Choosing New Pledges

After large events such as a dinner, etc., the members should meet and discuss all of the candidates while their impressions are still vivid. At this time, some may be eliminated from consideration and favorable prospects can be chosen for more focused recruitment.

Members that will be active and interested Theta Taus are essential. Each candidate should be considered for his worth as an individual, not overlooking "gems in the rough." Some qualities to consider and seek may be: 1. good character/values 2. interest in Theta Tau 3. a pleasing personality and neat appearance 4. ability to excel as a student 5. interest in service to their community and to others 6. the potential to develop into a top-rate engineer 7. professional interest in engineering 8. leadership positions in other campus organizations 9. other outside interests (athletics, music, travel, etc.)

These items above can be recorded for each person on the file tracking information on each candidate. Each candidate should be met by multiple members (and preferable on multiple occasions) before being voted on. After each candidate has been discussed thoroughly and his "boosters" have explained his qualities, voting can take place — always by secret ballot. Only the Regent should see inside the votes and should not disclose the number of negative votes, but merely weather the candidate was approved or rejected. Disclosing a small number may tend to cause frustration among some members. If the vote is favorable by at least 3⁄4 positive vote, the Recruitment Committee can then extend, on behalf of the chapter, a bid (the invitation to begin pledging).

A candidate's grades should be checked before he is asked to pledge. One carrying an average below the school minimum for graduation is unlikely ever to be eligible for initiation. Many poor students switch majors or drop out completely. Poor grades are to be avoided, regardless of the person's other qualities. On the other hand, high grades alone are not enough; other factors must be considered. The Adviser can help obtain or verify grades from the Engineering School. The practice of initiating first semester freshmen may be carried on with caution, and only after waiting for grades from the completion of the candidates first semester of school. Since many freshmen leave engineering during or at the end of their first year, many chapters refrain from initiating them. Even if they are not to be formally bid and pledged in their first year, the recruitment, involvement, and interaction between the chapter and such freshmen engineers is a very desirable and necessary means of recruitment.

Most chapters will tend to initiate more sophomores and juniors than those in other classes; however, as a professional fraternity, the value of membership to those in any class (freshmen through seniors, and even graduate students) is real. Note that our laws prohibit the initiation of anyone less than 6 months from completion of his academic program.