January 2022 Advisor eNotes

Winter 2022 Advisor eNotes

Welcome Back from break! This page contains important information and links to help you and your chapter as the new calendar year begins. A summary is at the top of the page with links to more detailed information and references. Check out additional chapter resources as some chapter operations will continue to be conducted virtually. Please share this information with your chapter members as appropriate.

Remind members to apply for TBP Fellowships and Scholarships. Fellowship application deadline is February 1
Chapter Officer tips on reporting, eligibility, image materials, and membership invitation letters
If your chapter has new officers this term, submit your Report of Officer & Advisor Election and Officer Signatures Report
Find ideas for new chapter projects
Submit award nominations (Distinguished Alumnus, Laureate, McDonald Mentor, Outstanding Advisor)
See the 2022 Convention dates
Remind officers to attend your District Conference
Welcome our new District Directors
Have your chapter share their plans for Tau Beta Pi Day 2022 (3.14.22)
Don't miss the next Tau Bate Talks of 2022 on Sunday, February 20
Plan to attend the new Engineering Futures sessions for spring
Consider networking with local alumni
Read about the Chapter Endowment Initiative

Tau Beta Pi Fellowships & Scholarships

Applications for fellowships are now available online. The deadline to apply is February 1, 2022. The stipend is $10,000 for a year of graduate study. Any member or electee is eligible as long as they are an initiated member on the date the fellowship is awarded. Additional information can be found here.

The Scholarship application period will open on February 1 with a deadline of April 1, 2022.

Please inform your members of the Fellowship and Scholarship Programs!

Tips for New Chapter Officers

Chapters must use the interactive, Electronic Reporting System for all undergraduate membership reports. Your chapter has only one user name and password; if you do not have or remember your login or password. Details on how to submit membership reports are available online.
Headquarters must approve the eligibility of graduate students, alumni, and eminent engineers BEFORE they are elected to membership. A manual Report of Eligibility must be submitted for these candidates AT LEAST two weeks before your initiation. This form must be . If approved, your graduate students/alumni/eminent engineer candidates will be added under the "Others" menu under Membership Reports.
Order the free image materials from HQ to help improve your chapter's image on campus.
Use the four sample letters for membership invitations. A letter from the dean to the candidate or to the parents of the candidate increases the likelihood that a candidate will pursue membership. You must coordinate with the dean and dean's staff to ensure the letter is sent early enough. See instructions and sample letters.
Attend monthly Chapter Chats! These sessions were created to provide an opportunity for leaders of the collegiate chapters to interact with each other, members of the Headquarters team, and Association Officials. Sessions will be recorded and posted for viewing for those not able to attend live. Check here for the date and topic of the next Chat.
A checklist of your required reports and deadlines is available on the home page of the Electronic Reporting System. Review each of these items ahead of time to keep your chapter on track throughout the year. This includes membership, Convention, and chapter operations reports. Some chapters need to file a form 990-N in the coming months; check the list of due dates.

Officer Elections

If you elected new officers for this term, submit your Report of Officer & Advisor Election and an updated Officer Signatures Report within two weeks of election or as soon as possible if you have already held your election.

Project Ideas and Reports

The Project Reports from last year's winning chapters are posted online. Check with your dean's office, campus volunteer center, or local charities for possible projects; find additional ideas here.

Any chapter reporting projects/activities on their Chapter Survey at the end of the year MUST submit a project report or lose points towards the Chapter Excellence Award. Use the Electronic Project Reporting System, located under Other Reports in the Chapter Reporting System, to ease the chapter workload by providing tools to quickly and comprehensively develop a report, serve as a central hub for all project reports for the full year, and quickly combine all reports for a given year into an annual report. Watch the video on how to use the new reporting portal.

Association Award Nomination Deadlines

Due February 1 - The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes alumni who have continued to live up to the ideals of TBP as stated in our Eligibility Code and to foster a spirit of liberal culture throughout their lives after college years. Any chapter or member may nominate one (or more) alumnus member(s) for the award. Read the information sheet & download a Distinguished Alumnus nomination form.

Due April 1 - The Laureate Program recognizes members who excel in areas outside of engineering (arts, athletics, service, and diverse achievements). Nomination reference letters must be emailed to HQ. Winners will be announced in July, and each winner receives $2,500, a recognition plaque, and is invited to the Convention. Read the information sheet.

Due April 1 - The McDonald Mentor Award celebrates excellence in mentoring. The winner receives an engraved medallion, pin, and $1,000, and the nominating chapter receives $1,000. Read the information sheet.

Due April 1 - The Association's Outstanding Advisor Award recognizes outstanding performance among the Chapter Advisors of Tau Beta Pi. The winner receives a plaque and $1,000, and the nominating chapter's dean receives $1,000 for its discretionary fund. Read the information sheet.

2022 Convention

The 2022 Convention will be held in Knoxville, TN, September 29-October 1. Plans are to hold an in person event, but check the website for updates beginning in June.

2022 District Conferences

District Conferences will be held both in person and virtual formats this year and are scheduled from February through April. These conferences include members from all of the chapters in your District and are an invaluable training tool for new officers and members who want to be more involved with the Association. The primary goal is to aid in chapter officer transition and onboarding to help maintain continuity for chapter leadership. Conferences are coordinated by your District Directors who are a vital resource for your chapter. Your Directors' contact information is available online. The 2022 District Conference schedule has not been completed, but the partial schedule can be seen here.

New District Directors

Welcome to our new District Directors:

Sandhiya Kannan, NY O '17, District 2 Director, effective January 2022
Natalie M. England., LA A '08, District 12 Director, effective January 2022

Go here for complete listing of District Directors.

Celebrate Tau Beta Pi Day - 3.14.22

Join your fellow Tau Bates in making Pi Day an international event for the Association by wearing your Tau Beta Pi apparel or insignia on Pi Day, Monday, March 14. We encourage you and your chapter to host or participate in a Tau Beta Pi Day event. LIke last year, we are also asking all members to take a picture of themselves wearing TBP apparel or holding insignia items. Share it on social media with #TauBetaPiDay and/or send them to . We will incorporate the pictures into a series of videos and post them on social media and on our website every two weeks beginning in February and continuing through Pi Day. You can purchase TBP apparel, including PiDay T-shirts, from the online store.

If your chapter is planning to host an activity, send an email to by February 15, 2022, telling us about activities your chapter has planned so we can share this information with others in your geographic area. Learn more.

Tau Bate Talks Series Resumes in 2022

Last year, the Association introduced Tau Bate Talks, a series of monthly presentations given by Tau Bates who have used their engineering background to pursue fascinating experiences. Join us for the second talk of 2022 on Sunday, February 20, at 4 p.m. ET. "Engineering Impact in Drug Discovery and Development" will be presented by Julie A. Fogarty, Ph.D., TX A '13, a research scientist in formulation and process development at Gilead Sciences. For more information about Julie, the topic, and registration go here.

Virtual Engineering Futures Sessions for Spring

Information on the Engineering Futures Program and the 2022 Online program schedule is available here. Here are details of the next session:

Wednesday, February 2, 7:00 p.m. EDT - "Teaming Up: Effective Groups and Meetings," Presented by Chris Reidy, Register here. Registration for the Zoom sessions is free and anyone can attend. Descriptions of the sessions and registration details can be found here.

Networking with Alumni

Are your student members interested in networking with Tau Beta Pi alumni in your area and building some professional connections? Have they considered inviting them to your initiation or to participate in other activities? Your officers can contact your local alumni chapter from this list of active chapters. If there isn't an alumni chapter near you, please Tricia Gomulinski, Director of Alumni Affairs. She can contact alumni in your area and/or connect your students with alumni elsewhere, depending on your chapter preference and plans.

Chapter Endowment Initiative

We are pleased to report on the continuing success of our Chapter Endowment Initiative, by which alumni, companies, and foundations can permanently endow the Association's activities that support any of our 251 collegiate chapters. Last year we reported 21 gifts or pledges to either fully or partially endow chapters, and this year we have 33 to add to the list as we strive to endow all of our chapters. Investment income from the endowments will provide permanent funding for students of the endowed chapter to: attend the annual Tau Beta Pi Convention; receive officer leadership training through the District Program; obtain professional development through Engineering Futures sessions; participate and facilitate MindSET activities; support Headquarters operations; and conduct chapter-directed activities on the college campus and in the local community. Headquarters will work with chapters to disburse funds when a chapter's endowment annual payout permits support of chapter activities. The president and chief advisor will be contacted if a grant is available.

As chapter advisors, we want to keep you in the loop as this initiative progresses. While there is nothing we need from you on an ongoing basis, we may periodically need your help in preparing a thank you note from your chapter, providing an update about your chapter, or perhaps meeting with a supporter of this initiative when they visit campus. Sherry Jennings-King, TN A '93, is our Director of Development and lead in this initiative. If you have questions, contact her by or by phone at 612-226-2922.

Thank You

Welcome to the start of a new year and thank you again for your dedicated work in 2021! Headquarters appreciates your service. You are vital, especially in initiating elected students and helping your chapter thrive. We look forward to better times for everyone in 2022. If you have questions about any of the information on this page, contact HQ at 800-828-2382 or .