Tau Beta Pi Association Inc

The Tau Beta Pi Association Inc is a nonprofit organization that operates as the oldest engineering honor society in the United States. It was founded at Lehigh University in 1885 by Dr. Edward H. Williams, Jr., with the aim of recognizing distinguished scholarship and fostering a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges.

History

Tau Beta Pi was established in response to Phi Beta Kappa's decision to limit its membership to liberal arts students, thereby excluding those studying technical subjects. The society's first student member was Irving Andrew Heikes, the valedictorian of his class at Lehigh, initiated on June 15, 1885. The organization grew gradually, establishing its second chapter at Michigan State University in 1892. Over the decades, it expanded to numerous institutions across the United States and Puerto Rico.

In 1969, Tau Beta Pi began granting full membership to women, after previously offering a "women's badge" to exceptional female engineers. The society strengthened its presence by merging with Sigma Tau in 1974, another engineering honor society that had been founded at the University of Nebraska in 1904.

Mission and Values

The mission of Tau Beta Pi is "to mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as students in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering, and to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." The society emphasizes academic achievement and personal and professional integrity.

Chapters and Membership

As of recent data, Tau Beta Pi has over 635,000 lifetime members and operates more than 255 active collegiate chapters. It also maintains chartered alumnus chapters in multiple cities. The organization is classified as a 501(c)(3) entity, allowing its gifts and bequests to be tax-deductible.

Notable Members

Tau Beta Pi's membership includes several notable figures in engineering and technology, including astronauts and Nobel laureates.

Structure and Governance

The organization operates with a national structure that includes an Executive Council responsible for overseeing its policies and guiding its chapters. It is affiliated with various educational and engineering associations.