Tau Beta Pi

The Engineering Honor Society

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Chapter Advisors

Each chapter is required to have a minimum of four Advisors who are Tau Beta Pi alumni elected for staggered terms of four years each by the chapter's members, one new member being elected in the spring of every year at the same time that new chapter's officers are elected.

Four Advisors, designated by the chapter, also serve as officers of the chapter and are members of the chapter's Advisory Board. Any Advisor can be assigned the role of Chief Advisor by the chapter's members, however it is recommended that the Chief Advisor be a member of the institution's engineering faculty.

For more information on the role of advisors, see the Advisor's Book.

Reports Requiring Advisor Signoff

Advisors are not primarily responsible for completing chapter reports, but they have a specific role to play for the reports below. The links will take you to the relevant pages that give more detail on the relevant report and how to complete it.

  • Advisor Evaluation

    At the end of each academic year, advisors complete the Advisor Evaluation, a quick survey in which advisors can provide feedback on the status of the chapter and input on their own involvement and knowledge of TBP Programs.

  • Report of Officer and Advisor Election

    Once you've elected all your new officers (or at least the President, VP, Secretaries, and Treasurer), you need to complete the officer election report available on the online reports system as well as the officer signatures form and submit them within two weeks. The signatures form should be emailed to HQ. These reports are due within two weeks of the officer election.

  • Officer Signatures Report

    During every election cycle there is an election process where the advisors are elected as well as the officers. The Advisor needs to be ready to sign off that this election occurred properly.

  • IRS Form 990-N

    In order to maintain a chapter's nonprofit status, a chapter must submit the IRS 990n annually. Because this form is completed only once a year, and because it is completed differently from all the other chapter reports, many chapters have an advisor complete the form, given the longer term served by the advisor compared to the students.

  • Report of Eligibility

    For graduate students, alumni, and eminent engineers, a paper form is required in order to process their eligibility for initiation. The Chief Advisor must sign the form before it is submitted to HQ. Students may also not be aware that this form is due at least two weeks before the initiate election is held; advisors can make sure that the deadline is meant.

Tips for Advising

Each chapter is required to have a minimum of four Advisors who are Tau Beta Pi alumni elected for staggered terms of four years each by the chapter's members, one new member being elected in the spring of every year at the same time that new chapter officers are elected.

Four Advisors, designated by the chapter, also serve as officers of the chapter and are members of the chapter's Advisory Board. Any Advisor can be assigned the role of Chief Advisor by the chapter's members, however it is recommended that the Chief Advisor be a member of the institution's engineering faculty.

For more information on the role of Advisors, see the Collegiate Chapters Advisor's Manual.

Students want you to be there!

Advisors should be present and approachable, their feedback and support can be helpful for meetings and events. Most officer teams have more requests than you will have time to provide.

Your biggest focus as an advisor is to protect the chapter from breaking rules with the school or the TBP Association. Read and understand both sets of bylaws.

But don't take the reins for the chapter!

Remember the boundaries of your role, the President is still the primary leader with a team of students to take charge. An advisory board can be a steadying force, but officer roles are designed to train leaders and run the chapter.

Make sure students are able to and empowered for taking control the chapter with their goals, without breaking rules of the school or the TBP Association.

Interacting With Students

Be trusted, be direct, but don't be mean.

Many advisors are faculty members who have years of training interacting with students in the classroom, but remember to treat advising time like office hours. The officers want your help, and your encouragement will help them immensely.

Many TBP members and especially leaders will go on to represent the Engineering Profession as leaders in industry or academia. Your influence is appreciated and valuable.

Splitting Responsibility

Many advisor teams find that it is easiest to focus on specific facets of advising which allows a more balanced and seasonally predictable workload. Tenure-track faculty can be extremely appreciative of these finite roles.

Here are some specific tasks that can be split among the advisors:

  • Audit the financial records of the chapter at the end of each year.
  • Serve on initiation teams to lend an element of faculty interest to that important ceremony.
  • Attend routine meetings, possibly on a rotating basis among the advisors.
  • Provide space for the chapter files and equipment when the chapter has no special room.
  • Provide space to hang the framed chapter charter -- perhaps in the office of the Chief Advisor, if the charter cannot be permanently and properly displayed in the dean's office.
  • Provide services to aid in the preparation of chapter records and reports.
  • Review the chapter election procedure and the chapter bylaws.
  • Attend the Convention and/or District conference.

Chapter Advisor Lookup

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