Mississippi Beta, like all Tau Beta
Pi collegiate chapters, elects men and women who have distinguished themselves
with outstanding scholarship and exemplary character.
High academic achievement as a student,
or eminent professional achievement, is the first eligibility requirement
for election to Tau Beta Pi. Students in the upper eighth of their
junior engineering class or in the upper fifth of their senior or graduate
engineering classes are eligible for consideration for membership in Tau
Beta Pi. Through its high academic standards, Tau Beta Pi encourages
all students to strive for academic excellence, and it holds up as models
of professional excellence those few individuals who are invited to membership
because of their distinction in engineering achievement.
The second eligibility requirement
for Tau Beta Pi membership is good character. A member has personal
integrity, a wide range of interests, adaptability, and participates unselfishly
in community and volunteer activities. This is further elaborated in the
Eligibility Code.
All electees must also take an examination
and attend a formal initiation ceremony.
THE ELIGIBILITY CODE
In order that there may be a
more uniform basis for selection of members for Tau Beta Pi, these suggestions
are offered. It is expected that a copy of this statement be given
to each active member before every election, and it may at times serve
as a general expression of our policy in the selection of members.
It is the purpose of the Society to
mark in a fitting manner those who have conferred honor upon their alma
mater by distinguished scholarship and exemplary character as students,
or by their attainments as alumni.
Distinguished scholarship, while the
primary requisite for admission, must not be considered the sole criterion.
After the scholastic requirements have
been fulfilled, the selection shall be based on integrity, breadth of interest
both inside and outside of engineering, adaptability, and unselfish activity.
We consider that true integrity is
the sine qua non for membership in Tau Beta Pi, that it transcends in importance
scholarship, activity, and every other qualification. Without private
and public integrity, we believe that no organization is worthy of existence.
Under integrity, we include honor and high standards of truth and justice.
Breadth of interest sufficient for
eligibility in this Association will enable people to maintain their positions
in their community by the exercise of qualities other than engineering
ability.
True engineers must be able to adapt
themselves ingeniously to all circumstances and conditions, making then
conform to the desired purpose.
The rating of people on the degree
of unselfish activity manifested, is intended to indicate that Tau Beta
Pi believes that none can become worthy engineers without the welfare of
associates, organizations, and the community at heart. It is furthermore
expected that they display willingness to aid and assist in worthy causes
by their actual campus record. However, the fact that people may
not have shown unselfish activity to an appreciable degree is no infallible
indication that they would not if the opportunity offered. The most
conspicuous illustrations of this are those students who are self supporting,
for which due allowance must be made and due credit given. In fine, it
is in this capacity for the unstinted giving of the best, without thought
of remuneration, that we believe lies one of the most sensitive tests for
determining candidates' rights to bear the name and wear the Bent of Tau
Beta Pi.
