The Fellowship Program is Tau Beta Pi's most important annual project for the advancement of engineering education and the profession. Fellowships are available both with and without stipend. Because of funds made available by generous alumni contributions, the stipend was raised to $10,000 in 1995. Approximately 35 Fellows are selected annually by the Fellowship Board from 200-250 applications. Both students and alumni may apply. Applications are available online begining each November.
An announcement is mailed in September to the permanent home address of each student member. Applications are available on the website beginning each September. Any member or electee who will be initiated before the February 1 deadline for application may apply. Awards are announced in April. Fellowship income is considered taxable by the IRS, but degree candidates may exclude such income as amounts required for tuition, books, supplies, and equipment.
Through the interest of the Best family, a trust fund in memory of Ina C. and Raymond A. Best, NY G ’33, was established in 1995 for a fellowship for a graduate engineer/member to be used exclusively for the purpose of studying business administration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and for acquiring a master’s degree in business. Application is made on the fellowship form and mailed to the Director of Fellowships by February 1. The amount of this special award is approximately $10,000, payable in 10 monthly installments.
The Tau Beta Pi Association Scholarship Program was established in 1998 to advance engineering education and the profession. One-time stipends of $2,000 are made to 40 or more members for their senior year of full-time engineering study. Applications are available online begining each November. Any undergraduate member or electee who will be initiated and reported to Headquarters before the deadline for application on March 1 may apply. Awards are announced in April.
Tau Beta Pi operates a Student Loan Program for two purposes: To make money available to student members who would otherwise be without sufficient funds to remain in college; and to allow new members who cannot afford the initiation fee at the moment to borrow the fee to fulfill their financial obligations to their chapters and the Association.
We emphasize that no one should refuse initiation for financial reasons. We suggest that chapter presidents inform eligible students of this fact and ask those with any financial concerns to see you privately. (See page B-18.)
The program is not advertised widely to avoid encouraging loan applicants who can find other sources of financial aid, because Tau Beta Pi's available loan funds are limited. An information sheet stating all details of the loan program currently in effect is mailed to each president in early October. The interest rate on student loans is 6% per annum; loan amounts vary from $25 to $2,500 and must be repaid within three years.
Each request for loan applications must come directly from the individual borrowers to the national Headquarters. This procedure is important because of the need to impress upon borrowers the fact that their indebtedness is to the national Association, not to their individual chapters. Applications may be downloaded from the website at www.tbp.org/chapters/resources.
The appropriate application (either Undergraduate, Graduate, or Initiation Fee) must be completed by the borrower, co-signed by a responsible U.S. citizen of legal age (preferably the borrower's parent or guardian), and signed by the borrower's department head and chapter officers. The completed application and a promissory note signed by the borrower and the co-signer must be sent to the Secretary-Treasurer for certification of the borrower's membership in Tau Beta Pi. A check should be received by the student within two weeks of certification.
Each chapter should maintain a file containing the information sheet and copies of the three different applications and the single promissory note, available upon request from HQs.
The basic principles of Tau Beta Pi's Student Loan Program are stated in Constitution Art. XIII, and the major procedures of operation of the program are stated in Bylaw XII. A brief history of the program is printed in the Information booklet.
The Engineering Futures Program prepares engineering students for their careers by enhancing their technical effectiveness through interpersonal skills and teamwork development. Courses are taught by 40 trained, volunteer Tau Beta Pi alumni who will travel to your campus to share the curriculum with your chapter members. Timing is planned according to your needs in two-hour intervals. A Saturday should be scheduled for longer 4- to 8-hour sessions.
Chapters are required to provide a room for the session, a VHS VCR with monitor, and a flip chart with pens. At least 15 participants are required for a session. National Headquarters will arrange a facilitator for your session and pay for his/her travel expenses. Expenses for meeting room, A/V equipment, and any meals provided as part of your chapter's program are the responsibility of your chapter.
Your chapter may schedule a session by completing and submitting an on-line request to Headquarters. Your facilitator, assigned by Headquarters, will communicate with your chapter representative about which modules will be presented. Please email or telephone the Headquarters staff if you have any questions.
ENGINEERING FUTURES CURRICULUM
I. Team Chartering (Presented to chapter officers and advisors.)
Part One - Defining the Role of Teams
Why organizations are moving to teams, Looking at your team, Defining the role of teams, Stages in team’s growth, Listening skills to ease moving through team stages.
Part Two - Developing the Team’s Own Charter
Exercise to build trust among team members, Develop ground rules, Anticipate challenges.
II. People Skills (Presented at Convention & special campus sessions.)
Part One - Communicating Situations
Describing the situation, Conceptual overview, Skill transfer.
Part Two - Motivation Problems
Difference between motivation and ability, Motivation by consequences, Practice.
Part Three - Ability Problems
Separation of ability from motivation, Asking for ideas, Dealing with "mixed" problems.
Part Four - Emergent Problems
Definition of emergent problems, To handle or set aside, Complex statements, Emotional statements, Handling it all.
III. Group Process (Presented at Convention & District conferences.)
Part One - Meeting Management
Stand-up meetings, Staff and project meetings, Determining whether/when to hold a meeting, Managing attendance, Managing the meeting room, Managing the topics in a meeting, Managing meeting roles and process, Closing a meeting.
Part Two - Group Process
Keeping meeting members on track, Handling problems in group process, Enlisting team support to handle problems, Group think.
IV. Analytical Problem Solving (Presented at District conferences.)
Part One - Problem Solving Model/Generating
The problem solving process, Basic team activities, Review of brainstorming, Lateral and vertical thinking, Analytical tools based on brainstorming.
Part Two - Problem Solving Model/Evaluating
Steps for evaluating options, Developing selection criteria, Weighted voting, Consensus.
Part Three - Problem Solving Model/Analytical Tools
Decision tree for selecting appropriate tools, Tools for generating, Tools for evaluating.
The Laureate Program is conducted annually to recognize up to five Tau Beta Pi student members who outstandingly exemplify the "spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." Award categories include arts, athletics, diverse achievements, and service. Tau Beta Pi chapters may nominate any of their student members as Laureate candidates.
Detailed information about Laureate nomination and selection follows on the next page. Note that there is no blank application to be completed and mailed. The nomination packet consists of all the appropriate information about the Laureate nominee compiled by your chapter. The cover letter should be signed by all seven members of your Advisory Board. Be sure to send three copies of all nomination materials.
Nominations must be received by the Secretary-Treasurer by April 1 with judging done by a committee of District Directors. All nominees are then notified in early summer. Tau Beta Pi Laureates receive $2,500 cash awards and plaques which are presented at the next Convention of the Association. The cash prize is considered taxable by the IRS.
Objective: A major purpose of The Tau Beta Pi Association, as stated in the Preamble to the Constitution, is ". . . to foster a spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." The Tau Beta Pi Laureate Program has been established to recognize members of Tau Beta Pi who have superbly demonstrated that technology alone is not the sole concern of the engineer. This concern for liberal culture is reflected by the nominee's achievements while enrolled as a student of engineering. It is hoped that greater emphasis will be placed on fostering a spirit of liberal culture by members of Tau Beta Pi through this program of nomination, selection, and recognition.
Basis for Nomination: The Laureate Awards are intended to honor those persons who have made outstanding contributions in areas of liberal culture as interpreted by the Laureate Selection Committee. These areas may include Arts, Athletics, Diverse Achievements, and Service.
Laureate Award and Recognition: Each of the Laureates selected shall receive a cash award of $2,500. The names of the Laureates shall be announced at the Convention and their photographs and accomplishments published in THE BENT.
A recognition plaque will be given to each Laureate. The Secretary-Treasurer of the Association shall arrange for an appropriate presentation of the plaque and cash award to the Laureate and arrange for letters and media recognition. A recognition plaque will also be awarded to the Laureate's nominating chapter at the National Convention.
Relationship to Other Awards: The Laureate award is a grant based on nomination, with no stipulations relative to any other award, grant, or fellowship. An individual may not be selected as a Laureate more than once.
Funding: As defined, the Laureate Program will cost up to $12,500 for annual cash awards. Expenses relative to plaques, publicity, and administration will add to the annual cost of the program.
History: The Executive Council was directed by the 1981 Convention to conduct the Laureate Program on a three-year trial basis. During the trial period, annual Convention Laureate Committees reviewed, modified, and improved the program to achieve its objective. The 1984 Convention formally established the Laureate Program and adopted a new Bylaw XI. A list of Laureates is included in the Tau Beta Pi Information Booklet.
LAUREATE NOMINATION AND SELECTION
Any Tau Beta Pi collegiate chapter is encouraged to nominate one or more of its active student members as a Laureate candidate. Nomination shall be made to the Secretary-Treasurer prior to the deadline set by the national Headquarters. A nomination packet should be prepared by the nomination committee, excluding but in consultation with the nominee. The format is left up to the discretion of the nominating chapter. It shall include each of the following in triplicate:*
1) A letter of nomination from the chapter specifying the
area of contribution and signed by each member of the Advisory Board. The Advisory
Board consists of the chapter's advisors, president, vice president, and corresponding
secretary.
2) A one-half-page nomination summary in the spirit of answering "What
are the five strongest points made in the documentation that makes this nominee
worthy of the Laureate designation?"
3) A one-half-page biographical sketch of the nominee prior to enrollment as an engineering student. The purpose of the biographical sketch is not to establish family history, heritage, birthday, or places of residence. Rather it should serve to give the committee an impression of the nominee's personality and development into an area of liberal culture. The nominee should provide the personal information; the chapter should write it in the third person.
4) A three-page description of the contributions by the nominee to the fostering of liberal culture. The contributions section serves as a description of the nominee's activities and accomplishments during his or her time as an engineering student only. Include all dates or periods of contribution, and approximate time spent on contributions. Realizing that selection committee members will probably not be experts in the nominee's field, nominators should avoid using jargon or making assumptions about what is "generally known." The description should be written by the chapter in third person.
5) A short description of Tau Beta Pi activities. This should include date of initiation, descriptions of offices held, committee work, and other Tau Beta Pi activities in which the nominee participated (include dates).
6) An unofficial transcript and a personal resume including the following information:
a) Expected date of graduation,
b) Home and school addresses and telephone numbers, and
c) Grade-point average.
7) Three confidential reference letters from appropriate college, community, and other persons, submitted in triplicate to the chapter nomination committee. (National officers are not permitted to write recommendations for candidates.) Note that letters of reference are not to be reviewed by the nominating committee or the nominee. All references must provide three copies of the reference letter, each in a sealed envelope with a signature on the back. The letters should be personal, of high quality, and from one who can speak to the qualifications upon which a nomination is based. References should specifically address the candidate's personality and contributions to liberal culture. They should not address the nominee’s academic accomplishments. Letters are important and are often a deciding factor.
8) Pertinent supplementary material. This is useful and provides another perspective of the nominee. It shall be concise and relevant and not be overwhelming or elaborate. CDs, videotapes, and photocopies of artistic works are discouraged, since the selection committee is unqualified to judge these submissions.
The Laureate Selection Committee, a committee of District Directors, shall select up to five Laureates, with a maximum of two awards given in any one category. Packets will not be returned unless requested.
*Bind the nomination materials only with paper clips and/or staples.
DEADLINE: April 1.
CHAPTER PROJECT GRANTS
Through the interest and generosity of an alumnus member of Tau Beta Pi, Frederick A. Faville, Illinois Beta '19, an endowment fund was established in 1969 to pay for awards in a program of Greater Interest in Government. The original feature of the program was an annual national student essay contest on the subjects of American citizenship, American government, or the responsibility of engineers to take an active part in civic and governmental affairs. (The essay contest was discontinued by the 1981 Convention.)
To further promote student interest in government and civic affairs, the 1980 Convention revised the program to provide awards in the form of chapter project grants. The grant money is to be used to help pay expenses of chapters wishing to pursue public-oriented projects. Not only will society benefit from student's efforts, but students will benefit from participating in projects performed in the public interest. The maximum grant will be $750. If multiple chapters propose a joint project, the maximum grant is $750/chapter.
Projects involving local primary and secondary schools are encouraged, especially if they promote the engineering profession or the importance of a strong math and science education. Projects that primarily benefit the Chapter's college or university are ineligible.
Proposals for grants will be judged by the Executive Council using these guidelines:
1. Projects should emphasize engineering service to society.
2. Originality, innovation, and potential impact of the project on the local community are important factors.
3. Projects should involve a significant portion of the active membership of the Chapter.
Written proposals should include the following:
1. A description of the project, why it is needed or what service it will provide, and pertinent background information.
2. An outline of previous activity by the chapter in this area, if any.
3. The specific goals and plans for implementation of the project.
4. Time schedule of the project.
5. An itemized budget request.
6. The approximate number of members participating and the name of the person to be responsible for the work as project director.
Proposals shall be as concise as possible in keeping with these requirements. The chapter president must sign the proposal. If the proposal is for the following school year, the incoming chapter president must also sign it. The presidents of all chapters must sign proposals for joint chapter projects. The deadline for receipt of proposals at Tau Beta Pi Headquarters is June 1 of each year. A chapter may may be submit more than one proposal.
Chapters submitting proposals will be notified no later than two weeks after a decision by the Executive Council. Publicity for approved projects by Tau Beta Pi shall be scheduled and prepared by the Executive Director. Grant payments shall be made for individual or group projects to chapters on a schedule appropriate to the project budget.
Each chapter receiving a grant shall prepare a final report on its completed project within one month of completion, but no more than one year after receiving the grant. The report shall be submitted to the Executive Director of the Association. The report shall describe the project work accomplished and account for use of the grant. A summary of the report shall be published in THE BENT. Failure to submit a final report will result in a $25 fine levied against the chapter or against each chapter conducting a joint project.
Copies of recent Greater Interest In Government project reports are available in .pdf format on the website.
The 1996 Convention established the National Outstanding Advisor Award, given initially in 1994 and evaluated during a three-year trial. The objective of the award, which includes a plaque, $1,000, and $1,000 in the name of the winner to the dean’s discretionary fund, is to recognize outstanding performance among the chapter Advisors of Tau Beta Pi.
Chapters may recommend one Advisor for the award based upon his or her contributions. A nominating committee from the chapter, excluding but in consultation with the Advisor-nominee, should prepare the nomination material and send it to the Secretary-Treasurer by April 1.
The following material should be sent in triplicate (elaborate presentations are discouraged; nomination packets will not be returned unless requested):
1) A letter of nomination from the chapter which specifies the manner in which the nominee has fulfilled, with sustained excellence (for a minimum of three years), the role of Advisor, consistent with the mission of Tau Beta Pi. The letter must be signed by each member of the Advisory Board, excepting the nominee.
2) A letter from the dean of engineering, supporting the nomination and addressing the closeness of the interaction of the chapter’s Advisor-nominee with the administration, on behalf of the chapter.
3) A letter from a District Director, supporting the nomination and addressing the closeness of the interaction of the chapter’s Advisor-nominee with the District Program.
4) A one-to-three-page description of the contributions of the nominee to the chapter. This should address the manner in which the Advisor-nominee fulfills the position in support of the mission of Tau Beta Pi. It is also useful to include information on the accomplishments (awards, activities, etc.) of the chapter under the leadership of the nominee.
5) A resume, not to exceed three pages, of the Advisor-nominee.
The award cannot be received more often than once every four
years.
Rev.
- April 1999
Through the interest and generosity of Cyril C. Young, Illinois Alpha '24, an endowment fund was established in 1992 to make money available to student members of Illinois Alpha and other Tau Beta Pi chapters who would otherwise be without sufficient financial resources to remain in college. Repayment is not required, no interest is charged on the financial aid provided, which is paid to the student(s) in either monthly installments during the school year of approximately $100 or a single lump-sum payment, and grantees are requested to help others in need should they become financially secure. Each student is limited to $1,000 in aid.
The Tau Beta Pi Association will provide the special, personalized assistance, so far as fund earnings permit. Application for special assistance funds must be made in a letter addressed to the Secretary-Treasurer, witnessed by the chapter president and treasurer and by one chapter Advisor. Selection of the student(s) will be made in a prudent way consistent with Tau Beta Pi policies. The Secretary-Treasurer will recommend selections to the President of the Association who shall approve or disapprove each application.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this program is to recognize alumnus members who have continued to live up to the ideals of Tau Beta Pi as stated in our Eligibility Code and to foster a spirit of liberal culture throughout their lives after their college years. The Tau Beta Pi Association has identified this award as an opportunity to “mark in a fitting manner” exemplary performance by alumni. Another purpose of the program is to demonstrate excellence and leadership in character and liberal culture to members of collegiate chapters and to influence their professional careers and personal lives.
Members of Tau Beta Pi who should be considered for this award have made exceptional efforts to promote a spirit of liberal culture on local, national, and international scales. Their achievements exemplify the diverse contributions which engineers make to society. They demonstrate the integrity, breadth of interest both inside and outside engineering, adaptability, and unselfish activity cited in our Eligibility Code. These outstanding Tau Bates continue to strive with integrity for excellence in their work and activities. They truly fulfill our Eligibility Code requirements by exercising their capacity for giving their best without limit.
Biographical profiles of recent winners are available in .pdf formt.
NOMINATION
Any chapter or member of Tau Beta Pi may nominate one (or more) alumnus member(s) for the award. The nomination (in four sets) shall be made to the Executive Director by April 1. Members serving as national officials of Tau Beta Pi shall not be considered.
The documentation required is:
1) A one-page nomination summary containing biographical information and a summary of the achievements and/or contributions of the nominee exemplifying the objective of the award.
2) A citation appropriate for presentation, documenting the nominee’s outstanding adherence to the Tau Beta Pi ideal of “fostering a spirit of liberal culture” in our society. The citation may be written by the nominating party. (It shall not exceed one page — double-spaced, 14 to 18 point.)
3) Two letters of reference from persons other than the nominating party or the sponsoring chapter president, who are familiar with the nominee’s contributions and achievements.
AWARD AND RECOGNITION
The award will be presented to each honored
alumnus at the Convention that year. In addition, Tau Beta Pi will present
each honoree with a recognition plaque and will pay appropriate travel
expenses for the honoree to attend. There is no cash award to the recipient.
Tau Beta Pi will name a national scholarship in honor of the recipient
in the following year. Recognition also includes publicity of the award
and scholarship in THE BENT and other national and local publications.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
The selection of the national recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award will be made by a committee of national officers appointed by the Executive Council.
The Tau Beta Pi Association
Nomination for Distinguished Alumnus Award (.pdf version of form)
Nominee Information
Name (first, initial, last): ___________________________________________________
Business Address: ___________________________________________________
Business Phone: ___________________________________________________
Home Address: ___________________________________________________
Home Phone: ___________________________________________________
Tau Beta Pi Membership
Undergraduate College & Date: _____________________________________________
Tau Beta Pi Chapter & Class: _____________________________________________
Date of Initiation: _____________________________________________
Examples of efforts to foster a spirit of liberal culture
Provide a summary of contributions of the nominee that are in harmony with the objective of the award, as stated in the program description. (Be complete and concise in your examples.)
Other items required for this nomination (attach to this form):
Citation.
Letters of reference from knowledgeable persons not referenced here.
Nominator Chapter President
Signature: _______________ _________________
Print Name: ______________ _________________
Date: ___________________ _________________
The Executive Council believes that it is important for Tau Beta Pi to conduct a national scholarship program to support undergraduate engineering students and to improv e the visibility of Tau Beta Pi at both the national and campus level s. This purpose is being served by both the Tau Beta Pi Association Scholarship Program and the Chapter Performance Scholarship Program.
The objective of the Chapter Performance Scholarship Program is to provide a structure whereby collegiate chapters may receive funds to award scholarships to undergraduate students on their campuses. The funds are awarded to chapter s based upon their performance in Tau Beta Pi projects. All chapters have an equal opportunity every year to earn a Chapter Project Award.
The Council established the performance-based Chapter Performance Scholarship Program as a trial in 1995 to award scholarships to students at selected engineering colleges with Tau Beta Pi chapters and made it permanent in 1997. The annual budget for the program is established by the Council. The amount of each scholarship was set at $500 by the Council in 1995. This amount may be adjusted by Council action, as appropriate, based on available funds and typical tuition costs.
Procedure:
1. A collegiate chapter shall be awarded a scholarship after earning three consecutive Chapter Project Awards.
2. An additional award shall be made for each consecutive Project Award earned after the initial three.
3. If a chapter does not earn a Project Award in one year, the requirement for three consecutive awards starts over.
4. Scholarship Awards shall be announced annually at the Tau Beta Pi Convention.
5. The criteria for locally awarding the scholarship(s) and the selection of the undergraduate engineering student candidate(s) are to be a joint effort between the local Tau Beta Pi Chapter and the college dean or his or her designated representative.
6. The chapter's college of engineering will be encouraged to match the funds provided by Tau Beta Pi.
7. Upon notification of the name and address of each undergraduate engineering student scholarship recipient, Tau Beta Pi shall issue a check to the individual. For ease of administration in some cases, such as matching awards from the dean or multiple awards made by a single chapter, Tau Beta Pi may transfer funds to a general scholarship fund of the college when notified of the name(s) and address(es) of the recipient(s).
• Each awarded scholarship shall be named The Tau Beta Pi Scholarship for (insert chapter name).
The basis of this program is the Secretary's Commendation , given by the Secretary-Treasurer to chapters that submit all of the required chapter reports and fees correctly and on time during a fiscal year. The 2004 Convention established a five-year-trial Secretary's Commendation Award Program to provide cash awards to every Tau Beta Pi chapter that wins a Secretary's Commendation . The annual budget for the program is established by the Executive Council. Funding for this program has not yet been identified and will be addressed by the Financial Affairs Committee of the 2005 Convention. The amount of the awards is set at $100, $200, and $300 as delineated below. The program is to be reviewed by the 2009 Convention.
Procedure:
1. • An award of $100 shall be given to any chapter that earns a Secretary's Commendation Award.
• An award of $200 shall be given to any chapter that earns a two consecutive Secretary's Commendation Awards
• An award of $300 shall be given to any chapter that earns three or more consecutive Secretary's Commendation Awards .
• A chapter may receive only one of the three above cash awards in a single year.
2. If a chapter does not earn a Secretary's Commendation in one year, the requirement for consecutive awards shall start over.
3. Awards shall be announc ed annually at the Tau Beta Pi Convention. Funds shall be credited to each winning chapter's Headquarters account.
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