What is Pi Tau Sigma?
Pi Tau Sigma is the National Mechanical Engineering Honor Society.
It came into being on March 16, 1915, at the University of Illinois.
Its main purpose was to establish a closer bond of fellowship
resulting in mutual benefits to those men and women in the study
and in the profession of mechanical engineering, who by their
academic or practical achievements, manifest a real interest
and marked ability in their chosen work.
The object of the organization is to encourage and recognize
superior scholarship, to foster the high ideals of the engineering
profession, to stimulate interest in coordinate departmental
activities, to promote the mutual professional welfare of its
members, and to develop in students of mechanical engineering
the attributes necessary for effective leadership and the taking
up the responsibilities of a citizen living in a democracy (from
the Preamble to the Constitution of the Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society).
How do I become a member of PI TAU SIGMA?
Potential candidates are selected based on three factors:
- Scholastic Standing
- Faculty Rating
- Members' Opinions
A good scholastic record is required to make a student eligible
for Pi Tau Sigma, but otherwise it may afford little help in
determining fitness for membership. One must rank in the top
35 percent scholastically.
The opinion of faculty members is valuable, because of their
contact with prospective pledges and also because of their experience
in judging and rating students. The list submitted to them should
be alphabetical and contain no scholastic records. A list of
qualities to be rated might include: leadership, personality,
trustworthiness, industry, dependability, and probable future
success in Mechanical Engineering.
Members personally acquainted with a candidate should give opinions
on the candidate's fitness for membership and the likelihood
of the candidate being a worthy member of Pi Tau Sigma. Some
qualities on which members may rate candidates are: soundness
of principles and morals, honesty, personal cleanliness and neatness,
loyalty, and social adaptability (taken from the Pi Tau Sigma
national web site).
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