | Ohio Delta | February 21, 1953 | Ohio University | Athens, OH | 2,059 |
94 | Ohio Epsilon | February 22, 1953 | Cleveland State University | Cleveland, OH | 2,101 |
95 | Colorado Gamma | January 29, 1954 | University of Denver | Denver, CO | 397 |
96 | Rhode Island Alpha | February 12, 1954 | Brown University | Providence, RI | 1,403 |
97 | Rhode Island Beta | February 13, 1954 | University of Rhode Island | Kingston, RI | 2,484 |
98 | Ohio Zeta | February 20, 1954 | University of Toledo | Toledo, OH | 2,237 |
99 | Massachusetts Zeta | January 7, 1956 | University of Massachusetts at Amherst | Amherst, MA | 2,946 |
100 | District of Columbia Alpha | March 10, 1956 | Howard University | Washington, DC | 1,603 |
101 | California Zeta | April 21, 1956 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1,688 |
102 | South Carolina Beta | January 11, 1958 | University of South Carolina | Columbia, SC | 2,472 |
103 | Vermont Alpha | December 20, 1958 | University of Vermont | Burlington, VT | 1,682 |
104 | Ohio Eta | February 21, 1959 | Air Force Institute of Technology | Wright-Patterson AFB, OH | 2,498 |
105 | Louisiana Delta | March 5, 1960 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | 1,565 |
106 | Indiana Gamma | December 10, 1960 | University of Notre Dame | Notre Dame, IN | 3,147 |
107 | Florida Alpha * (Upsilon) | January 14, 1961 | University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 5,825 |
108 | Pennsylvania Theta | February 11, 1961 | Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 2,446 |
109 | Ohio Theta | March 11, 1961 | University of Dayton | Dayton, OH | 1,901 |
110 | Texas Epsilon | February 10, 1962 | University of Houston | Houston, TX | 2,922 |
111 | District of Columbia Beta | March 31, 1962 | The Catholic University of America | Washington, DC | 1,187 |
112 | District of Columbia Gamma * (Xi) | February 16, 1963 | The George Washington University | Washington, DC | 1,241 |
113 | Arizona Beta | March 9, 1963 | Arizona State University | Tempe, AZ | 3,410 |
114 | Indiana Delta | March 23, 1963 | Valparaiso University | Valparaiso, IN | 1,140 |
115 | Illinois Delta * (Alpha Iota) | January 18, 1964 | Bradley University | Peoria, IL | 1,357 |
116 | Florida Beta | January 25, 1964 | University of Miami | Coral Gables, FL | 2,214 |
117 | California Eta | March 14, 1964 | San Jose State University | San Jose, CA | 2,828 |
118 | Utah Beta | April 4, 1964 | Brigham Young University | Provo, UT | 2,981 |
119 | New York Mu | April 11, 1964 | Union College | Schenectady, NY | 1,143 |
120 | California Theta | January 30, 1965 | California State University, Long Beach | Long Beach, CA | 3,028 |
121 | Vermont Beta | March 13, 1965 | Norwich University | Northfield, VT | 636 |
122 | Kansas Beta | March 21, 1965 | Wichita State University | Wichita, KS | 1,349 |
123 | Washington Gamma | February 12, 1966 | Seattle University | Seattle, WA | 823 |
124 | California Iota | February 18, 1967 | California State University, Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 1,920 |
125 | New York Nu | March 11, 1967 | University at Buffalo | Buffalo, NY | 3,823 |
126 | New York Xi | March 18, 1967 | Manhattan University | Bronx, NY | 2,622 |
127 | Tennessee Gamma | February 3, 1968 | Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, TN | 2,668 |
128 | California Kappa | February 17, 1968 | Calif. State University, Northridge | Northridge, CA | 1,495 |
129 | Texas Zeta | March 16, 1968 | Lamar University | Beaumont, TX | 1,421 |
130 | Pennsylvania Iota | March 30, 1968 | Widener University | Chester, PA | 823 |
131 | Puerto Rico Alpha | March 8, 1969 | University of Puerto Rico | Mayaguez, PR | 4,020 |
132 | Mississippi Beta | March 15, 1969 | The University of Mississippi | University, MS | 1,398 |
133 | Texas Eta | March 22, 1969 | The University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington, TX | 3,397 |
134 | Texas Theta | March 29, 1969 | The University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | 1,688 |
135 | California Lambda | May 3, 1969 | University of California, Davis | Davis, CA | 3,460 |
136 | New York Omicron | April 26, 1970 | SUNY at Stony Brook | Stony Brook, NY | 1,668 |
137 | New York Pi | January 23, 1971 | Rochester Institute of Tech. | Rochester, NY | 1,661 |
138 | Oklahoma Beta | February 13, 1971 | The University of Tulsa | Tulsa, OK | 1,439 |
139 | Michigan Zeta | May 8, 1971 | Kettering University | Flint, MI | 3,529 |
140 | West Virginia Beta | January 29, 1972 | West Virginia University Institute of Technology | Beckley, WV | 1,162 |
141 | California Mu | February 13, 1972 | Cal Poly St. Univ., San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo, CA | 2,701 |
142 | California Nu | February 13, 1972 | Calif. State Poly. Univ., Pomona | Pomona, CA | 3,614 |
143 | New Jersey Delta | April 23, 1972 | Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 2,336 |
144 | California Xi | March 4, 1973 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | 2,353 |
145 | Wisconsin Gamma | March 17, 1973 | The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | 1,401 |
146 | Ohio Iota | March 31, 1973 | Ohio Northern University | Ada, OH | 1,026 |
147 | Nebraska Alpha ** (Alpha) | January 26, 1974 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln, NE | 2,396 |
148 | Kansas Gamma ** (Epsilon) | January 27, 1974 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS | 3,058 |
149 | Florida Gamma | February 16, 1974 | University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 2,973 |
150 | California Omicron | March 9, 1974 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | 804 |
151 | California Pi * | March 10, 1974 | Northrop University | Inglewood, CA | 285 |
152 | Pennsylvania Kappa ** (Nu) | March 20, 1974 | Swarthmore College | Swarthmore, PA | 343 |
153 | Pennsylvania Lambda ** (Psi) | March 21, 1974 | University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | 2,313 |
154 | Kentucky Beta ** (Omicron) | March 24, 1974 | University of Louisville | Louisville, KY | 1,921 |
155 | Tennessee Delta ** (Alpha Mu) | March 30, 1974 | Christian Brothers University | Memphis, TN | 702 |
156 | Texas Iota ** (Alpha Beta) | April 2, 1974 | Southern Methodist University | Dallas, TX | 1,023 |
157 | Texas Kappa ** (Alpha Lambda) | April 3, 1974 | Prairie View A&M University | Prairie View, TX | 1,211 |
158 | Texas Lambda ** (Alpha Eta) | April 4, 1974 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | Kingsville, TX | 1,238 |
159 | New Mexico Alpha ** (Alpha Gamma) | April 5, 1974 | New Mexico State University | Las Cruces, NM | 1,859 |
160 | New Mexico Beta ** (Chi) | April 6, 1974 | University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM | 1,796 |
161 | Oklahoma Gamma ** (Sigma) | April 7, 1974 | Oklahoma State University | Stillwater, OK | 2,488 |
162 | Wyoming Alpha ** (Omega) | April 19, 1974 | University of Wyoming | Laramie, WY | 2,725 |
163 | Colorado Delta ** (Alpha Alpha) | April 20, 1974 | Colorado State University | Ft. Collins, CO | 1,857 |
164 | South Dakota Alpha ** (Tau) | April 22, 1974 | South Dakota Sch of Mines & Tech | Rapid City, SD | 2,473 |
165 | South Dakota Beta ** (Delta) | April 23, 1974 | South Dakota State University | Brookings, SD | 1,269 |
166 | North Dakota Beta ** (Pi) | April 24, 1974 | University of North Dakota | Grand Forks, ND | 1,285 |
167 | Idaho Alpha ** (Rho) | May 2, 1974 | University of Idaho | Moscow, ID | 1,436 |
168 | California Rho ** (Alpha Kappa) | May 9, 1974 | California State University, Fresno | Fresno, CA | 1,492 |
169 | Nevada Alpha ** (Alpha Epsilon) | May 10, 1974 | University of Nevada, Reno | Reno, NV | 1,282 |
170 | Utah Gamma ** (Alpha Delta) | May 11, 1974 | Utah State University | Logan, UT | 1,350 |
171 | Ohio Kappa ** (Phi) | May 21, 1974 | University of Akron | Akron, OH | 2,023 |
172 | Ohio Lambda ** (Alpha Theta) | May 22, 1974 | Youngstown State University | Youngstown, OH | 1,294 |
173 | New York Rho | May 26, 1974 | New York University Tandon School of Engg | Brooklyn, NY | 1,767 |
174 | Indiana Epsilon | February 22, 1975 | Trine University | Angola, IN | 1,012 |
175 | Alaska Alpha | April 5, 1975 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Fairbanks, AK | 666 |
176 | Massachusetts Eta | April 19, 1975 | Boston University | Boston, MA | 2,028 |
177 | Illinois Epsilon | April 3, 1976 | Southern Illinois University at Carbondale | Carbondale, IL | 1,318 |
178 | Alabama Gamma | March 27, 1977 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1,346 |
179 | Tennessee Epsilon | April 2, 1977 | The University of Memphis | Memphis, TN | 1,128 |
180 | Florida Delta | December 3, 1977 | University of Central Florida | Orlando, FL | 2,363 |
181 | Michigan Eta | February 11, 1978 | Lawrence Technological University | Southfield, MI | 1,913 |
182 | Michigan Theta | February 17, 1979 | Oakland University | Rochester, MI | 1,169 |
183 | Virginia Gamma | March 17, 1979 | Old Dominion University | Norfolk, VA | 1,193 |
184 | North Carolina Delta | March 23, 1979 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, NC | 1,422 |
185 | Alabama Delta | January 26, 1980 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1,931 |
186 | California Sigma | January 24, 1981 | University of California, Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara, CA | 1,631 |
187 | Arizona Gamma | March 7, 1981 | Northern Arizona University | Flagstaff, AZ | 771 |
188 | South Carolina Gamma | March 28, 1981 | The Citadel | Charleston, SC | 1,306 |
189 | Michigan Iota | January 16, 1982 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | Dearborn, MI | 974 |
190 | California Tau | April 3, 1982 | University of California, Irvine | Irvine, CA | 1,838 |
191 | Maryland Gamma | January 13, 1984 | The United States Naval Academy | Annapolis, MD | 2,042 |
192 | Illinois Zeta | January 28, 1984 | University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, IL | 2,002 |
193 | California Upsilon | February 18, 1984 | California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento, CA | 2,976 |
194 | Montana Beta | March 24, 1984 | Montana Tech of The Univ of Montana | Butte, MT | 1,140 |
195 | Florida Epsilon | February 9, 1985 | Florida Atlantic University | Boca Raton, FL | 1,461 |
196 | New Mexico Gamma | March 2, 1985 | New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology | Socorro, NM | 939 |
197 | Massachusetts Theta | March 9, 1985 | University of Massachusetts Lowell | Lowell, MA | 1,698 |
198 | Colorado Epsilon | November 23, 1985 | University of Colorado at Denver | Denver, CO | 844 |
199 | North Carolina Epsilon | February 18, 1986 | North Carolina A&T State University | Greensboro, NC | 1,019 |
200 | Florida Zeta | March 1, 1986 | Florida Institute of Technology | Melbourne, FL | 1,296 |
201 | California Phi | March 5, 1988 | University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 621 |
202 | Michigan Kappa | March 18, 1989 | Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, MI | 1,330 |
203 | Tennessee Zeta | January 6, 1990 | The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 798 |
204 | Alabama Epsilon | February 3, 1990 | University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1,295 |
205 | Wisconsin Delta | March 10, 1990 | Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | 991 |
206 | Ohio Mu | May 5, 1990 | Wright State University | Dayton, OH | 1,193 |
207 | New York Sigma | February 2, 1991 | Alfred University | Alfred, NY | 587 |
208 | Virginia Delta | February 9, 1991 | Virginia Military Institute | Lexington, VA | 812 |
209 | Connecticut Gamma | March 9, 1991 | University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 464 |
210 | New York Tau | March 16, 1991 | Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | 1,184 |
211 | Wisconsin Epsilon | February 1, 1992 | University of Wisconsin-Platteville | Platteville, WI | 917 |
212 | Florida Eta | February 29, 1992 | FL A&M Univ.-FL State Univ. | Tallahassee, FL | 1,235 |
213 | Massachusetts Iota | March 21, 1992 | Western New England University | Springfield, MA | 555 |
214 | California Chi | March 28, 1992 | California State University, Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 593 |
215 | Oregon Beta | February 13, 1993 | Portland State University | Portland, OR | 527 |
216 | Louisiana Epsilon | March 13, 1993 | University of New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | 588 |
217 | Maryland Delta | December 11, 1993 | University of Maryland Baltimore County | Baltimore, MD | 816 |
218 | California Psi | February 5, 1994 | University of California, San Diego | San Diego, CA | 1,931 |
219 | Florida Theta | March 12, 1994 | Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1,507 |
220 | Nevada Beta | February 4, 1995 | University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Las Vegas, NV | 995 |
221 | Georgia Beta | February 11, 1995 | Mercer University | Macon, GA | 517 |
222 | Washington Delta | February 25, 1995 | Gonzaga University | Spokane, WA | 628 |
223 | Minnesota Beta | February 3, 1996 | University of Minnesota, Duluth | Duluth, MN | 749 |
224 | California Omega | February 10, 1996 | Harvey Mudd College | Claremont, CA | 428 |
225 | California Alpha Alpha | March 2, 1996 | California State University, Chico | Chico, CA | 892 |
226 | Colorado Zeta | March 8, 1997 | United States Air Force Academy | Colorado Springs, CO | 1,410 |
227 | Maryland Epsilon | March 7, 1998 | Morgan State University | Baltimore, MD | 464 |
228 | Ohio Nu | March 3, 2001 | Cedarville University | Cedarville, OH | 358 |
229 | Missouri Delta | January 26, 2002 | The University of Missouri-Kansas City | Kansas City, MO | 333 |
230 | Oregon Gamma | February 9, 2002 | University of Portland | Portland, OR | 440 |
231 | New Hampshire Beta | February 23, 2002 | Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH | 535 |
232 | Texas Mu | March 3, 2002 | University of Texas at San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | 469 |
233 | Virginia Epsilon | March 1, 2003 | Virginia Commonwealth University | Richmond, VA | 514 |
234 | Idaho Beta | January 17, 2004 | Idaho State University | Pocatello, ID | 187 |
235 | Michigan Lambda | March 27, 2004 | Grand Valley State University | Grand Rapids, MI | 295 |
236 | California Alpha Beta | February 12, 2005 | University of California, Riverside | Riverside, CA | 530 |
237 | New Jersey Epsilon | January 28, 2006 | Rowan University | Glassboro, NJ | 575 |
238 | New York Upsilon | February 10, 2007 | United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 513 |
239 | California Alpha Gamma | March 10, 2007 | San Francisco State University | San Francisco, CA | 454 |
240 | California Alpha Delta | February 9, 2008 | University of California, Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz, CA | 391 |
241 | Ohio Xi | February 23, 2008 | Miami University | Oxford, OH | 397 |
242 | Kentucky Gamma | February 27, 2009 | Western Kentucky University | Bowling Green, KY | 240 |
243 | Idaho Gamma | March 13, 2010 | Boise State University | Boise, ID | 340 |
244 | Florida Iota | March 12, 2011 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ | Daytona Beach, FL | 409 |
245 | California Alpha Epsilon | February 25, 2012 | University of San Diego | San Diego, CA | 249 |
246 | Pennsylvania Mu | January 26, 2013 | Penn State Erie, The Behrend College | Erie, PA | 224 |
247 | New Jersey Zeta | March 2, 2013 | The College of New Jersey | Ewing, NJ | 307 |
248 | Missouri Epsilon | March 23, 2013 | Saint Louis University | St Louis, MO | 304 |
249 | Texas Nu | March 22, 2014 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | 317 |
250 | Indiana Zeta | March 28, 2015 | Indiana University-Purdue University Ind | Indianapolis, IN | 203 |
251 | Arizona Delta | April 11, 2015 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | Prescott, AZ | 305 |
252 | North Carolina Zeta | March 19, 2016 | East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 204 |
253 | Idaho Delta | March 4, 2017 | Brigham Young University-Idaho | Rexburg, ID | 303 |
254 | Oregon Delta | April 14, 2018 | Oregon Institute of Technology | Klamath Falls, OR | 193 |
255 | Texas Xi | February 15, 2020 | University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson, TX | 202 |
256 | Arkansas Beta | March 7, 2020 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 47 |
257 | Georgia Gamma | October 9, 2021 | Georgia Southern University | Statesboro, GA | 59 |
258 | Georgia Delta | February 25, 2023 | University of Georgia | Athens, GA | 164 |
259 | Tennessee Eta | March 4, 2023 | Lipscomb University | Nashville, TN | 40 |
260 | North Carolina Eta | March 18, 2023 | Western Carolina University | Cullowhee, NC | 29 |
261 | Massachusetts Kappa | March 25, 2023 | Merrimack College | North Andover, MA | 54 |
262 | United Arab Emirates Alpha | March 3, 2024 | American University of Sharjah | Sharjah, | 65 |
263 | Qatar Alpha | March 5, 2024 | Texas A&M University at Qatar | Doha, Qatar | 21 |
*Indicates chapter is inactive.
*Name of the Sigma Tau chapter merged with the Tau Beta Pi chapter in 1974.
**Name of the Sigma Tau chapter converted to the TBP chapter on the establishment date shown.
New York Gamma became inactive in 1916 when a changed institute policy refused access to students' grades and thus made identification of the high-standing juniors and seniors impossible. Another change in policy permitted reinstatement of the chapter in 1936.
Massachusetts Gamma Chapter charter was withdrawn in 1938 when undergraduate engineering instruction at Harvard University was no longer offered.
North Carolina Beta's charter was withdrawn in 1938 when all undergraduate engineering curricula were transferred from the University of North Carolina to North Carolina State University where a chapter was already in existence.
New York Epsilon and New York Zeta Chapters were merged into the New York Rho Chapter on May 26, 1974, after their original harboring institutions, the School of Engineering and Science of New York University and the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, were merged into the Polytechnic Institute of New York.
Colorado Gamma Chapter surrendered its charter on May 30, 1975, when the University of Denver ceased offering engineering education.
California Pi Chapter returned its charter on December 31, 1991, when Northrop University closed its doors.
New York Lambda's charter was withdrawn in 1993 when Pratt Institute ceased offering engineering education.
Collegiate Chapter Organization
Collegiate chapters are administered by a corps of officers including a president, vice president, recording secretary, corresponding secretary, treasurer, and cataloger, all of whom must be active members of the chapter, although not necessarily undergraduates. An Advisory Board consisting of thepresident, vice president, and corresponding secretary of the chapter and four alumni members of the Association (usually faculty) selected by the student members acts in ajudiciary capacity at the local level. The president is usually a chapter's delegate to the Convention, the Association's governing body which meets annually. Collegiate chapters draw up their bylaws which set out, in further detail than is covered by the Association's Constitution and Bylaws, operating procedures followed by the local group.
Requirements for New Collegiate Chapters
Charters for new collegiate chapters are granted only by a three-fourths favorable vote of the Convention. Recommended minimum qualifications of petitioning groups and their institutions, as set forth in Tau Beta Pi's Bylaws, are as follows:
- That the institution grant 40 or more engineering bachelor's degrees a year.
- That three engineering curricula be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, unless the institution offers a "unified" curriculum or unless all curricula are accredited.
- That the petitioning group have been organized and operating as a local society along Tau Beta Pi lines for two years.
- That at least three members of the faculty be members of Tau Beta Pi.
- That a majority of the engineering faculty be members of their respective national technical societies.
Chartered Alumni Chapters – List here
Alumni Chapter Organization & Establishment
Alumni chapters are composed of alumni members who join together to advance the causes of the engineering profession, to be of service to local members of the Association and to the membership of neighboring collegiate chapters, and to advance the principles and ideals of Tau Beta Pi. The chapters are self-governing as far as does not conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association. They are known by the name of the city or area in which they are located. Each alumni chapter is entitled to be represented by one or more delegates at the annual Convention, and, if represented, is entitled to one vote in the Convention.
New alumni chapters may be chartered by the Executive Council when written application is made by at least ten alumni members of the Association.
Districts
Schemes for organizing Tau Beta Pi's chapters by districts had been suggested for many years before a specific plan was presented to the 1975 Convention. The plan was approved for a three-year trial and, following its success on an experimental basis, was formally adopted by the 1978 Convention. The need for districting was evident as the number of chapters increased and it became impossible for a few Association Officials to pay regular chapter visits. District Directors, located close to their relatively small number of chapters, now supply thefrequent personal relationship that is a necessary ingredient for the health of the chapters.
Under the plan the Executive Council created 15 geographical districts and assigned each collegiate and alumni chapter to the appropriate one. District 16 was established in 1999. Activities under the leadership of the District Directors have included visits to chapters, District conferences for chapter representatives, publication of District newsletters, and meetings of District delegates at the annual Convention. The focus of District programming is to strengthen the collegiate chapters and to enlist the interest and aid of alumni members in their work.Training student officers in chapter management and overcoming the effects of discontinuity in chapter membership arising from rapid student turnover are examples of specific programming.
With adoption of the District Program, the former offices of Director of Alumni Affairs and Director of Chapter Development were eliminated, and their duties were transferred to the District Directors or the Headquarters staff. District Map (clickable version)
Membership
There is now only one "class" of members in Tau Beta Pi, the former classifications of Member with Distinction, Honorary Member, and Associate Member having been discontinued. Election to membership in the Association is accomplished only by vote of a collegiate chapter, and members' chapter designations are always those of the chapters which elected them. Members' class numerals are those of the years in which they received the engineering degrees on which their eligibility was based, although members with no engineering degree are designated by the year in which they were initiated. Candidates eligible for consideration for election to membership by a collegiate chapter fall into five general categories:
- Undergraduate students.
- Graduate students.
- Alumni of the chapter's institution who were eligible as students.
- Alumni of other institutions who were eligible as students.
- Engineers of high attainment in the profession, regardless of college attended, scholastic record, or educational background.
Undergraduate Eligibility Requirements
Undergraduate students whose scholarship places them in the top eighth of their engineering class in their next-to-last year or in the top fifth of their engineering class in their last college year are eligible for membership consideration. These scholastically eligible students are further considered on the basis of personal integrity, breadth of interest both inside and outside engineering, adaptability, and unselfish activity.
Prior to the fall of 1941, Tau Beta Pi's scholastic requirements were that eligible candidates stand in the top eighth of the junior class, but in the top quarter of the senior class. The classes graduating in 1942 were thus the first to be considered under the higher requirements.
Some chapters set a scholastic-grade deadline below which candidates are not considered, such deadline being higher than that required as a minimum by the Constitution.
Elections and initiations are normally held twice a year, in the fall and winter or spring terms of the chapter's institution.
Student electees who are financially unable to meet the initiation-fee obligation may make delayed payment arrangements with their chapters, may borrow from the Association's loan fund, or may accept election but postpone initiation for up to five years.
Until 1969 membership in Tau Beta Pi was limited to men, although qualified women were offered an award called the Women's Badge. From its authorization in 1936 until its elimination by the admission of women to membership, 619 Women's Badges were awarded by 98 chapters. Those women have now been offered membership by their chapters.
Graduate Eligibility Requirements
Engineering graduate students whose scholarship places them in the top fifth of their graduate class or whose high-quality work is attested to by a faculty member may be elected to membership.
Engineering alumni of a chapter's institution or of another recognized institution whose scholastic record placed them in the top fifth of their class may be elected to membership. Such candidates are usually recommended to the chapter by a member who knows them.
In all cases the requisite scholastic attainment makes candidates eligible for membership consideration. They are further considered on the basis of the Association's exemplary character requirement.
Eminent Engineer Eligibility Requirements
Persons who have achieved eminence in engineering may be elected to membership without regard to collegiate records. If they graduated from a recognized engineering college, they must have been engaged in engineering for at least 10 years; if not, they must have practiced engineering for at least 15 years. Such candidates are usually recommended by members who know them. The required degree of eminent achievement is left to the chapters' discretion; and candidates are further considered on the basis of exemplary character.
Membership Data
Tau Beta Pi membership catalogs were published in 1898, 1911, 1916, 1926, 1932, and 1939. The 1946 Convention authorized discontinuance of publication of them because of the excessive cost in future years and limited use to which they would probably be put. In their place the Secretary stands ready to furnish membership information for authorized use. A file of members arranged chronologically by chapters is kept and is made up of the original catalog cards of all initiates. Electronic data processing is used for the storage and retrieval of membership data.
Government
The general government of The Tau Beta Pi Association Inc., is vested in the Convention and the Executive Council in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws. The Convention and the Executive Council have control of all matters and affairs pertaining to the Association as a whole, but may not interfere with the internal affairs of any chapter, except in matters of discipline.
The Convention
The Convention of Tau Beta Pi, normally meeting annually, is the legislative body of the Association and the final court of appeals in all matters of interpretation of the Constitution and Bylaws and of discipline. It is made up of one voting delegate from each of the collegiate and alumni chapters, the members of the Executive Council, the Executive Director, Directors of Alumni Affairs, Rituals, Fellowships, and Engineering Futures, and 16 District Directors.
The Convention elects the Executive Council and grants new chapters. It may enact the general Bylaws of the Association and may amend the Constitution, subject to ratification by the collegiate chapters. The Convention is primarily financed by a portion of the fees paid by the new initiates of each chapter in the previous year. A Convention Fund, established in 1978 and invested by our trustee, earns an annual return which aids in meeting the costs of attendance by the collegiate chapter delegates. The Convention sites and dates are listed here.
Executive Council & Headquarters Staff
The Executive Council is a group of alumni members elected by the Convention to lead the Association, under the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws and the Acts of the Convention. It guides the programs of Tau Beta Pi through a full-time Executive Director, whose offices at the University of Tennessee are the Headquarters of the Association, and other Association Officials whom it appoints. All actions taken by the Council or the Association Officials are reported back to the Convention.
The first Council was elected by the first Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 28, 1895, at which Pennsylvania Alpha, Michigan Alpha, and Indiana Alpha were represented. Through 1923, Councils were elected annually from the alumnus membership.
In 1923, the Convention adopted the plan of having the members of the Council elected from the same locality to serve for three years. The first "package" Council was located at the University of Michigan and served the 1924-27 and 1927-30 terms. The amendments adopted by the 1923 Convention also stipulated that the no longer was to be a member of the Executive Council but that the Council was to appoint an alumnus member to fill the office. R.C. Matthews, Secretary of the Council from 1905 to 1912 and during 1924, was appointed and continued in the position until his retirement in 1947.
World War II prevented the holding of Conventions in 1942, 1943, 1944, and 1945, and the Washington, D.C., Council continued in office until 1947. Incorporation of the Association in 1947 required enlargement of the Council to five members. The 1949 Convention increased the Council's term to four years. The 1997 Convention eliminated the "package" plan and allowed members of a Council to reside anywhere.
The 2015 and 2016 Conventions eliminated election of members as a slate, shortened the term to three years, enlarged the Council to nine members, and set elections to occur annually.
By action of the 1946 Convention, R.C. Matthews was retired as Emeritus and given a lifetime pension. He died in 1978 at the age of 99. Robert H. Nagel became and Editor in August 1947 and served to October 1982 when he was named Emeritus; he died in 1997 at the age of 79. James D. Froula became and Editor in October 1982 and was named Executive Director in 1999 and served to October 2011 when he was named Emeritus. Curtis D. Gomulinski was installed as , Editor, and Executive Director in October 2011. The title of was retired by the 2015 Convention.
The full-time position of Assistant was created by the Executive Council in 1963. Its first occupant was F.F. Lyle Jr. who served to 1969. R.E. Warmack served from 1970-72, J.P. Kesselring from 1972-74, D.J. Soukup from 1976-84, and K.L. Martin from 1984-86. R.E. Hawks was appointed to the post in May 1986 and served until 2016 when the position was retired by the Executive Council.
R.C. MATTHEWS
Illinois Alpha 1902 Secretary of the Association 1905-12 Secretary-Treasurer 1912-47 Emeritus 1947-78 |
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R. H. NAGEL New York Delta '39 Editor of The Bent 1942-82 Secretary-Treasurer 1947-82 Emeritus 1982-97 |
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J. D. FROULA Tennessee Alpha '67 Editor of The Bent 1982-2011 Secretary-Treasurer 1982-11 Executive Director 1999-2011 Emeritus 2011- |
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C. D. Gomulinski Michigan Epsilon '01 Editor of The Bent 2011- Secretary-Treasurer 2011-16 Executive Director 2011- |
Recent Executive Council Members by Term of Office
Term | Council Members | |
---|---|---|
2024 | President – R.M. Hickling Vice Pres. – M.A. Peterson Secretary – H.H. Houh Treasurer – M.J. Hand |
Councillor – R.K. Alexander Councillor – C. Hill-Stramsak Councillor – M.D. Lin Councillor – T.A. Pinkham Councillor – J.M. Sciacca |
2023 | President – R.K. Alexander Vice Pres. – R.M. Hickling Secretary – M.L. Peterson Treasurer – M.J. Hand |
Councillor – M.D. Lin Councillor – M.A. Peterson Councillor – J.M. Sciacca Councillor – G. Youssef Councillor – M.M. Youssef |
2022 | President – M.M. Youssef Vice Pres. – R.K. Alexander Secretary – M.L. Peterson Treasurer – R.W. Pierce |
Councillor – R.M. Hickling Councillor – M.D. Lin Councillor – G.J. Morales Councillor – J.M. Sciacca Councillor – G. Youssef |
View a list of previous Executive Council members.
Other Association Officials
In addition to the Executive Council members, the Executive Director, and the publication boards of The Bent and The Bulletin, the following positions have been created by the Convention and the officials have been appointed by the Executive Council.
Director of Alumni Affairs
The office of Alumni Representative was created by the 1925 Convention. The position's title was changed by the 1972 Convention to Director of Alumni Affairs, but the office was eliminated in 1978 with adoption of the District Program. The 2012 Convention reinstated the position. The duties of the Director are to stimulate and maintain alumni interest and support for Tau Beta Pi, to encourage the formation of alumni chapters, and to represent the alumni at the Convention and before the Executive Council. Directors of Alumni Affairs have been:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1925-26 | E.T. Mehren |
1926-27 | J.F. Fairman |
1927-30 | F. Burton |
1931-32 | A.D. Moore |
1932-36 | C.H. Spencer |
1936-41 | W.E. Jessup |
1942-48 | J.E. Jagger |
1948-55 | R.B. Allen |
1956-63 | M.V. Burggraaf |
1963-66 | R.W. Gunther |
1966-71 | J.M. Kane |
1971-73 | D.J. Jay |
1974-78 | J.W. Jimenez |
2013- | T.E. Gomulinski |
Director of Rituals
The position of Master of Rituals was created by the 1927 Convention, after a one-year trial; the title was changed by the 1972 Convention to Director of Rituals. Duties include keeping watch over the form, phraseology, and physical make-up of the rituals, receiving and analyzing suggestions for changes, and handling all matters in connection with the rituals and related ceremonies. Directors of Rituals have been:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1926-49 | W.N. Espy |
1948-57 | L.T. Monson |
1957-79 | H.F. McGaffey |
1979-81 | L.D. Wechsler |
1981-83 | D.A. Snyder |
1983-91 | R.L. Turner |
1991-93 | D.A. Snyder |
1993-2003 | A.R. Hirsch |
2003- | E.J. D'Avignon |
Fellowship Fund Trustee
The office of Fellowship Fund Trustee was created by the 1930 Convention and was replaced with a corporate trustee under the direction of a three-member Trust Advisory Committee by the 1964 Convention. The duties of the office included holding, investing, conserving, increasing, and expending the monies of both Tau Beta Pi's Fellowship and The Bent Life Subscription Funds as the Constitution and Bylaws required and as the Convention and the Executive Council ordered. Fellowship Fund Trustees were:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1930-63 | M. De Groote |
1963-65 | E.E. Tuttle |
Trust Advisory Committee
The Trust Advisory Committee, created by the 1964 Convention, is charged with issuing instructions to Tau Beta Pi's corporate trustee for the purchase and sale of assets held by the trustee in The Bent Life Subscription, Fellowship, Greater Interest in Government, Convention, Engineering Futures, Scholarship, and Program Development Funds. The trustee has the responsibility of making periodic recommendations to the Committee for investing and reinvesting assets to meet the objectives of the funds as stated in the Constitution and Bylaws. Members of the Trust Advisory Committee have been:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1965-72 | E.E. Tuttle (chair), H. Hoover Jr. , T.G. Myers, C.R. Dodson (1969-72) |
1972-74 | C.R. Dodson (chair), T.G. Myers, L.T. Monson |
1975-83 | C.R. Dodson (chair), G.P. Palo, H.F. Pierce |
1983-85 | C.R. Dodson (chair), H.F. Pierce, R.F. Smith |
1985-86 | R.F. Smith (chair), F.P. Linaweaver, H.F. Pierce |
1986-89 | R.F. Smith (chair), F.P. Linaweaver, G.H. Schlimm |
1990-95 | R.F. Smith (chair), R.C. Clark, G.H. Schlimm |
1995-2000 | R.F. Smith (chair), R.C. Clark, J.W. Johnson Jr. |
2001-03 | R.F. Smith (chair), J.W. Johnson Jr., J.A. Runde |
2004-06 | R.F. Smith (chair), J.W. Johnson Jr., M.A. Di Flora |
2007-2019 | R.F. Smith (chair), J.W. Johnson Jr., H.W. Lange |
2020- | J.W. Johnson Jr., H.W. Lange |
Director of Fellowships
The position of Director of Fellowships was established by the 1932 Convention, the Alumni Representative having fulfilled the duties of the office in 1929-32. The Director is charged with the administration of Tau Beta Pi's Fellowship Program. Directors of Fellowships have been:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1933-46 | A.D. Moore |
1946-47 | P.A. Singleton |
1947-79 | P.H. Robbins |
1979-92 | L.J. Hollander |
1992-94 | D.R. Reyes-Guerra |
1994-2015 | D.S. Pierre Jr. |
2016- | S.J. Steadman |
Fellowship Board
The Fellowship Board was created by the 1932 Convention to aid the Director of Fellowships, especially in the selection of fellowship awardees. The Alumni Representative and the Executive Councillors served as the Fellowship Board in 1929-32. Since 1932, the board has consisted of the Director of Fellowships and the following alumnus members:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1933-37 | A.H. Aldinger, F. Burton, C.F. Hirshfeld |
1938 | F. Burton, C.F. Hirshfeld |
1939 | F. Burton, J.W. Parker |
1940-41 | F. Burton, P.W. Ott, W.B. Stout |
1947 | R.A. Kampmeier, J.C. Wagner, W.C. White |
1948-52 | C.G. Fink, R.S. Healy, J.C. Wagner |
1953-69 | R.S. Healy, E.A. Salma, J.C. Wagner |
1969-70 | D.C. Fullarton, E.A. Salma, J.C. Wagner |
1970-77 | D.C. Fullarton, E.A. Salma, K.H. Strauss |
1978-79 | L.J. Hollander, E.A. Salma, K.H. Strauss |
1979-83 | W.E. Moore Il, E.A. Salma, K.H. Strauss |
1983-87 | W.E. Moore II, E.A. Salma, D.R. Reyes-Guerra |
1987-89 | V.A. Marsocci, E.A. Salma, D.R. Reyes-Guerra |
1989-92 | J.W. Hollenberg, V.A. Marsocci, D.R. Reyes-Guerra |
1992-96 | L.J. Hollander, J.W. Hollenberg, V.A. Marsocci |
1996-2003 | H.J. Chaya, S.L.R. Holl, V.A. Marsocci |
2003-08 | S.L.R. Holl, L.J. Hollander, V.A. Marsocci |
2008-09 | S.L.R. Holl, L.J. Hollander, J.L. Jamieson |
2009-10 | D.W. Donahue, S.L.R. Holl, J.L. Jamieson |
2010-12 | D.W. Donahue, S.L.R. Holl, J.L. Jamieson |
2012-13 | C.W. Caldwell, D.W. Donahue, S.L.R. Holl, J.L. Jamieson |
2013-14 | C.W. Caldwell, D.W. Donahue, R.E. Efimba, S.L.R. Holl |
2014-19 | C.W. Caldwell, M.M. Darrow, S.C. Dao, R.E. Efimba |
2020- | R.E. Efimba, L.W. Faidley, S.D. Fantozzi, A.M. Richards |
Director of the District Program & District Directors
The position of Director of District Programs was established by the 1978 Convention after the District Program had been in experimental use for three years, during which time J. T. Pedersen served as Director. The office was eliminated in 1991 when the Executive Council assumed oversight responsibility. The position was re-established as the Director of the District Program for a three-year trial period in 2016. As part of the program, 16 geographical Districts have been established, with each of the collegiate and alumni chapters assigned to a District, each headed by one or more District Directors. The Directors of District Programs were:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1978-82 | T.R. Howard |
1982-83 | R.L. Werneth |
1983-87 | J.R. Luchini |
1987-91 | J.W. Johnson Jr. |
2016-2018 | K.J. Hammar |
2019 | J.P. Blackford |
2020- | S.L. Forkner |
Director of Engineering Futures & Facilitators
The position of Director of Engineering Futures was established by the 1993 Convention after the Engineering Futures Program had been in experimental use for four years, during which time M. S. Polston served as Director. As part of the Futures Program, approximately 40 trained teaching Facilitators have been appointed throughout the 16 Tau Beta Pi Districts. The Directors of Engineering Futures have been:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1994-95 | A.C. Hwang |
1995-99 | R.M. Hickling |
1999-2002 | R.W. Pierce |
2002-08 | A.M. Brenner |
2009-15 | R.W. Pierce |
2015- | K.L. Colbry |
Director of Chapter Development
The position of Chapter Coordinator was established by the 1947 Convention after having been in unofficial and experimental existence for ten years. The position title was changed by the 1972 Convention to Director of Chapter Development. The office was eliminated in 1976 with adoption of the District Program. The duties of the position were to encourage proper chapter operations under the Constitution and Bylaws, to provide for the exchange of information on projects and activities through publications and Convention programs, and to conduct an annual chapter survey. Directors of Chapter Development were:
Term | Director |
---|---|
1937-46 | P.A. Singleton |
1946-59 | M.E. Van Valkenburg |
1959-71 | J.R. Young |
1971-76 | G.R. Ames |
Finances
Because the operation of collegiate chapters of Tau Beta Pi is entirely under
the control of the local groups (except in regards to minimal qualifications for
membership and the broad limitations imposed by Convention acts), no central
records of chapter finances are kept. The chapters are required to pay the Association $55 for each new member. Beyond that, chapters are financially independent and are permitted to charge total initiation fees as they choose. Initiation
fees average $89 and are set by the chapters to cover a variety of local costs.
The 1947 Convention increased the national initiation fee from $14 to $16 per person to offset higher costs of Headquarters operations (the previous change had been in 1934 when it was reduced from $15); since then it has been raised periodically to $21 in 1972, $23 in 1990, $27 in 1994, $32 in 2004, $45 in 2014, and $55 in 2016. The Association provides each new initiate with an engraved key, embossed membership certificate, informational literature, and a four-year subscription to The Bent for which $12 is allocated. The remaining $43 is used to support Convention expenses and pay a small portion of Headquarters personnel, service, and supply expenses.
In addition to the initiation fees, Association income is derived from annual and life subscriptions to The Bent, interest on investments, gifts and bequests, and a few other sources. The annual Alumni Giving Program is the major source of revenue.
The Association's fiscal year runs from August 1 to July 31, and a balance sheet and a receipts-expenditures statement are published in The Bent each year, taken from an audit report by a certified public accounting firm.
The Fellowship, Life Subscription, Convention, Engineering Futures, Greater Interest in Government, Program Development, Scholarship, MindSET, and various donor-named funds are invested and are held for the Association by a corporate trustee under the direction of the Trust Advisory Committee. The Fellowship Fund receives transfers from surplus, donations, and bequests that are made from time to time by the Council and transfers from the Life Subscription Fund on the death of life subscribers. The Life Subscription Fund consists of payments by life subscribers to The Bent. Other assets are managed by the Executive Director.
The Student Loan Fund, to which is added one-half of all interest collected on student loan notes and contributions, is a "book-value" fund whose assets are held by the Executive Director as loan notes.
Alumni Giving Program
The annual Alumni Giving Program began in modest fashion in 1963 and is managed by the Executive Director. The assistance of a professional vendor has been used since 1974-75.
Code of Ethics of Engineers
The Fundamental Principles
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the engineering profession by:
Using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare;
being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity the public, their employers and clients;
striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and
supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.
The Fundamental Canons
- Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.
- Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.
- Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
- Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
- Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
- Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the profession.
- Engineers shall continue their professional development through- out their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.
The Tau Beta Pi Yell (traditional) | The Tau Beta Pi Yell (modern) |
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Ammeter, Indicator, Wye Level Wye. Slide Rule, Dynamo, Tau Beta Pi! Adopted in 1908 Written by R.C. Matthews, IL A 1902 |
Calculate, Innovate, Try, Try, Try. Integrity, Honesty, Tau Beta Pi! Adopted in 1978 Written by H.F. Klos Jr., PA Z '78 |
The Seal of Tau Beta Pi |
Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS)
The Association of College Honor Societies was organized October 2, 1925, by a group of college and university teachers, administrators, and representatives of a few well-established honor societies. Its object was then and is now to consider problems of mutual interest such as those arising from the confusion prevailing on college campuses concerning the character, function, standards ofmembership, multiplicity, and undesirable duplication of honor societies; to recommend action leading to appropriate classification, higher standards, reasonable cost of membership, consolidation or elimination; and to promote the highest interest of honor societies.
There were six initial honor societies in the A.C.H.S.: Phi Beta Kappa, in liberal arts; Sigma Xi, in scientific research; Tau Beta Pi, in engineering; Phi Kappa Phi, in all academic fields of university scope; Alpha Omega Alpha, in medicine; and Order of the Coif, in law. Provision was made for responsibility to be lodged in a Council which consists of an official representative of each member society. Provision was made also for meetings, admission of other societies found to have proper qualifications, for admission fees and annual dues, and for needed studies, reports, and recommendations.
Former Tau Beta Pi President A. D. Moore was a leader in the formation of the A.C.H.S. in 1925. He served as our representative from 1925-32 and was president of the A.C.H.S. in 1933-37. President P. W. Ott was our representative from 1932-47, serving as vice president of the A.C.H.S. in 1939. Former Secretary R. H. Nagel was representative from 1947-82, secretary-treasurer from 1949-57, and president from 1957-59. Secretary J. D. Froula became Tau Beta Pi's representative in 1982 and served on the executive committee in 1987-89, as vice president in 1989-91, and as president in 1991-93.
Sixty-seven honor societies are now members of the A.C.H.S., although several of the founding societies have withdrawn. Tau Beta Pi is classed as a general honor society of the scholarship variety, as distinguished from the leadership kind. A third classification by the A.C.H.S. is that of specialized honor societies, and a fourth is freshman scholarship societies. Definitions, standards, requirements for membership, and a statement on the functions of honor societies were adopted by the A.C.H.S. in 1944. These were incorporated with appropriate modifications in the Constitution and Bylaws of the A.C.H.S. in 1951.