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BAP History
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Organization
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Chapter
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Eligibility
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CPA Review |
With the emergence
of accounting as a respected profession and as a separate curriculum in
business schools, accounting students began to identify themselves
separately from other students. As a result, an accounting club was
established on the campus of the University of Illinois in 1917. The
organizers were Newton Alison, Victor Krannert, Clarence Hermann, and
Russell Morrison with Professor Scovill as its Faculty Advisor.
Over the next two years, a constitution and bylaws were drafted and the
organization adopted as its designation the Greek Letters Beta, Alpha, and
Psi to represent scholarship, social responsibility, and practicality,
respectively. The emblem of the Beta Alpha Psi denotes the promise of the
accounting profession. The rising sun signifies the profession as being
one that is rising ever higher among economic activities. The crossed keys
symbolize the knowledge of accounting as a means of opening the doors of
the financial world. On February 12, 1919 the charter members were
inducted and the organization was born.
Beta Alpha Psi
experienced rapid growth during the next
several years, and 1942 had established 24 chapters. During World War II,
however, the growth of the organization slowed due to the sharp decline in
overall collegiate enrollment. After the war ended, Beta Alpha Psi
continued its growth by installing two to four new chapters each year for
the next 25 years.
From the beginning, Beta Alpha Psi has been highly selective of its
members. High standards of admission were set and membership was limited
to upper-level students only. Additionally, chapters were only located on
campuses that maintained strong business departments and full-time,
competent accounting faculty members. Since 1947, all new chapters have
been required to be members of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools
of Business. By 1997, there were over 200 chapters on college and
university campuses with over 200,000 members inducted since the
organization's formation. |
