What Are Honorary Initiates?

Honorary Initiations have been around almost since our founding. An Honorary Initiation extends the privilege of membership in Tau Kappa Epsilon to men of "sterling character and staunch uprightness."  Any man who is not currently enrolled as a student at a college or university is eligible to be considered for membership as an honorary initiate. Honorary initiates enjoy all the rights and responsibilities afforded other alumni members and all Fraters of the chapter into which they are initiated.

Honorary initiation is an expression of appreciation for the outstanding service someone may have provided or the relationships they have with one or more of our Fraters. Most importantly, it is an affirmation of the character of the individual. Formal inclusion of such men into the brotherhood of TKE often draws them into a closer relationship with the initiating chapter, and can lead to a lifetime of commitment to our principles and values.

Some chapters have invited the fathers of Fraters to be initiated as honorary initiates, thereby strengthening the Fraternity’s ties with that family. Many chapters have built strong bases of alumni influence and support by inviting outstanding men on their campus and in their community to accept membership in Tau Kappa Epsilon.

Many past honorary initiates have remain actively engaged with the Fraternity as a committed alumnus or often as an active volunteer. Honorary initiates have gone on to serve on the professional staff at our international headquarters, serve on the board of directors of the TKE Foundation and be elected to our Grand Council, three honorary initiates have even served as the Grand Prytanis.

To learn more about inviting someone to join as an alumni member or about pursuing that for yourself, review our Honorary Initiation Resource Guide.

If you are interested in becoming an honorary initiate, please contact a collegiate chapter, TKE volunteer or the Offices of the Grand Chapter to submit your application for membership in Tau Kappa Epsilon.