FAQ

Tau Beta Pi is the premier engineering honors society in the United States, and membership provides a range of benefits and opportunities for students, graduates, and professionals in the field. As a member, you'll be recognized for your outstanding academic achievements, leadership, and character, and gain access to a supportive community of exceptional engineers. Membership in Tau Beta Pi also provides opportunities for networking, professional development, and community service projects, which can help you build your skills and advance your career. In addition, being a member of Tau Beta Pi is a great way to contribute to the engineering field and make a positive impact in your community. 

An honors society is a group of students who have achieved a high level of academic excellence in their field of study. Membership is typically invitation-only and based on specific academic criteria, such as a high GPA or outstanding academic achievement. Honors societies are dedicated to recognizing and celebrating exceptional academic achievements, while also providing opportunities for professional development, networking, and community service. In addition to recognizing academic excellence, honors societies also serve as a platform for building leadership skills and fostering a supportive community among members.

While both honors societies and fraternities are student organizations, they have different purposes and structures. Honors societies are focused on recognizing and celebrating academic achievement, and membership is based on specific academic criteria such as a high GPA. Fraternities, on the other hand, are social organizations that emphasize brotherhood or sisterhood and typically involve a formal recruitment process. While both types of organizations may offer networking opportunities and community service projects, their primary focuses are different. Honors societies are primarily focused on academic achievement and professional development, while fraternities are primarily focused on social activities and building a sense of community among members.

The selection criteria for joining Tau Beta Pi vary depending on whether you are a student or a graduate. For students, eligibility for membership is based on academic achievement and varies by institution. Generally, students must be in the top eighth of their junior class or the top fifth of their senior class and must have demonstrated exemplary character and leadership. Graduate students and alumni are also eligible for membership and must have demonstrated distinguished scholarship and outstanding character. Ultimately, the selection criteria for Tau Beta Pi are designed to recognize exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and character in the field of engineering, and very from Chapter to Chapter. 

The costs associated with joining Tau Beta Pi vary depending on the individual chapter and institution. There is an initiation fee that covers the cost of membership materials and official recognition of membership. However, many chapters also offer scholarships and other financial aid opportunities to help offset the cost of membership for those that cannot afford it. Overall, the cost of joining Tau Beta Pi is generally modest and is designed to be accessible to all eligible members. 

You can find out more about Tau Beta Pi by visiting our official website at www.tbp.org. Our website provides information about the history of our organization, the benefits of membership, eligibility requirements, and how to join. You can also find a list of collegiate and alumni chapters, as well as upcoming events and news about the organization. In addition, our website features resources for members, including career resources, scholarships, and opportunities for professional development. If you have additional questions or would like to speak with someone from Tau Beta Pi, you can contact us using the information provided on our website. 

You can find out more about Tau Beta Pi by visiting our official website at www.tbp.org. Our website provides information about the history of our organization, the benefits of membership, eligibility requirements, and how to join. You can also find a list of collegiate and alumni chapters, as well as upcoming events and news about the organization. In addition, our website features resources for members, including career resources, scholarships, and opportunities for professional development. If you have additional questions or would like to speak with someone from Tau Beta Pi, you can contact us using the information provided on our website. 

Tau beta pi is a non profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) which means its operating under the lodge system. Since the beginning we have referred to the different sites that operate as chapters so that's why we call them chapters. Each chapter, like the lodges defined in the tax code, is an independent organization that answers and operates under the name of the parent organization. The parent organization assists with logistics, finances and general operations while the chapter organizations handle local issues like events, meetings, recruitment. The chapters then relay all of the information back to the parent organization for accountability reasons and the parent organization makes sure that the chapters are behaving responsibly and equitably.