What is Beta Alpha Psi?
Beta Alpha Psi is the International Honors Organization for Financial Information Professionals, founded in 1919. Beta Alpha Psi recognizes scholastic excellence, offers professional development, and encourages ethical, social, and public responsibility. There are more than 200 chapters on college and university campuses around the world.Chapter Activities
As a Beta Alpha Psi candidate or member, you will participate in a variety of different activites, all designed to develop your professional skills and distinguish you from every other accounting major. They will include the following:- Professional Development Workshops in which you will develop your resume and communication skills, learn about business attire and dining etiquette, and other essential skills.
- Professional Meetings where you will meet accounting professionals, learn about their personal career paths and current position/employer, hear about expectations of new hires, and develop a network of professionals who know you.
- Service Activities where you will give back to the community while you learn to work in teams and develop your ability to work and communicate with all kinds of people.
- Social Events that are enjoyable opportunities to get to know your peers, professors, and professionals while playing games, tailgating, or just having fun.
- Competitions and Travel at regional and annual meetings. There are a variety of competitions each year that take place all over the country.
History and Highlights of UCA's Theta Lambda Chapter
Chapter Status1994: Charter granted
1994-2007: Mission-based chapter (met minimum requirements for chapter)
2008: Distinguished chapter (met increased requirements for chapter and member involvement)
2009-Date: Superior chapter (met highest requirements for chapter and member involvement)
Best Practices Competition
| Year | Each year there are three topics to choose from. Topic: Best Practices in | UCA Place at Regional | UCA Place at Annual* 2007
| Participation in Professional Organizations
| 1st
| Did not Place
| 2008
| Financial Literacy
| Did Not Place
| --
| 2009
| Service Learning
| 1st
| 1st
| 2009
| Developing Life Skills
| 2nd
| --
| 2011
| Helping Others Understand the Financial Professions
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2012
| Social Networking
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2013
| Innovation
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2014
| Leadership
| 2nd
| --
| 2014
| Strategic Planning
| 2nd
| --
| 2015
| Effective Operations
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2015
| Financial Literacy
| 3rd
| --
| 2016
| Good or Great
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2017
| Strategic Planning
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2017
| Outreach
| 1st
| Did not place
| 2018
| Branding
| 1st
| 1st
| 2018
| Launching into the Next Century
| 2nd
| --
| 2019
| Branches (Helping Others)
| 1st
| 3rd
| 2019
| Shade (Service )
| Did Not Place
| --
| 2020
| Innovation
| 2nd
| --
| 2020
| Engagement
|
| --
| 2021
| Investing in Yourself
| 2nd
| --
| 2021
| Investing in Your Chapter
| Did not Place
| --
| 2022
| Art of Change
| 2nd
| --
| 2022
| Art of Engagement
| 1st
| 1st
| 2023
| Reimagine Leadership and Collaboration
| Did not Place
| --
| |
**Did not compete prior to 2007; Did not compete in 2010
This competition is at the Annual Meeting. It is a 24-hour competition in which teams of 4 students from 4 different schools (who have just met) have 24 hours to solve a real problem for a nonprofit organization. There is only a 1st place. UCA has competed annually since 2011. Our student's team won 1st place in 2012 and 2019.
Non-competition Presentations
2010: Become an award winning chapter (Regional meeting)
2011: How to win at Best Practices (Annual meeting)
2014: Creative service projects (Regional meeting)
2018: Showing Gratitute (Annual Meeting)
Other Highlights
2011: Dr. Stephanie Watson won the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award
2011: Nominated Michael Rasmussen for Business Information Professional of the Year
2013: Host chapter for the Southwest Regional Conference in Dallas, TX
2017: Gold chapter (Highest designation for a BAP chapter awarded to only 5% of Chapters)
2019: Co-host chapter for Sourthwest Regional Conference in Dallas, TX
2019: Dr. Connie McKnight won the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award
2019: UCA Student Organization of the Year
2022: Dr. Michael Hargis won the BAP Outstanding Dean Award
2022-2025: Dr. Connie McKnight serves as the Southwest Region Chapter Advocate
2023: Gold chapter (Highest designation for a BAP chapter awarded to only 5% of Chapters)
2024: Host Chapter for the Mid-Year Meeting in Dallas, Tx
Advisors
1994 1999: Ms. Donna Smith
1999 2005: Dr. Paul Jensen and Dr. Pam Spikes
2005 2013: Dr. Stephanie Watson and Dr. Patricia Mounce
2013 2016: Dr. Stephanie Watson and Dr. Connie McKnight
2016 2018: Dr. Connie McKnight and Dr. Karen Oxner
2018 2019: Dr. Connie McKnight
2019 Date: Dr. Connie McKnight and Professor Ashley Phillips