Beta Alpha Psi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

BAΨ (Beta Alpha Psi) is an honorary organization for accounting, finance and information systems students and professionals. Its primary objective is to encourage and recognize academic and professional excellence in the financial information field. Beta Alpha Psi promotes the study and practice of accounting, finance and information systems. They also provide opportunities for personal growth, service and association between members and practicing professionals. The organization strives to encourage a sense of ethical, social, and public responsibility. ^[1]

Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. There are approximately 263 chapters located at colleges and universites with over 300,000 members. The University of Wisconsin-Madison chapter, sigma, has the highest Beta Alpha Psi enrollment in the nation.

Student members are required to fit various requirements. Beta Alpha Psi establishes these requirements as the minimum for eligibility to election as a pledge, though a chapter can set stricter requirements:

Declared an academic major in accounting, finance, or information systems.
Have completed at least one year of courses at the collegiate level (30 semester hours or equivalent)
Attained and maintained a GPA of 3.0 (where an A is equal to 4.0)

A separate set of requirements are set for election to membership including:

Declared an academic major in accounting, finance, or information systems.
Completed two years of collegiate courses and at least one upper level course beyond the business core (for transfer students, the most recent qualifying course must be at an AACSB or EQUIS accredited institution).
Attained a cumulative grade average of 3.0 in upper level courses of their declared major, beyond the business core; and
- have attained at least a cumulative grade average of 3.0, or
- have achieved a rank within the top 35% of their university class, or
- have attained at least a 3.25 cumulative grade average on the most recently completed 30 semester hours. ^[2]