Tau Beta Pi is an engineering honor society, highly regarded in the field. The Pennsylvania Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi was founded at the Pennsylvania State University on May 4, 1912, as the twenty-sixth collegiate chapter. The national organization was founded in 1885 at Lehigh University. It has since grown to include over 200 collegiate chapters, and nearly 60 alumnus chapters.
Tau Beta Pi is well known among industry leaders and serves to mark exceptional academic and personal accomplishments. Just as Phi Beta Kappa distinguishes graduates in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tau Beta Pi notes achievement in technical fields.
Membership in Tau Beta Pi is by invitation only at the chapter level, each semester. To be considered for membership, students must have already demonstrated considerable talent. Tau Beta Pi hopes to expand students' skills by providing leadership opportunities, interaction with professional and academic authorities, and programs geared toward developing facets which are not part of the present engineering curriculum.
In addition to honoring its members, Tau Beta Pi seeks to uphold the legacy and integrity of the engineering profession by being active in the community and responsive to others. Members may choose whatever activity level they wish. We serve some members purely as an honorary body, others as a vehicle for improving society, and still others as a tool to develop their own personal skills and future potential.
Undergraduate engineers who are in the top eighth of their junior class or top fifth of their senior class are contacted by mail. If they wish to join, and meet the Tau Beta Pi standards of excellence and character established in the bylaws, they are offered admission. During the candidacy process which extends through the semester, candidates are formally interviewed and required to participate in a variety of activities and community work. Most initiates find it worthwhile, rewarding, and are proud to be a part of it.