Tau Beta Pi President's Book - Manual of Chapter Operations
Section B

Section VII - Facts for Electees

(2009 Edition - last update 11/11/2008)

A summary of facts of which each electee should be aware is listed below:




Introduction

• Tau Beta Pi is the engineering honor society, founded at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, on June 15, 1885. The annual Convention governs the Society.
• 8,000 initiates/year.
• 500,000 total / 445,000 living members; world’s largest engineering society.
• 234 collegiate chapters; 18 active alumnus chapters.
• 2006-10 Executive Council is from AZ/FL/SD.



Eligibility and Initiation

• Students of exemplary character are selected from the upper 1/5 of the senior engineering class and top 1/8 of the junior engineering class.
• All members are elected by the undergraduate student membership. No faculty input is required.
• The initiation ceremony requires a solemn promise to uphold honor/ethics & to support Tau Beta Pi.



Finances

• Total chapter initiation fee of $___ includes: $___, which stays with chapter, and $39, national fee.
• The $39 national fee includes: 
— $32 initiation fee (effective August 2004)
• $7.35 - membership key
• $3.40 - membership certificate
• $8.40 - 4-year subscription to THE BENT
• $3.90- Constitution & Information booklets and THE BULLETIN
• $8.95 - expenses of the Society
• (For an additional payment of $5, initiate may order a full-size Bent lapel pin instead of the official key; the order must be placed when the catalog cards are mailed; extra time is required to process the order.
—$7 Convention assessment (effective August 2008)

• No dues; however, thousands of alumni help to honor new members by contributing to the annual Alumni Giving Program, which reduces the initiation fee. In 2007-08, ~13,000 members gave $936,000 to Tau Beta Pi.
• Distribute BENT Life Subscription cards to initiates. Cost is $60 later, or $5.00 now, plus four annual installments of approximately $12.50.
• 78,000 Life Subscribers; cash transfers to Fellowship when subscriber dies.
  

Programs

• Alumni Giving - Enable the engineering profession to help recognize new members and support Tau Beta Pi programs
• Chapter Award - Outstanding and Most Improved Chapters
• Outstanding project activity & reporting/documentation
• Scholarships of $500 for outstanding 3-year project performance
• District - National officers visit, help, and teach chapter officers
• Distinguished Alumnus - Recognize outstanding alumni
• Engineering Futures - Provides leadership training instruction to student members
• Fellowship - $200,000 in $10,000-stipends to 20 Fellows
• Greater Interest in Government - Cash grants for public-oriented chapter projects
• Laureate - $2,500 awards to students who exemplify in outstanding fashion a "spirit of liberal culture"
• McDonald Mentor Award - $1,000 to Mentor & to Mentor's chapter
• National Outstanding Advisor - $1,000 to advisor & to dean’s discretionary fund
• Scholarship - $2,000 grants to ~230 engineering college seniors
• Student Loan - $40,000 on loan to members; $2,500 educational loan maximum
• Student Assistance - $2,000 available for grants to deserving student members





Information about the Ritual of which each electee should be aware:




Much of Tau Beta Pi's difficulty with the words “covenant,” “secret ritual,” “creed,” and “solemn promise” are theological in nature. Tau Beta Pi does not use these words in that context. The text below presents the broader, historical definitions of these phrases in order to give candidates time to think about the phrases’ meanings in order to make a decision about joining prior to the day of the initiation.

During the past 100+ years there have been concerns about the “secret” ritual of the Association. The Association prides itself on its long traditions, which include tracing the history of our initiation ritual to the Founder of Tau Beta Pi. In order to fully understand our Association and our Ritual, it is important to understand our past and the conditions that were present at the time of our founding. This is one reason that we require our members to read the Association documents prior to being initiated.

As times change, the contemporary interpretation of words and activities from our history change. However, it is critical for us to maintain an understanding of the intent of the original words. There is a clear distinction between contract and covenant. The original intent of the Founder of Tau Beta Pi was that our principles, which are today encompassed by “Integrity and Excellence in Engineering,” will remain even if some members violate those conditions. Thus one member failing to maintain Integrity and Excellence does not release Tau Beta Pi or any other member from their parts of the agreement.




Philosophy


A CONTRACT is an agreement made in suspicion. The parties do not trust each other, and they set “limits” to their own responsibility. In this context, when one party violates the limits of the contract the other party is freed from their responsibilities and is entitled to some recourse.

A COVENANT is an agreement made in trust. The parties share a mutual trust and put no limits on their own responsibility. In this context, when one party violates the limits of the covenant the other party retains full responsibility to the terms of the original agreement.



Definitions as intended by Tau Beta Pi

(Found in Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2008.)

1. Creed—a set of fundamental beliefs; also: a guiding principle
2. Covenant—a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement
3. Solemn—marked by the observance of established form or ceremony
4. Promise—to pledge to do, bring about, or provide