About Beta Alpha Psi

• Objectives

• Membership

• Organization

• Participation

Objectives:

BETA ALPHA PSI is a national scholastic and professional fraternity for Financial Information students and professionals. The primary objective of the fraternity is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the business information field. This includes promoting the study and practice of accounting and information systems; providing opportunities for self-development, service and association among members and practicing professionals, and encouraging a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility.

Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919. By 2002 there were nearly 238 chapters on college and university campuses with over 200,000 members initiated since the fraternity's formation.

Membership:

Membership in Beta Alpha Psi includes those persons of good moral character who have achieved scholastic and/or professional excellence in the field of accounting or computer information systems, who have been initiated according to the ritual, and who remain in good standing. 

Minimum scholastic requirements for membership are set forth in the national by-laws. Undergraduate student initiates must have at least a 3.0 (A=4.0) average or the equivalent in accounting or computer information systems and be in the top 35% in general scholarship of their college or school of business or equivalent academic unit. Graduate student initiates must have been accepted and matriculated into a master’s degree level program. Individual chapters may establish higher admission criteria.

Organization:

Beta Alpha Psi is governed by a constitution and bylaws. The governing body is the Board of Directors. The Board consists of eleven financial information professionals or professors of Accounting, Finance or Information Systems, the chairman of the National Advisory Forum, and two alumni representatives. The alumni representatives are chosen from recent graduates who were active in Beta Alpha Psi chapters.

A NATIONAL ADVISORY FORUM is comprised of prominent professionals who are active in professional service and consulting firms, industry, and government. The members serve three-year terms. The Forum provides the Board of Directors external advice and assistance in both regular operations and special projects of the fraternity.

THE INTERNATIONAL CHAPTER is comprised of all Faculty Advisors, student presidents, and past and present officers of Beta Alpha Psi. This body holds an annual meeting and banquet in August and provides advice and assistance to the Board of Directors.

A LOCAL CHAPTER is comprised of student and faculty members at each school. Student officers guide the chapter's operations and activities, supervised by the Faculty Advisors.

Beta Alpha Psi is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Beta Alpha Psi and its local chapters are deductible.

Participation:

The Board establishes a program for chapter activities to serve as a guide and an incentive for chapter competition. The goal of chapter activities is to involve all members fully in chapter affairs. SUCCESSFUL CHAPTER OPERATION REQUIRES PARTICIPATION BY EVERY MEMBER IN ATTENDING MEETINGS, SERVING ON COMMITTEES, PARTICIPATING IN ACTIVITIES, AND STRIVING FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.

All chapters are evaluated annually on their service to members, campus, community, and profession. Superior chapters are recognized each year at the fraternity's national meeting.

Chapter activities are divided into categories according to: plan of activities and budget, initiations, professional programs, involvement in campus and professional activities, community service, and annual audit and year-end report. Activities include speeches and panel discussions by students, faculty and professionals; field trips; business meetings; and a wide variety of professional, social, and service activities.

Employers of accounting and computer information students are totally familiar with Beta Alpha Psi and its activities. It is understood that Beta Alpha Psi represents excellence and that its activities are designed to supplement a student's education.

The activities of student members include:

-- Attendance at chapter meetings, socials, and recruiting events,
-- Participation in a national student seminar or graduate case seminar,
-- Attendance at regional meetings,
-- Preparation of manuscripts for graduate or undergraduate competition,
-- Development of essays and chapter notes for the Newsletter, and
-- Attendance and participation at the annual meeting.