August 13, 2005

The Executive Council met in Huntsville, AL, on August 13, 2005.

The Council enthusiastically voted four Superior Service Awards and four Resolutions of Appreciation to retiring advisors of the collegiate chapters.

The Council reviewed the Membership Study Report for 2004-05 indicating that a significant number of engineering students continue to seem uninterested in Tau Beta Pi membership. Some chapters are engaged in the practice of electing all scholastically eligible members. This is a violation of the eligibility code. There are continued actions being taken to address these concerns.

The Council appointed Jeffrey A. Hester, WA A ’88, as District 14 Director for 2005-08. The Council reviewed arrangements for the October 6 meeting of National Officers and Directors in Salt Lake City, UT, and decided to hold the June 3, 2006, meeting of National Officers and Directors in either Miami, FL, or San Antonio, TX. The Council reviewed plans to prepare a new template for a model District operating plan and annual report.

Executive Director J.D. Froula reported on the status of the 2005 Alumni Giving Program and the status of various information-technology improvements; his fourth-quarter financial report of the fiscal year had been sent to the Council and was accepted, along with his annual report. The budget was amended, and the Council approved a new policy for named Tau Beta Pi awards. A salary adjustment for the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer was approved.

The educational loan of a borrower was extended under the usual conditions. A revision of the National Officials Appointment Policy was approved, and the Council endorsed the proposed “Learning of Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making in Engineering: Building a Community of Practice for Research” project to be managed by the NSF.

The Council reviewed a proposed article about The Bicycle Project and reviewed proposed partnerships with Kaplan AEC Education and Kaplan Test Preparation and with the Princeton Review. A new Strategic Plan goal to establish a K-12 partnership was identified.