Many organizations on campus promote academic achievement and exemplary character which allows for like-minded individuals to go on and achieve great accomplishments. This definitely rings true for CSUN’s very own Tau Beta Pi or TBP. CSUN’s chapter of TBP, California Kappa, has initiated 941 members through July 31, 2008 and continues to receive new members.
As one of the nation’s oldest engineering honor societies, TBP was founded in 1885 by Edward H. Williams and as a whole represents the entire engineering profession with 221 collegiate chapters in 16 districts across the United States.
In order to become a member of TBP, one must be in the top one-eighth of his/her junior class or top one-fifth of his/her senior class. CSUN requirements state that while a student is a TBP member they must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2. Another requirement involves being an engineer or computer science major in order to be eligible for this prestigious organization.
Brian Meadows, president of TBP, understands the difficulty required to obtain membership.
‘It’s not easy to join and get in,’ said Meadows, who acts as a coordinator for the rest of the society’s officials.
To become a member of TBP, one must first be invited into the honors society, in which senior members like Meadows pick the candidates based on his/her academic achievements.
TBP members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the society in a positive light as well as maintain solid grades.
Under Meadows’ term as president, 60 students received invites but only 27 became members.
‘To be in TBP you have to be pretty dedicated,’ said Meadows.
Like his fellow TBP member, Dr. Ali Amini shares the same honor society sentiment of promoting esteemed character by stating that the goal in establishing the society was to bring merit engineers who not only excel academically but integrity-wise as well. As an advisor to the CSUN chapter, Amini has interviewed his fair share of potential members and insists that grades are not the only trait needed for initiation.
‘We look at public perception as well,’ said Amini when asked about the interview process regarding future TBP members.
Students who are selected gain the opportunity to excel in not only their fields of study, but are also granted the opportunity to do community work, tutoring, and other communal acts.
TBP also has programs to help improve its members’ skills. For example, the TBP Engineering Futures Program provides engineering students with the tools needed to succeed by offering sessions in people skills, group process and analytical problem solving.
The engineering society has garnered a world-wide reputation because of its high standards for membership. TBP is a door-opener for its members. According to the TBP Web site,’ members are recipients of the National Medal of Technology, corporate CEOs, astronauts, and even NFL players.
Former TBP president Stacey Ross, a member since 2004, notes that ‘becoming a Tau Beta Pi member offers many rewards.’
Ross is a manager at UCLA in the area of material management. She is also a national officer serving on various committees for TBP including tutoring K-12 math and science programs to establish the importance of these subjects as well as prepare grade school students for competitive success in those respective disciplines. Still attending CSUN, she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Engineer Management in order to become a patent agent.
According to Ross, TBP is an organization that rewards scholastic achievements. Membership doesn’t just end after college life, but bears representation of students hard-earned achievements.
‘Once you become a Tau Beta Pi, you’re a lifetime member,’ said Ross.
This spring seems bright for the engineering society since the current president, Meadows, is looking for more involvement and new activities for TBP members including celebrating the 40th anniversary of the CSUN chapter.
