Tau Beta Pi

The Engineering Honor Society

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Tau Beta Pi January 2026 Officer eNotes

These eNotes contain important and up-to-date information and links to help you and your chapter as the academic year is underway. A summary is at the top of the page with links to more detailed information and references. If you have questions about the information provided, contact Headquarters at 865-546-4578 or by email.

CHAPTER OPERATIONS

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Membership Process, Initiations, and Virtual Resources

NOTE: Tau Beta Pi has updated the Officer Resources button in the electronic reporting system to include a number of initiation related resources (links) including script replacement ordering, kit parts ordering form and instructions, initiation fee tracker and payment links, and the hybrid initiation electee form.

Chapters must use the interactive, electronic reporting system on the web 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, please contact HQ at tbp.chapters@tbp.org to have your credentials reset. Details on how to submit the membership and chapter reports are available here online. You are strongly encouraged to review the model Membership Process Schedule when planning your chapter's activities.

  • Send professional membership invitation or email; sample electee invitations are here and sample electee materials are here.
  • Work with the dean's office to send a letter to candidates and their parents; sample student letter and sample parent's letter.
  • Discuss TBP member benefits during meetings with eligible candidates; a list of benefits is here.

Your Report of Eligibility is due at HQ within the first five weeks after the start of your school term. Bylaw III requires that a fine be levied if the report is not received. Your chapter may submit its Report of Eligibility using an Excel spreadsheet. Instructions are available here.

Your report must list the entire top-fifth of the senior class and the entire top-eighth of the junior class, (including those who are already members) even if some names are below a GPA cutoff set by your chapter. If your chapter has one, indicate the GPA minimum on the Report of Eligibility. Round any fraction up to the next whole number. For example, 1/8 of 100 is 12.5, so you would list the top 13 students. Also, if a tie exists you must list all students with the same GPA in the last position. It's okay to exceed the total number of eligible students in this case.

After contacting your eligible candidates, the chapter members must vote on those candidates and submit to HQ as the Report of Election. This report must be submitted with each electee's online catalog card (which should be completed by the electee) and APPROVAL RECEIVED BEFORE you hold your initiation. Contact Kelly Caro if you have not received approval at least two days in advance. DO NOT HOLD AN UNAPPROVED INITIATION as your chapter could be fined and placed on probation. Online catalog cards must be completed before membership items can be ordered. If you want keys and certificates for initiation, plan to submit at least three weeks before initiation.

Initiation Scheduling

When planning the date, time, and location for your initiation, make sure to communicate that information to your District Directors as soon as possible. One of their roles is to attend initiation ceremonies as representatives of the Association, but they need to know that information well in advance so they can make the appropriate travel plans and work and family arrangements. Letting them know the day of or week of usually won't cut it! You should also communicate this information to your chapter members, advisors, faculty members, and deans early as well. An audience to witness the ceremony and congratulate new members adds meaning and value to the ceremony. Of course, only faculty and deans who are members should be invited.

Report of Final Action, Roll Book Signatures & Initiation Fees

Within two weeks after your approved initiation, submit the Report of Final Action indicating who was initiated. Please make sure initiates print their name next to their signature and then upload your roll book signatures as a PDF along with the Final Action. Initiation fees are due two weeks after your initiation ceremony is held. Each candidate marked as initiated on your Final Action must have a signature or signature form attached to the roll book. New members will not be added to the system until the Report of Final Action is processed. You can check your chapter's status through the Electronic Reporting System.

Host an Engineering Futures Session on Your Campus

Engineering Futures (EF) is TBP's award-winning professional development program. The EF web page allows members to learn more about the program, view the upcoming online sessions, submit their interest in becoming a facilitator, and allows chapters to request an in-person session!

Request a Campus EF Session: TBP chapters may submit requests to host an in-person EF session for your own members and/or as a service or outreach activity for your campus or community. Go here to learn more and to request a session.

Important: The sessions are open to the public, so they are not limited to TBP members only. You also must have 15 people pre-registered two weeks before the requested session is scheduled. Contact Kelly Caro if you have questions about scheduling an EF session.

2026 District Conference Dates

District Conferences are typically scheduled from February to April. These conferences include members from all of the chapters in your District and are an invaluable training tool for new officers and members. The primary goal is to aid in chapter officer transition and onboarding to help maintain continuity for chapter leadership. They also provide a great opportunity to network and have fun! Conferences are coordinated by your District Directors who are a vital resource for your chapter. Your Directors' contact information is available online here. The 2026 District Conference schedule is here.

Chapter Report Grading

Information on Chapter Excellence Requirements and the scoring process are provided here.

Initiation Fee Increase

The 2024 Convention approved an increase to the initiation fee from $55 to $60 effective August 1, 2025. In addition, it is set to rise to $65 on August 1, 2026; $70 on August 1, 2027; and $75 on August 1, 2028.

New Requirement - non ".edu" email address

Effective in mid-February, 2026, Tau Beta Pi's online initiation process will now require the entry of two email addresses (one being a non ".edu" address) for each student member. In-line with recent changes, Tau Beta Pi hopes to keep in touch as students graduate and university email addresses are discontinued.

Fellowships

Inform your members of the Fellowship Program! Any current undergraduate member or electee is eligible to apply for a fellowship as long as they are an initiated member on the date the fellowship is awarded. Applications will become available online December 15, 2025. Fellowship applications are due by February 1, 2026; the stipend is $10,000 for a year of graduate study. Additional information is here.

Award Nominations

Award Nominations For information on the following awards, go here.

Due April 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) alumni member(s).

Due April 1 - The Laureate Program recognizes members who excel in areas outside of engineering (arts, athletics, service, and diverse achievements).

Due April 1 - The TBP-McDonald Mentor Award celebrates excellence among TBP educators and engineers who have consistently supported the personal and professional development of their students and colleagues as excellent mentors or advisors.

Due April 1 - The Association's Outstanding Advisor Award recognizes outstanding performance among the Chapter Advisors of Tau Beta Pi.

Celebrate Tau Beta Pi Day (Saturday, March 14, 2026)

We encourage you and your chapter to host or participate in Tau Beta Pi Day events and to proudly wear your TBP apparel. If Pi Day is during your school's spring break, consider hosting events throughout the month. Send an email to r.hubbuck@tbp.org by February 13, 2026, telling us about activities your chapter has planned so we can share this information with others in your geographic area. Learn more about Tau Beta Pi Day here.

New Engineering Solutions for Tomorrow (NEST)

Through NEST, a competition is hosted annually in which students submit solutions related to a general topic chosen by the Convention body. The students are encouraged to work in teams and present their solutions to the Convention in order to convince alumni and industry sponsors that their ideas are worth investing in to solve the NEST challenge. A panel of alumni selects the most innovative and practical solutions to be awarded an investment. The selected challenge topic for 2026 is "Mitigating the Impact of Natural Disasters." For more information visit their website or contact tbp.nest@tbp.org.

Tau Bate Talks Series

The Association continues to offer Tau Bate Talks, a series of monthly virtual presentations given by Tau Bates who have used their engineering background to pursue fascinating experiences. The talks are scheduled on one Sunday of each month. The next Talk, "Superconducting Quantum Hardware," will take place on January 18 at 4 p.m. ET, and will be presented by Aziza Almanakly, NY I '20. Register here for this event and to view a list of all past presentations and videos, visit our website.

Chapter Endowment Initiative (CEI) Update

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 257 collegiate chapters. In 2025 we received 34 gifts/pledges to either fully or partially endow chapters, as we strive to endow all of our chapters at the minimum level of $100,000 (minimum gift amount accepted is $5,000). 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 when a grant is available. Sherry Jennings-King, TN A '93, is the Director of Development & Communications and lead in this initiative. If you have questions, contact her at s.jennings-king@tbp.org or by phone at 612-226-2922.