Utah State University’s Accounting Fraternity Receives Superior Chapter Award For 27th Consecutive Year

Utah State University’s Delta Omega chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, a national accounting scholastic fraternity for financial information students and professionals, received the superior chapter award for the 27^th year in a row. Utah State’s chapter holds the longest unbroken streak in the nation for receiving the award, the highest honor bestowed by the national fraternity.

 

Members of Utah State’s Delta Omega chapter are required to complete more service hours and maintain a higher GPA than the fraternity’s national requirements, earning them superior chapter status.

 

“We have an extremely active chapter,” said Cassy Budd, lecturer in Utah State’s School of Accountancy and faculty advisor to the Delta Omega chapter. “Most of our members go well beyond what is required of them.”

 

The goal of Beta Alpha Psi is to prepare accounting students to deal with real world accounting issues. Chapter members pursue activities to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and prepare for the transition from student to professional.

 

Members of Utah State’s Delta Gamma chapter are required to participate in 10 hours of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) per semester.  VITA is an activity in which members from the fraternity assist students and low-income individuals file income taxes.

 

“When members begin to work as volunteer income tax assistants, they realize it is actually pretty fun and that people really appreciate their knowledge,” Budd said.

 

Members are also required to maintain a 3.4 GPA in the accounting major, attend all meetings and participate in at least 18 hours of service per semester.

 

“We hold a high standard for our members so we can continue to keep our superior chapter status ranking,” Budd said.

 

Members who hold officer positions get the opportunity to attend the annual national meeting. This year’s meeting will be held in San Francisco, and nine officers from the Utah State chapter will attend.

 

Budd said that members of Beta Alpha Psi gain a lot from the fraternity and many continue to stay active as alumni. “I was a member when I was in school, and one of the reasons I took a job at Utah State was because I had the opportunity to be a faculty advisor to the Delta Omega chapter,” Budd said.