BETA ALPHA PSI – ZETA THETA CHAPTER

CANDIDATE MANUAL

Spring 2017

Beta Alpha Psi Student Contract

Our Zeta Theta Chapter has established the goals of achieving national Superior Status and being recognized as one of the world’s top 15 Beta Alpha Psi chapters through receipt of the Gold Award.

I, , recognize that as a member/candidate of this international organization, my involvement, or lack thereof, has a direct impact on my chapter’s goals of achieving Superior chapter status. Therefore, it is my responsibility to ensure that my chapter’s objective is met through my support and commitment.

I agree to be actively involved with the Zeta Theta Chapter throughout my time at the University at Buffalo. Being actively involved includes participating on a committee, attending general meetings, and other requirements as per our chapter bylaws. By signing this contract, I acknowledge that I have read the chapter bylaws and the requirements to be a candidate or remain a member. If I cease to obey the chapter bylaws, I will voluntarily resign and make note that my participation has ended on resumes, applications, etc.

The completion of this contract is mandatory for every Beta Alpha Psi student member/candidate.

SIGNED: DATE:

Dear Candidate:

Welcome to Beta Alpha Psi. You are on the way to becoming part of a large, widely recognized, national professional and honorary organization. Beta Alpha Psi has existed since1919, and currently has chapters at over 300 colleges and universities throughout the World.

Our chapter here at U.B. was chartered in 1981. Over the years, we have established a tradition of excellence. Several of our members have won national awards in academic competitions; two alums have received the national Beta Alpha Psi Professional of the Year Award; one has served on the national board as an alumni representative, one has won our school’s Accountant of the Year Award, and two of our faculty advisors are among 300 selected as Outstanding Faculty Advisors since the award started in 1969.

We have served twice as the host chapter for the national meetings, hosted both the national Student Seminar and the Graduate Case Seminar and hosted three Atlantic Coast Regional meetings. So you can see that on the national level, the Zeta Theta Chapter has been very active and is highly regarded.

You are joining a strong and successful organization. We expect you to maintain and expand its tradition of excellence. Be active; be a leader. The variety of activities is so great that each person can find an area in which to lead and to contribute. You will enjoy it, and you will benefit in many ways. I hope to see from each of you the same enthusiasm, dedication, andspirit of accomplishment that have characterized past members. I look forward to working withyou. You will have lots of fun and establish everlasting relationships.

Again, welcome to Beta Alpha Psi. Best wishes for a productive and satisfying experience.

Kathy NesperFaculty Advisor

Dear Candidate,

Congratulations and welcome to Beta Alpha Psi. You should be proud of your hard work and scholastic achievement.

The basic goals of Beta Alpha Psi are to encourage and recognize continued superior academic achievement and to instill in its members the ideals, ethics, and values of professionals.

Our candidate requirements are demanding, yet rewarding. Your active participation in Beta Alpha Psi will help shape your career through professional contacts, experience, social activities, and service to the community.

We are proud of the Zeta Theta Chapter’s outstanding achievements and we hope that you will join in our efforts to continue our tradition of success. To accomplish this we will need your input, talents, and dedication. We encourage you to become involved, take a leadership role, and to continually support our endeavors. Communication is essential; interaction with the other members is also imperative. You must make your presence known. Such participation is necessary and will be rewarding in your personal and professional growth. You will find that the more you put into the organization the more you will get out of it. That is a promise!

We look forward to your initiation and wish you the best of luck!

Sincerely,

Emily WheelerPresident

Nick OrtizVice President – Candidates

Lexi WeberVice President – Technicals

Andrew SheehanTreasurer

Ryan DunnReporting Secretary

Marley O’DonnellCorresponding Secretary

Zhiming XiaoCommunications Secretary

Beta Alpha Psi Officers

2016-2017

President….……..………………………………………….……….Emily Wheelereawheele@buffalo.edu

Vice President – Candidates……..…..………….….……………....Nick OrtizNjortiz2@buffalo.edu

Vice President – Technicals ………………………………..……...Lexi Weberalexiswe@buffalo.edu

Treasurer ………..…………………………………….…………..Andrew SheehanAs359@buffalo.edu

Reporting Secretary…...……………………………………….....Ryan Dunnryandunn@buffalo.edu

Corresponding Secretary…..…………….……………………....Marley O’Donnellmarleyod@buffalo.edu

Communications Secretary………..……………………………..Zhiming Xiaozhimingx@buffalo.edu

History of Beta Alpha Psi

Beta Alpha Psi was founded in 1919 at the University of Illinois and has since grown to over 300

Chapters. Beta Alpha Psi is an international scholastic and professional organization for financial information professionals. The primary objective of the organization is to encourage and giverecognition 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.

Zeta Theta, our chapter at SUNY Buffalo, was chartered in March of 1981 by Dr. Lawrence Brown and a group of enthusiastic accounting students. The process began in 1979 when this chapter first petitioned for membership status. Through hard work and dedication the chapter received its charter on March 21, 1981 from Joyce Dean, the national president at the time.

Local Activities

It was from this aggressive beginning that certain major events developed. Our annual fall event is "Meet the Professionals Night," which gives students the opportunity to meet various professionals. In addition, there are many events that provide assistance to students and members of the community. These are VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), a year round tutoring program for students, Habitat for Humanity, and the annual food drive for the Food Bank of WNY. Some new community service programs we will be continuing this year are financial literacy at Vive La Casa, and KPMG’s Literacy Program.

Committees

Alumni RelationsBanquet

Community ServiceDisclosureDiversity

Financial Literacy Fundraising

Go for the GoldMerchandise

RegionalsSocial

Student/Faculty LiaisonVITA

Website

You can get more information about our chapter from our website:

www.ubbap.com

Candidate Requirements

Pay membership dues, and submit application with unofficial transcripts by Friday, February 17th to the BAP office- Alfiero 206G

Quiz and candidate essay are due by or before Monday, February 27th at 5:00 pm in the BAP office - Alfiero 206G

Participate in Candidate Interview by Friday, March 3rd Attend at least 80% of all organization functions:

- At least 66% of all technical events

- At least 66% of all general meetings

Fulfill the fundraising requirement

Participate in at least 4 credits of community service activities

Tutor at least 6 hours per semester

Fulfill VITA program requirements

Attend Initiation (In the Fall for Spring candidates, in the Spring for Fall

candidates). Initiation in absentia will not be permitted.

Undergraduates:

Accounting students: maintain 3.3 overall accounting

GPA Finance students: maintain 3.3 overall finance GPA

MIS students: maintain 3.3 overall MIS GPA

Graduates:

Maintain 3.3 overall Accounting, Finance, or MIS GPA

Spring 2017 Candidate QuizDue at 5:00pm, February 27th in the BAP office - Alfiero 206G

Name:

Please refer to the Buffalo chapter website at www.ubbap.com and the national website at bap.org

Name:

1. What is our chapter name and number?

2. In what year was the BAP chapter at UB chartered?

3. In which of the nine Beta Alpha Psi regions does the SUNY Buffalo chapter belong in?

4. What does the Beta Alpha Psi emblem stand for?

5. Who is our faculty advisor?

6. According to the BAP website (bap.org) what are the 3 Best Practices topics for the 15-16 year?

7. Read the descriptions of each of the E-Board positions, if you were to run for an office which one would it be and why?

8. Which committee are you most interested in and why?