About Tau Beta Pi
Tau Beta Pi is the national engineering honor society. It was founded in 1885 at Lehigh University by Dr. Edward H. Williams Jr. because he wished to recognize students of distinguished scholarship and exemplary character.
The Society has grown into an organization of 232 collegiate chapters and 16 active alumnus chapters which have initiated almost 500,000 members. Tau Beta Pi has a world-wide reputation because of its high standards for membership. Among its members are seven postage stamp honorees, two Draper prize winners, nine winners of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 12 Nobel Laureates, 27 recipients of the National Medal of Technology, 24 honorees in the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 41 astronauts, 65 recipients of the National Medal of Science, hundreds of members of the National Academy of Engineering, hundreds of corporate CEOs, two state governors, and even a few Olympic athletes and NFL football players. Thousands of members have received top awards in their national engineering societies. Tau Bates are known to be responsible leaders in their fields.
Tau Beta Pi's headquarters is located at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The National Convention, held in a different city each year, governs the Association through 400 representatives from collegiate and alumnus chapters and national officers.
Collegiate chapters are governed by the student members who elect their own officers. Each chapter operates within the national framework, but determines its own specific needs and goals. Four alumni serve as advisors of each chapter to provide guidance and continuity.