How to Join Tau Beta Pi
In order to be considered eligible for Tau Beta Pi membership, you must first meet the academic requirements (top 1/5th of Senior class or 1/8th of Junior class). Your scholastic achievement is certainly something you should be proud of. However, good grades alone are not enough to become a member. This page contains all the information about how to join TBP. Read on to find out what else it takes to become a member. Click on a link below to skip to a certain requirement.
- List of Eligible Students (Posted in VEC First Floor Glass Case)
- Undergraduate Student Requirements
- Graduate Student Requirements
- Bent Polishing
- Signature Sheet
- Initiation Fee
Requirement PDF (Spring 2011) THIS IS IMPORTANT, IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO JOIN IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO PRINT THIS OUT
Undergraduate Student Requirements
Here is a list of the various activities that must be completed in order to become a member of TBP.
- Meet the academic requirements (top 1/5th of the Senior class or 1/8th of the Junior class)
- Polish your individual bent until smooth and mirror-like.
- Participate in the group bent polish. TBA in the events page.
- Create and complete the bent approval signature sheet
- Submit a current resume to the Vice President via e-mail
- Pay the one time Initiation Fee
- Attend the TBP Initiation Ceremony.
- Participate in at least one TBP sponsored event (i.e. WE@BD, NSBE conference, Tutoring)
- Sign up and attend an officer interview by April 20, 2010
Information on how to complete these activities are found on this page. Please read through each section and make sure you understand them.
Check our Events schedule for the dates and deadlines of the above items.
Graduate Student Requirements
- Fulfill the requirements listed above
- Submit a letter from your graduate advisor verifying that you have completed at least 50% of your degree requirements
- Download and complete the form at http://tbp.org/Chapters/Reports/Paper/SectionEligibility.pdf. Please make note of the INSTRUCTIONS and REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION listed on the right side of the form.
Turn it in to an officer by April 16, 2010. If you can't make it to any office hours, please put it in an envelope (labeled Grad Student Eligibility) and slide it under the door.
Bent Polishing
Each candidate must polish a bent before obtaining the signatures for the Bent Approval Signature Sheet. Here are some suggestions for polishing the bent:
- Use a metal file to smooth out the rough surfaces and remove any extra material along the edges. An emery board (nail file) can also be used and works satisfactorily. No machinery may be used.
- Use sandpaper starting with medium (200 grit) and progress towards 320, 400, and continue up until 2000 or 2500 grit sandpaper.
- A mirror-like finish can be obtained by using metal polish (the best is Mothers Billet Metal Polish). A polishing wheel may be used for final finishing.
Polishing the bent can be frustrating and time consuming if not done properly. Candidates are encouraged to come to the Tau Beta Pi office or speak with any member for assistance or suggestions. This should be a memorable and fun experience.
Signature Sheet
Candidates are required to prepare a signature sheet with the following specifications (see example):
- Use one 8.5" x 11" sheet of good quality vellum paper
- All lines and lettering must be done in black using a 1/4" lettering guide and an ink pen
- Do not use a felt tip or ball point pen
- Do not use a computer
- The candidate's name and all other letters must be done with 1/4 inch block letters
- Provide enough space for each signature (seven faculty and seven student signatures)
An example of the pen and lettering guide can be found here.
Supplies can be bought at any art supply store such as Michaels or at stationery stores such as Staples, Office Depot, etc. Individual sheets of vellum are fairly inexpensive. The Art Supply Store on campus in the Fine Arts 3 building is said to have individual sheets for only several cents each and pigment ink pens at reasonable prices. The TBP Office has vellum paper and a lettering guide which can be used at the office only. Kai is said to be charging only a dollar for this!
Once the signature sheet is finished and your individual bent is polished, you may begin obtaining your signatures from seven student TBP members and seven TBP faculty members. You must reserve the first student signature line for the TBP President. The President will also be the last person to sign your sheet. Read those last two sentences carefully.
Be sure your bent is smooth and polished and that your signature sheet is created to the specification given in this section. Otherwise you must create another signature sheet (within specifications) and obtain all the signatures over. If you do not want to waste your time, do it correctly the first time. Don't forget, you're an engineer.
Initiation Fee
The initiation fee is due at the time of your interview. The one-time fee of $80.00 is broken up as follows:
| Local chapter operations | $35.00 |
| National Convention assessment | $12.00 |
| National Association expenses | $11.40 |
| Brass Bent | $ 6.50 |
| Four year subscription to the THE BENT | $ 6.40 |
| New Initiate Dinner | $ 5.00 |
| Membership certificate | $ 2.50 |
| Current constitution and information booklet | $ 0.75 |
| Subscription to the COUNCIL BULLETIN | $ 0.45 |
Make checks payable to Tau Beta Pi. If a hardship exists, DO NOT DELAY YOUR TBP INITIATION. Payments may be deferred or you may apply for a student loan from the Tau Beta Pi National Organization. If you require more information about either of these options, contact a Tau Beta Pi officer prior to your interview. All requests will be kept confidential.
Contact us at: tbpcaq@gmail.com
