About Us

We consider that true integrity is the sine quo non for membership in Tau
Beta Pi, that it transcends in importance scholarship, activity, and every other qualification. Without private and
public integrity, we believe that no organization is worthy of existence. Under integrity, we include honor and
high standards of truth and justice.

The rating of people on the degree of unselfish activity manifested, is intended to indicate that Tau Beta Pi
believes that none can become worthy engineers without the welfare of associates, organizations, and the community
at heart.

- Excerpts from the Eligibility Code of the Tau Beta Pi Association

The Tau Beta Pi Association was founded at Lehigh University in 1885 by 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 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 has grown into an organization of 234 collegiate chapters and 16 active alumnus chapters which have
initiated 505,866 members. Tau Beta Pi has a world-wide reputation because of its high standards for membership.
Among it members are three U.S. congressmen, eight postage stamp honorees, 19 Noble prize winners, 47 recipients of
the National Medal of Technology, 58 honorees in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 58 astronauts, 77 recipients
of the National Medal of Science, hundreds of members of the National Academy of Engineering, hundreds of corporate
CEOs, and even a few Olympic athletes and NFL football players. Thousands of members have received top awards in
their national engineering societies. Tau Bates are known to be leaders in their profession.

- ACTIVITIES -

Tau Beta Pi chapters sponsor numerous projects which emphasize the Society's objectives - recognizing outstanding
engineering students and professionals and encouraging the interest of engineers in non-technical fields, the
college, and the community.

Typical projects include sponsoring seminars and speakers, tutoring fellow students, donating publications to
libraries, stimulating faculty-student communications, and evaluating faculty and courses. Tau Bates also assist
their communities in general volunteer activities, such as blood drives, educational exhibits, and special projects
for the elderly, the young, and the handicapped.

Through its national programs, Tau Beta Pi grants fellowship, scholarship, and laureate awards, makes educational
loans to its members, encourages student involvement in non-technical activities, and provides excellent leadership
training opportunities.

- ELIGIBILITY -

Tau Beta Pi collegiate chapters elect men and women who have distinguished themselves with outstanding
scholarship and character.

  • Students in the upper eighth of their junior engineering class or in the upper fifth of their senior or graduate
    engineering classes are eligible for consideration for membership in their college's Tau Beta Pi chapter.
  • The second eligibility requirement for Tau Beta Pi membership is good character. A Tau Bate has personal
    integrity, a wide range of interests, adaptability, and participates unselfishly in community and volunteer
    activities.

    • Website created by Eytan Biala