Who Are We?
What is Tau Beta Pi?
Founded in 1885 at Lehigh University, Tau Beta Pi is the second oldest honor society in the United States, and it is the only honor society that encompasses the entire engineering profession.
As of January 2025, Tau Beta Pi has 257 active collegiate chapters - including 2 international chapters, 52 active chapters, and over 644,000 total initiated members.
What is Michigan Beta?
Michigan Beta is the official Tau Beta Pi chapter based at Michigan Technological University. Our chapter was established in 1904, and it is the 11th collegiate chapter in the history of the engineering honor society.
As of January 2025, we have initiated 4653 members - 17 of them were TBP scholarship recipients, and 7 were TBP fellowship recipients.
The Bent
The Bent is the proud symbol and official badge of Tau Beta Pi. Engraved into the bent are ancient Greek letters that symbolize Tau Beta Pi as a whole. The bent is also known as a key (stemming from many organizations) because of its original design to wind up mechanical pocket watches.
Since then, the Bent is much more important symbolically. The Bent represents the trestle span that bears the weight of responsibility. Despite this, it is still able to lift itself through its merits with the eye hole.
Every chapter has a Bent statue - often called The Big Bent - to show their presence in the community. You can find Michigan Beta's Big Bent not too far away from the Husky Statue and next to Rekhi Hall. Our statue is fittingly embedded into a massive boulder as a homage to the unique geography of the Keweenaw Peninsula and its history of copper mining.
Creed
Integrity and Excellence in Engineering
Our Mission
As the only academic honor society that confers recognition on eligible individuals from all engineering disciplines, Tau Beta Pi:
Recognizes those who have conferred honor upon their Alma Maters by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as students in engineering, or by their attainments as alumni in the field of engineering.
Provides leadership and professional development training for engineering students and alumni members.
Promotes lifelong alumnus member involvement and cultivates a community of dedicated high achievers.
Code of Ethics of Engineers
THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Engineers uphold and advance the integrity, honor, and dignity of the engineering profession by:
I. using their knowledge and skill for the enhancement of human welfare;
II. being honest and impartial, and serving with fidelity the public, their employers and clients;
III. striving to increase the competence and prestige of the engineering profession; and
IV. supporting the professional and technical societies of their disciplines.
THE FUNDAMENTAL CANONS
1. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their professional duties.
2. Engineers shall perform services only in the areas of their competence.
3. Engineers shall issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
5. Engineers shall build their professional reputation on the merit of their services and shall not compete unfairly with others.
6. Engineers shall act in such a manner as to uphold and enhance the honor, integrity, and dignity of the profession.
7. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers and shall provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their supervision.
The Tau Beta Pi Yell
(Traditional)
Ammeter, Indicator, Wye Level Wye.
Slide Rule, Dynamo, Tau Beta Pi!
Written by R.C. Matthews, Illinois Alpha 1902
Adopted in 1908
(Modern)
Calculate, Innovate, Try, Try, Try.
Integrity, Honesty, Tau Beta Pi!
Written by H.F. Klos Jr., Pennsylvania Zeta '78
Adopted in 1978