Tau Beta Pi. Gamma Chapter (University of Michigan)

Engineering honorary fraternity.

Tau Beta Pi is a national engineering honorary fraternity. It was founded in 1885 by Edward H. Williams, Jr., head of Lehigh University's mining department. Because Phi Beta Kappa, the sole honor society at that time, focused on inducting members studying the liberal arts and sciences, Williams wanted to create a parallel organization that would give recognition for outstanding scholarship in the technical fields. In addition to conceiving of this society, Williams formulated its constitution, governing structure, membership requirements, badge, and certificate, and gave it the name it still holds today. In spring 1885, he invited the class valedictorian, Irving Andrew Heikes, to become Tau Beta Pi's first student member, an offer that was accepted. This parent chapter at Lehigh, Alpha of Pennsylvania, was joined in 1892 by the Alpha of Michigan chapter established at Michigan State Agricultural College (later Michigan State University). National headquarters have been located on the University of Tennessee's campus in Knoxville since 1907. In 1974, Sigma Tau, another engineering honor society, was incorporated into Tau Beta Pi in the belief that a single honor society would best serve the interests of the engineering profession.[1] As of 2012, there were 238 active chapters and over 500,000 members.[2]

In 1906, the Michigan Gamma chapter of this fraternity was established at the University of Michigan, making it the eleventh Tau Beta Pi chapter.[3] Professor R. C. Matthews, General Secretary of Tau Beta Pi, had wanted to see a chapter established at the University of Michigan as chapters had already been founded at Michigan Agricultural College and Michigan School of Mines. One of the main difficulties in establishing the chapter was the fact that the University of Michigan did not have a comparative grading system at the time, instead using a pass/fail model. Thus, there was no way to identify students in the higher grade bracket, one of the membership requirements. After discussion between officers of Tau Beta Pi and faculty representatives of the University of Michigan Engineering Department, the latter agreed to provide small, select lists of upperclassmen who could qualify for membership in Tau Beta Pi. The first initiation ceremony of the new chapter took place June 14, 1906, with 22 members being inducted, including twelve members of the class of 1907, four alumni, and six honorary members. Horace P. Ramey served as first president of the Gamma chapter. In October 1967, Michigan Gamma hosted the 62nd national convention. Women were first granted eligibility for membership in 1969, when five women were initiated into the chapter. Michigan Gamma was awarded the R.C. Matthews Outstanding Chapter Award for the 1977-78 and 1979-80 academic years. In 2006, the chapter celebrated its 100th anniversary.[4]

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