Membership in Tau Beta Pi is by invite only. During the Fall and Spring quarters, invitations are sent to the top 1/8 of the Junior class and the top 1/5 of the Senior class. Although academic standing determines general eligibility, every chapter has its own traditions of determining exemplary character.

The California Nu initiation process is explained below.

Bent Day:

We will be meeting in front of Building 9 (2nd floor towards the street) where we will collect the first set of requirements. Then we will begin the bent cleaning. Check the pictures section for an idea of what to expect. (Note that the older pictures also show personal bent polishing, which we will not be doing at bent day.)

You will need the following items:

You will also be filling out registration cards for the club registry, choosing t-shirt size and color, and receiving your personal bent.

Volunteer Hours:

Tau Beta Pi members are not only exceptional students, but also outstanding members of their communities. We require every new member to complete at least 5 hours of community service. There are many places to complete your requirement, from tutoring on campus to working with established volunteer organizations. This requirement must be met before Pool Night.

Your hours can be verified by the form provided below, or an official letter.

Bent Polishing:

Taken from the official information handbook:

“The official badge of the Association is a watch key in the form of the bent of a trestle...[It] was first designed in the late eighteenth century to include a pocket-watch winding feature...The bottom stem added to the basic insignia had a tapered square hole fitting the common size of watch-winding shafts. The top stem and ring were added so that the key could be worn as a pendant from a chain rather than a pin or badge, thus easily used to wind watches.”

Polishing your bent is a symbol of your dedication to the honor society and you will be wearing it at initiation. You may also choose to wear the bent at graduation, so it is well worth the effort to achieve the best finish possible. Your polished bent will need to gain the approval of at least 15 Tau Beta Pi members before Pool Night.

Your polished bent needs at least 15 signatures of approval on the sheet below.

Finding Tau Beta Pi members to sign the sheet is part of the initiation tradition. Professor Miller of the Mechanical Engineering department has been known to provide a list of M.E. professors who are members, outside of his office door. Professor Cockrum of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department has prepared a similar list which can be found in the E.C.E. department office. In addition to these lists, you can obtain signatures from officers of the club. They are listed on the members page.

Below are links to polishing instructions from several chapters, including our own. We allow the use of power tools in our chapter, should you choose to use them.

Pool Night:

Pool night is an opportunity to mingle with current officers, members and fellow initiates. We will be meeting in the Games Room in the Bronco Student Center. If you are unable to attend, the required items must be submitted before Pool Night.

You will need the following items:

Initiation and Banquet:

The culmination of all your hard work is the initiation ceremony. All initiates must attend the ceremony. It is a requirement to be a member of Tau Beta Pi. This is a formal event so please dress accordingly. Remember that you will also be wearing your polished bent on the night of the ceremony. It is important that you arrive on time as late comers will not be permitted to enter. If you miss the ceremony you will have to wait for the next Fall or Spring quarter. This ceremony is NOT open to guests unless they are also Tau Beta Pi members. The ceremony will last approximately one hour.

The banquet is a celebration of your initiation that you can share with guests. It is held in your honor, and you are encouraged to attend. There will be guest speakers, and this is where we will present the award for best bent. Congratulations to the newest Tau Bates!