Beta Facts

     "Again, the Beta is distinguishable and distinguished from all other kinds of fraternity men whatsoever by just a little warmer and stronger, just a little tenderer and more enduring fraternity feeling than any of them can attain to. For it was always so. I do not in the least know how it happened, nor why it persisted after it happened, but a long time ago there came into Beta Theta Pi a fraternity spirit that was, and is, and apparently will continue to be, unique." - Willis O. Robb, Ohio Wesleyan 1879

Fast Facts
• Founded: August 8, 1839
• Alpha Chapter: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
• Initiated Betas: 183,769
• Living Betas: 125,946
• Undergraduate membership with pledges: 6,500
• Chapters/Colonies: 128
• Avg. Chapter Size: 50.39
• Avg. GPA: 3.011 (2005)
• Expansions: 4-6 per year
• Advisors: 4.38 per chapter (534 total)
• Scholarships awarded by Beta Theta Pi Foundation last year: 370
• Convention: 168th General Convention - Orlando, Florida (August 2-5, 2006)
• Brennan Hall/Foundation & Administrative Office: 5134 Bonham Road, Oxford, Ohio 45056. Completed October 1994; 17,000 sq. ft.; occupied by 30 full and part-time staff, including education consultants; located on eight acres of land, one mile north of Oxford.

Beta Firsts
• First college fraternity founded west of the Allegheny Mountains (August 8, 1839)
• First and oldest continuously published college fraternity magazine (1872)
• First college fraternity to publish an open constitution for public distribution (1879)
• First fraternity in 13 states - more than any other fraternity.
• First fraternity established on more than 35 campuses - more than any other fraternity
• First fraternity to establish a chapter west of the Mississippi River (1866)
• First fraternity to adopt an expansion view
• First to break into districts for administrative purposes (1873)
• First fraternity to have general officers (1872)
• First fraternity to create alumni chapters (1867)
• First fraternity to have a General Convention and one of few to have annual Conventions
• First to host an inter-fraternity event and meeting
• First to require chapters to keep informed about each other
• First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for a chapter (1984)
• First fraternity to adopt a 2.5 minimum GPA for each member (1997)

Other Facts
• Last year there were more than 2,000 collegiate Betas involved in the Beta Foundation’s experiential learning programs
• Beta ranks No.2 in annual investment in undergraduate leadership and educational programming (of the 68 international fraternities)
• Beta provides premier leadership experiences for more than 900 undergraduates annually
• Some 550 parents financially supported Beta Theta Pi’s leadership opportunities
• The Men of Principle initiative has been internationally recognized for exemplary fraternity educational programming
• 49 chapters are partnered with the Men of Principle initiative
• A leader among college fraternities with members listed in Who’s Who in America and Canadian Who’s Who - more than any other fraternity
• More than 80 Rhodes Scholars - more than any other fraternity
• More than 197 have been members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives - more than any other fraternity
• Twenty-three states have had a Beta as Governor
• Six Betas have won the Medal of Honor
• 100 alumni associations in cities throughout the United States and Canada
• Currently undergoing a capital campaign: $20.1 million raised (7/06)
• All expansions are started under the MPI philosophy (5 per year)
• Beta aims to have more than 1,000 volunteers supporting its chapters by the year 2008