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About Beta Alpha Psi |
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OBJECTIVES
BETA ALPHA PSI is a national scholastic and professional fraternity
for Financial Information 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, finance and
information systems; providing opportunities for self-development
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 2000 there
were nearly 230 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, finance, or information
systems, who have been initiated according to the ritual, and who
remain in good standing.
Minimum scholastic requirements for undergraduate
membership are set forth in the
national by-laws.
Graduate student initiates must have been accepted and matriculated
into a masters degree level program. Individual chapters may
establish higher admission criteria.
ORGANIZATION
Beta Alpha Psi is governed by a national constitution and bylaws.
The governing body is the National Council. It consists of a Board
of Directors and six Regional Directors. Operating authority and
routine responsibility for the fraternity rests with the Board of
Directors. The Board consists of nine 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.
A NATIONAL ADVISORY FORUM is comprised of prominent
professionals who are active in public accounting, industry, or
government. The members serve three-year terms. The Forum provides
the National Council and Board of Directors external advice and
assistance in both regular operations and special projects of the
fraternity.
THE NATIONAL CHAPTER is comprised of all Faculty
Advisors, student presidents, and past and present members of the
National Council. This body holds an annual meeting and banquet in
August and provides advice and assistance to the Board of Directors
and National Council.
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 Intemal Revenue Code. Contributions to Beta
Alpha Psi and its local chapters are deductible.
FUNDING
Beta Alpha Psi gains a portion of its annual budget from a charter
maintenance fee and a one-time initiation fee. 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 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.
The activities of student
members include:
INSIGNIA
The emblem of Beta Alpha Psi Fraternity denotes the promise of
careers for financial information professionals. The rising sun
signifies these professional positions as rising ever higher
among economic activities. The crossed keys symbolize knowledge
as a means of opening the doors of the financial world. The
letters Beta, Alpha, and Psi denote scholarship, social
responsibility, and practicality, respectively.
Information taken from the official
Beta Alpha Psi
website.
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