Tau Beta Pi offers an incredible number of National Programs and Benefits for its members and chapters. This page offers a brief glimpse at each of the National Programs or Benefits and where to find additional information about each. Information about the member benefits can also be found on the national web site. Each program or benefit can roughly be thought of along two facets: target audience and involvement.
In terms of target audience, Tau Beta Pi has two types of programs. We have National Programs that are designed to be for the Chapter as a whole. A program like Engineering Futures that the the entire chapter can participate in is an example. Some programs target the needs and desires of individual members. The fellowship program is an example of a program that an individual member would participate in. In addition, our programs have two major levels of involvement. A large number of programs are designed for participation by members of chapters. The aforementioned Engineering Futures Program or the Fellowship Program would be examples. In addition to participation, Tau Beta Pi offers programs that allow recognition of achievements. Examples are the Laureate Program to recognize a member or the Chapter Project Award to recognize a Chapter.
Take all of these factors together and what do you get? An engineer's matrix! Click on any of the links below to jump to information about that program or feel free to scroll down to learn more about each program.
| Target Audience | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Members | Chapters | ||||
| Involvement | Participation |
AlumNet Employment Tools GEICO miQuotes |
My Home Benefits Student Loans Student Assistance Test Preparation |
Bicycle Project Engineering Futures Greater Interest in Government K-12 Math & Science Initiative | |
| Recognition |
Distinguished Alumnus Fellowships Laureates |
McDonald Mentoring Outstanding Advisor Scholarships |
Project Awards Secretary's Commendations |
R.C. Matthews R.H. Nagel | |
Audience: Members - Involvement: Participation
AlumNet
AlumNet facilitates mentoring by matching student members with participating alumni. This pairing allows information about a company, institution, location, etc to be shared between Tau Bates who are relative newcomers and Tau Bates who are more informed in that area. Contact is made via e-mail and alumni can offer advice, observations, general information, or assist students with decisions. Students have the opportunity to tap the vast knowledge of Tau Beta Pi alumni. Both alumni and students are encouraged to participate. More information is available on the national web site.
Employment Tools
Tau Beta Pi offers a vast assortment of tools to assist members in obtaining employment. Tau Beta Pi has partnered with Monterstrak.com as well as jobtarget.com (The Best People) to provide members with potential employment opportunities. In addition, the web site has a Recruiting Center including only those companies who advertise in The Bent with the specific intention of attracting Tau Bates for employment. One of our newest additions is the Women for Hire Network available to the female members of Tau Beta Pi. Additional information on all of these programs can be found on the national web site.
GEICO
Members may qualify for an additional discount on quality car insurance with complete 24-hour sales, policy, and claims service. More information is available on the GEICO web site.
miQuotes
Find the best rates for many types of insurance such as medical, term life, accident, dental, critical illness, disability, and long term care, with this free quoting service. More information is available on the national web site.
My Home Benefits
Through a partnership with SIRVA Relocation LLC, Tau Beta Pi members and their families can receive up to $1,000 or more when buying or selling a home, a $300 closing cost credit on a mortgage, and discounts on interstate moving, truck rentals, and in-transit storage. Additional information on all of these programs can be found on the TBP My Home Benefits web site.
Student Loans
Loans are available to student members of Tau Beta Pi in amounts ranging from $25 to $2,500. Repayment is required within 3 years and the annual interest rate is 6%. Loans are available to members to help defray the costs of school or to even pay the initiation fee. Additional information on this program is available in section C-26 of the President's Book as well as on the national web site.
Student Assistance
Through the generosity of C.C. Young (IL-A '24), Tau Beta Pi is able to offer assistance to members who would otherwise be unable to remain in college. Repayment is not required, but members receiving aid are asked to help those in need if they ever should be financially able. More information can be found in the President's Book in section C-26 or on the national web site.
Test Preparation
Members receive a 30% discount on preparation materials for the FE/EIT and PE engineering licensing exams through Kaplan AEC Education. Professional licensure in engineering often provides greater career opportunities. Also, members and their immediate families (spouse/partner or children) receive a 10% discount on any Princeton Review classroom prep course (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, SAT, or ACT) and $100 off any Online or LiveOnline prep course (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, SAT, or ACT). Additional information on the Kaplan program can be found on the national web site and requests for information about the Princenton Review can also be found on the national web site.
Audience: Chapters - Involvement: Participation
The Bicycle Project
The Bicycle Project of Tau Beta Pi is our first national project. The project's goal is to trademark our organization and to refurbish used bicycles and work with local charities to distribute them to the needy. The project was piloted in 2003-04 by Alabama Delta and is now available for all Chapters to participate in. All Chapters are encouraged to participate at whatever level is feasible for your location and Chapter size. Make sure to keep Headquarters aware of your involvement so an accurate picture of the project's evolution can be maintained. A comprehensive manual is available on the web and any questions concerning the project can be directed to your District Director or towards Pat at Headquarters (pat@tbp.org).
Engineering Futures
The Engineering Futures Program provides interpersonal skills for engineering students. Sessions are offered free to Collegiate Chapters and are taught by trained, volunteer Tau Beta Pi alumni. Chapters need only provide a meeting room, A/V equipment, and at least 15 interested students which can be any student, not just Tau Bates or engineers. Sessions are offered in the areas of People Skills, Team Chartering, Analytical Problem Solving, and Group Process. Advance planning of four to six weeks is required so a facilitator can be located to lead the session. Additional information on the Engineering Futures can be located in section C-27 of the President's Book or on the national web site.
Greater Interest in Government
Greater Interest in Government (G.I.G.) grants are given to Chapters to be used to help pay the expenses of a public-oriented project. Projects can center on any agency, department, organization or group associated with local, state and/or federal government. Proposals will be judged on originality, innovation, and potential impact of the project. The grants, of up to $750 per Chapter, must be submitted by June 1 so the Executive Council can evaluate and determine which Chapters will receive funding. Additional information about G.I.G. grants can be found in section section C-30 of the President's Book or on the national web site.
K-12 Math and Science Initiative
The goal of the K-12 Math & Science Initiative is to Encourage students to pursue K-12 students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We plan to work to implement programs at the national and chapter levels to equip teachers, parents, and students with skills necessary to pursue STEM careers. Part of the effort is to determine current K-12 involvement at the chapter level to prevent hampering of existing efforts and what can be incorporated at the national level. More information about the K-12 Math & Science Initiative can be found on the national web site.
Audience: Members - Involvement: Recognition
Distinguished Alumnus
The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes alumnus members who have continued to live up to the ideals of Tau Beta Pi to foster a spirit of liberal culture throughout their lives. Each winner receives a recognition plaque and is invited to the Convention, and a $2,000 national Tau Beta Pi Scholarship named in honor of the recipient is given to a student. Nominations for the Distinguished Alumnus Award may be made by any chapter or individual in Tau Beta Pi. The nomination deadline is April 1 and additional information can be found in the President's Book in section C-32 or on the national web site.
Fellowships
Fellowships are available both with and without a stipend of $10,000. Awards are granted to members on the basis of promise of future development in engineering or related fields and financial need. Any member planning on attending graduate school is encouraged to apply, even if your graduate study is already fully funded. In recent years, roughly 1 out of 10 applicants was awarded a fellowship so your odds of winning this prestigious honor are pretty good! Applications are due February 1 and more information can be found in the President's Book on page C-26 or on the national web site.
Laureates
The Laureate Program annually recognizes student members who outstandingly exemplify the "spirit of liberal culture in engineering colleges." Award categories include arts, athletics, diverse achievements, and service. Chapters may nominate any of their student members as Laureate candidates. Nominations must be received at headquarters by April 1. Winners receive a cash award of $2,500 and a plaque which are presented at Convention. Although up to five winners may be selected each year, less than 15 nominations per year have been submitted in recent years. More information can be found in section section C-28 of the President's Book or on the national web site.
McDonald Mentoring
The McDonald Mentoring Award is sponsored by Marion and Capers W. McDonald, NC G ’74 to celebrate excellence among Tau Beta Pi educators and engineers who have consistently supported the personal and professional development of their students and colleagues as excellent mentors or advisors. The award is designed to recognize members who are excellent mentors through consistent support of the personal and professional development of their students and colleagues. The prize includes a medallion, $1,000 honorarium, and $1,000 in the name of the winner to either the nominating or the winner's chapter. Any member or a chapter may prepare a nomination and send it in triplicate to the Executive Director by April 1. More information can be found on the national web site.
Outstanding Advisor
The National Outstanding Advisor Program recognizes the outstanding performance of a Chapter advisor. Each winner receives a plaque as well as a $1,000 cash award. $1,000 is also donated in the name of the winner to the dean's discretionary fund. A nomination committee from the Chapter should prepare the nomination (with the consultation of the nominee) and submit it to Headquarters by April 1. More information can be found in section section C-31 of the President's Book or on the national web site.
Scholarships
Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 are available to Tau Bates for their senior year of full-time engineering undergraduate study. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of high scholarship, strong recommendations, extracurricular activities, and financial need. All members who are eligible are encouraged to apply as the odds of winning a scholarship are better than 1 in 10. Approximately 40 scholarships will be awarded this year and the deadline for applying is March 1. More information on the Scholarship Program can be found on page C-26 of the President's Book or on the national web site.
Audience: Chapters - Involvement: Recognition
Project Awards
Chapters completing an outstanding array of projects during a year are eligible to receive a Chapter Project Award. Awards are given out to Chapters that complete a diverse number of activities in areas such as assisting the college, education and professional development, chapter/social, promoting engineering, and liberal culture. Awards are based on the chapter survey and project reports submitted each spring, so make sure to submit a thorough and complete one to headquarters.Chapters that receive a Project Award for three consecutive years will receive a $500 scholarship to award to someone at their college. The money is given directly to the student receiving the award. The award continues to be given each year as long as the Chapter has received three consecutive Project Awards. More information on the Project Awards can be found in section C-35.1 of the President's Book.
Secretary's Commendation
Each Chapter in Tau Beta Pi is asked to submit 17 reports each year ranging in areas from membership to chapter operations to convention. Chapters completing all the required reports accurately and on time receive a Secretary's Commendation. A list of the required reports is available on the D7 web site or the national web site.In addition, the 2004 Convention instituted a program to recognize Chapters who complete their reports consistently from one year to the next. A Chapter will receive a $100 credit to their Headquarters account the first year it earns a Secretary's Commendation, a $200 credit for their second consecutive year, and a $300 credit for the third consecutive year and each consecutive year after that. This is a trial program which is set to continue through the Convention in 2009. More information on the Secretary's Commendation Award Program can be found in section C-35.2 of the President's Book.
R.C. Matthews Outstanding Chapter
The R.C. Matthews Outstanding Chapter Award encourages and recognizes high-grade work by the chapters in both routine and special affairs. The award is based on how well chapter service projects fulfill the objectives of Tau Beta Pi and on the quality and promptness of chapter reports to the national headquarters. It is named for Tau Beta Pi's first Secretary Treasurer R.C. Matthews, and the winner is selected by a committee of student delegates at Convention. All Chapters are encouraged to strive to do projects of the caliber of past winners. More information about the award can be found on the national web site or in section section C-24 of the President's Book.
R.H. Nagel Most Improved Chapter
The R.H. Nagel Most Improved Chapter Award recognizes major improvement in chapter development, including project work and headquarters reports, in one year as compared with previous years. The award is named for Tau Beta Pi's second Secretary-Treasurer, Robert H. Nagel. Winners (and Honorable Mentions) are selected by a committee of student delegates at Convention, where the winners are announced. This award recognizes that a Chapter in any situation can bring itself to a level of national recognition. More information on this award can be found on the national web site or in section C-25 of the President's Book.