Mission Statement
As the premier professional accounting and business information fraternity, Beta Alpha Psi recognizes academic excellence and complements members' formal education by providing interaction between students, faculty, and professionals, and fosters lifelong growth, service, and ethical conduct.Objectives
Beta Alpha Psi is a national scholastic and professional accounting fraternity. The primary objective of the fraternity is to encourage and give recognition to scholastic and professional excellence in the field of accounting. This includes promoting the study and practice of accounting, providing opportunities for self-development and association among members and practicing accountants, and encouraging a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility. Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919. By 1997 there were over 200 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, 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 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 masters degree level accounting program. Individual chapters may establish higher admission criteria.Funding
Beta Alpha Psi gains a portion of its annual budget from a charter maintenance fee and a one-time initiation fee--there are no national dues. Although there is other minor revenue from royalties and interest on investments, the bulk of the receipts come from contributions from industry and public accounting. In 1982, the Associates Program was initiated. Through the Associates, industrial and public accounting firms contribute to Beta Alpha Psi activities.Activities
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 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.
For more about Beta Alpha Psi at the national level, go to www.bap.org.
© 2003 Jeremy Sanchez