Section IV - Collegiate Chapter
Collegiate Chapters
Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma provides lifetime recognition for students of business and management in schools accredited by AACSB International. It is the highest recognition a student anywhere in the world can receive in a program accredited by AACSB International. Simply put, this means that members elected to Beta Gamma Sigma are truly the “Best in Business”.
As a lifetime recognition for academic success, students should expect the benefits of Society membership to last a lifetime as well. With programs such as the BGS On-Line Member Directory, the Alumni Network, and the Beta Gamma Sigma CareerCentral job board, student members are just getting started on their journeys with Beta Gamma Sigma.
It is the responsibility of the collegiate chapter officers to make eligible students – and those who are seeking to become eligible through strong work early in their academic careers – aware of the importance of honor society membership. Only faculty members, the Dean and other student members can educate eligible students about the significance of their invitation to membership.
1. Role of the Chapter Advisor
A. The Chapter Advisor is the primary chapter coordinator, but there are many other sources of assistance that should be utilized to educate potential members about the benefits of Beta Gamma Sigma. Chapter Advisors can be: members of the business school faculty, associate or assistant dean, undergraduate/graduate program coordinator, or even the dean. Chapter Advisors should recruit and encourage as much help as possible from other BGS faculty members and the Office of the Dean.
B. The Chapter Advisor usually holds the position of Secretary-Treasurer also. The person in this position should already be a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (having been inducted previously at the student or faculty level) or be eligible to and plan to be inducted at the chapter’s next induction ceremony. Ideally, the Dean, or another senior faculty member, would hold the position of President and a faculty member would fill the positions of Chapter Advisor and Secretary-Treasurer. However, the office of Secretary-Treasurer and the Chapter Advisor may be either the same person or two separate people.
C. The Chapter Advisor must educate other faculty members about the importance of Beta Gamma Sigma. Faculty members in the School of Business need to understand that this is probably their only opportunity to provide international lifetime recognition to their most outstanding students. If members of the faculty know the tangible lifetime benefits of the Society, they are more likely to encourage their best students to accept membership.
D. It is the Chapter Advisor’s responsibility, using all available resources, to make sure students know enough about the significance of membership so they can make educated decisions when they are invited to join the Society.
E. The Chapter Advisor must ensure that every eligible student receives an invitation. In addition to the traditional business and management programs on campus, faculty should search out all programs where eligible students may exist. This includes, but is not limited to, full-time and part-time MBA programs, Executive MBA programs, specialized programs in accounting, MIS or other fields, and off-campus programs that award degrees included in the accreditation by AACSB International.
F. Often students ask the question, “Why should I join Beta Gamma Sigma?” or “What’s the value of being a BGS member?” With new lifelong programs, Chapter Advisors can respond positively to these questions.
- Lifetime membership is the key benefit of Beta Gamma Sigma. Students will forever be connected to the CEO’s, CFO’s and presidents of some of the world’s most important organizations. Beta Gamma Sigma members now number more than 650,000.
- The Society’s on-line community is a tremendous step forward in making the Society an integral part of our members’ lives. With BGS CareerCentral, on-line membership directory, and much, much more, the on-line directory is a benefit that should be attractive to potential members.
- The Society’s alumni chapter program, the Alumni Network, now stretches across the United States and to Hong Kong. Beta Gamma Sigma has set up alumni chapters in 21 major metropolitan areas that allow members to meet and network with each other. With business leaders from a variety of industries represented, these chapters provide a tremendous opportunity for members just getting started, or those who are well established, to get more from their lifetime membership.
G. The Chapter Advisor is the primary contact person between the Central Office and invited students and members. The following are some of the responsibilities of the Chapter Advisor:
- Be available as the faculty contact for invited students and members.
- Order chapter supplies, printed materials and regalia from the Central Office.
- Request lists of eligible students from the appropriate campus source.
- Carry out decisions of the nominating committee.
- Coordinate invitations and follow up with invited students.
- Distribute informational and promotional materials.
- Coordinate the follow-up to all who were invited to membership and have not accepted the invitation – explain the significance of membership and answer questions.
- Select students to participate in the Student Leadership Forum.
- Collect the lifetime membership fee of $65 (U.S.) plus $2 (U.S), in addition to any chapter fees. Process memberships using the Online Ordering System.
- Coordinate or supervise the induction ceremony.
- Serve as liaison with the Dean’s Office, Office of Student Services, Graduate/Undergraduate Programs, etc., and the Central Office.
- Promote the Society’s Scholarship Program as well as other BGS programs.
- Complete and forward to the Central Office the chapter’s Outstanding Chapter application (for chapters meeting the criteria).
- Show enthusiasm and commitment to the mission and objectives of Beta Gamma Sigma.
- Delegate selected tasks to additional members of the BGS committee or chapter administrative support.
2. Role of the Collegiate Chapter
The collegiate chapter has one mandated responsibility: to invite and induct eligible students and faculty into membership, at least annually. However, there are some very important additional areas of chapter responsibility:
A. Elect chapter officers as indicated in the Society’s governing documents.
B. Promote Beta Gamma Sigma on campus through the use of displays, inclusion in all appropriate and helpful campus publications, and word of mouth. The more complete the story, the more receptive the students will be to BGS.
C. Identify all qualifying programs where eligible students may be found. Select eligible students and faculty. Invite them to membership. Provide a mechanism to accept membership responses. Induct new members into Beta Gamma Sigma following approved methods.
D. Order supplies and memberships from the Central Office through the BGS Online Ordering System.
E. Plan and carry out the induction ceremony. Consider these items when planning the induction ceremony:
- Date/Time/Location.
- Speaker(s).
- Induction officer(s).
- Readers of the ritual.
- Chapter honoree.
- Refreshments.
- Certificates, lapel pins, etc. ordered.
- Publicity (photos, video, news media).
- Other as appropriate.
F. In addition, successful chapters participate in Beta Gamma Sigma programs (Section VI).
- All chapters are encouraged to submit nominations for the BGS Medallion for Entrepreneurship and Business Achievement Award.
- All chapters are encouraged to participate in the Society’s Scholarship and Outstanding Chapter Programs if pre-qualifying criteria are met.
- Professor of the Year Award
- Student Leadership Forum
- Founders' Day/Week activities
G. Provide payments for memberships and chapter supplies to the Central Office within 10 working days following the induction ceremony.
H. Ensure completion of the Membership Data Profiles (MDP’s) by each person accepting the invitation to membership. Completion of the MDP triggers the creation of the membership certificate.
I. Submit required reports and information to the Central Office in a timely manner. Some of these reports include:
- Chapter supply orders
- Application for Outstanding Chapter (for chapters that qualify)
- Scholarship application materials for the chapter's recipient (for chapters that qualify)
- Name and contact information of the student attending the Student Leadership Forum
J. Recognize Beta Gamma Sigma members at commencement by including names in the printed program, and/or wearing honor cords, stoles or medallions.
K. Connect with Beta Gamma Sigma alumni chapters in your area (if applicable). This may be helpful for mentoring, internship and employment opportunities for student members as well as recruiting for your graduate program. Also, this provides a specific way for Chapter Advisors to show the “value of membership.” The collegiate chapters, its officers and members, can also provide support to the Alumni Chapter efforts.
3. Requirements of Successful Chapters
- Invite all eligible students at least annually
- Hold an induction ceremony at least annually
- Educate business students about the honor of Beta Gamma Sigma membership
- Inform qualifying students of the value of BGS membership
- Promote member benefits including the one-year subscriptions to Bloomberg Businessweek and Fortune magazines
- Support the mission of Beta Gamma Sigma
- Believe in the value of lifetime membership for qualifying students
- Promote BGS so all qualifying students understand the honor bestowed on them
- Participate in all programs available to chapters
- Enhance the recognition of BGS on campus
- Elect qualifying members to chapter offices
- Communicate in an accurate and timely manner with the Central Office
- Set chapter goals and strive to attain them
4. Best Practices for Collegiate Chapters
The following are some Best Practices utilized by previous Outstanding Chapters or noted by successful faculty officers at recent chapter workshops. These practices may be helpful to you in making sure your chapter is as successful as possible.
A. The College/University’s promotions department sends press releases to hometown newspapers announcing the student’s invitation and induction into Beta Gamma Sigma. A sample press release is available by clicking here.
B. Chapter Advisor sends a list of names of those qualifying for membership to all business school faculty asking them to recognize the students in class, in person, or by way of a note.
C. Faculty members and current student members wear BGS keys, t-shirts or other BGS apparel during the week that the invitations are sent or delivered. Faculty members display membership certificates in their offices.
D. Participate in Beta Gamma Sigma Founders' Day/Week to encourage greater recognition of BGS on campus.
E. Offer the invitation to Beta Gamma Sigma membership to the students in their classes in a tapping ceremony.
F. List Beta Gamma Sigma in the College/University catalog as the business honor society for your school’s AACSB International accredited business program.
G. List or designate Beta Gamma Sigma members in the commencement program.
H. Announce Beta Gamma Sigma scholarship recipients in the School of Business publication and/or the Foundation’s publication (for qualifying chapters).
I. Include an article about your Beta Gamma Sigma chapter’s induction (or other activities) in the School of Business publication.
J. Follow-up email notes to those invited to membership who have not yet responded; ask if they have any questions about membership.
K. Utilize the complete membership invitation packet when inviting students to membership and utilize the standard and free BGS Program Covers (with chapter program and new members listed) at the induction ceremony.
L. Include the BGS Information Card for undergraduates and a comment from the Dean in Dean’s List letter to underclassmen – encouraging that a BGS membership invitation be a goal for each business student. Maintain a creative and informative BGS bulletin board or display case in prominent locations in the business school building.
N. Purchase and install a Beta Gamma Sigma bronze key in or near the School of Business building to increase recognition of the Society on campus.
O. Accept into membership those students who missed the deadline for membership acceptance. The Central Office is always willing to process late memberships – even one at a time – so it is best to be flexible.
P. Name a Chapter Honoree annually – could even be awarded to the person for whom the school is named (2006 Gold Chapter)
Q. Promote BGS on campus during Founders’ Week (BGS Awareness Week) with information and a giveaway drawing (2006 Silver Chapter)
R. Allow BGS student members to select a Professor of the Year (2006 Bronze Chapter)
S. Co-sponsor a Business Leadership Forum on campus with training on “effective networking” and “dining etiquette” (2006 Gold Chapter)
T. Faculty wear regalia and process in during the induction ceremony (2006 Silver Chapter)
U. Co-sponsor with the School of Business a “Dean’s Reception” for all students making the Chancellor’s and/or Dean’s List (2006 Bronze Chapter)
V. Faculty members send personal notes/emails to their students congratulating them on invitation to BGS (2006 Gold Chapter)
W. Display all BGS chapter plaques prominently in School of Business building (chapter charter, Outstanding Chapter, Exemplary or Premier Chapter, Scholarship Program Awards) (2006 Bronze Chapter)
Sometimes alumni contact the chapter after graduating and entering the work force, only then realizing the value and importance of membership. The Central Office encourages chapters to verify that these alumni met the membership eligibility requirements at the time they were originally invited, and if so, process invitations for them. If this special effort is made, an alum who qualified as one of the “best in business” and is recognized as such, may become a very good and longtime friend to the school.
5. Role of the Dean’s Office
The Dean is encouraged to support the collegiate chapter and participate in as many chapter programs as possible. Usually, the more involved in Beta Gamma Sigma the Dean is, the more successful the chapter becomes. In many chapters, the Dean serves as the president of the chapter. An active and visible Dean is vital to achieving high membership acceptance rates among eligible students.
The Dean can support the collegiate chapter in many ways, including:
A. Provide a strong presence in the tapping ceremony.
B. Provide an initial letter of congratulations.
C. Provide a follow-up letter after the initial contact.
D. With a traditional student body, a letter of congratulations from the Dean to the parents can be very effective.
E. Host a reception for invitees, current faculty and student members.
F. Support BGS by providing display cases and/or bulletin boards in prominent locations in and around the School of Business building.
G. Purchase the bronze replica of BGS key for permanent display on campus.
H. Support the available programs of Beta Gamma Sigma, including the Medallion for Entrepreneurship, Business Achievement Award, Chapter Honoree, etc. Provide 50 percent matching funds (currently $500) to award a $1,000 Beta Gamma Sigma Scholarship to a student member when the chapter qualifies. Provide funding to allow a student member to attend the Society’s Student Leadership Forum.
I. Make discretionary funds available to the Chapter Advisor (or assist the advisor in obtaining corporate/foundation support) to provide membership to those unable to afford the fee.
J. Include the BGS Information Card – provided by the Central Office – with the letters sent to underclassmen named to the Dean’s List.
K. Support the Chapter Advisor in his/her role through secretarial support and recognition for service and provide funding for attendance at a chapter officer training workshop at least every 2-3 years.
A visible and active Dean in any or all of the above ways strengthens a chapter and sends a message to members, faculty and prospective members that Beta Gamma Sigma is important to the School of Business and the College/University.
6. Ideas for Collegiate Chapter Activities
The Chapter Advisor, Dean’s Office, faculty and student members can do a variety of things to help the chapter be successful. There are many activities that chapter officers should consider when deciding what is best for their chapters.
A. To Increase Chapter Visibility:
- Submit articles about the chapter to student and local newspapers.
- Utilize bulletin boards and displays in the School of Business building.
- Participate in new student orientation days to introduce Beta Gamma Sigma.
- Distribute BGS Information Cards.
- List and explain purposes of Beta Gamma Sigma in College/University and School of Business catalogs.
- Participate in the BGS Scholarship and Outstanding Chapter programs.
- Develop a BGS chapter home page and link to: http://www.betagammasigma.org.
- Include information on BGS induction and scholarship/award recipients in School of Business publications.
- Encourage BGS faculty members to include Beta Gamma Sigma membership in their vitas/bios.
- Encourage chapter participation in BGS programs: Medallion for Entrepreneurship, Business Achievement Award and Chapter Honoree.
- Celebrate Beta Gamma Sigma's Founders' Day (Feb. 19) or Founders' Week and send out copies of the Founders' Day press release.
B. For Member Recognition:
- Host a reception for new inductees. Invite all members of the chapter.
- Participate in the Society’s programs. Students and faculty members should wear BGS honor cords, stoles or medallions at commencement.
- List or designate BGS members in the commencement program.
- Provide press releases to local media highlighting the accomplishments of members.
C. Professional Activities:
- Host an ethical business leaders forum.
- Sponsor a speech contest.
- Sponsor lectures and/or events on pertinent business topics.
Sample Timeline for Planning Chapter Inductions
Prior to Ceremony Date
9-12 weeks prior
- Create or update chapter account/contact information into the Online Ordering System (OOS) at: http://www.bgschapterservices.org
- Identify eligible students and faculty; chapter nominating committee selects those to invite; elect to membership
8 weeks prior
- Order membership invitation packets and chapter supplies online from BGS
- Input eligible member database online
7 weeks prior
- Begin promoting Beta Gamma Sigma on campus
- Receive invitation packets and chapter supplies from BGS
- Create local invitation with details to include in invitation; assemble invitation packets
6 weeks prior
- Distribute invitation packets (in person or by mail)
2.5 – 6 weeks prior
- Accept membership payments from each invited student and faculty member
- Note paid memberships in database – ongoing
- Email (and provide in print form when possible) newly paid members the link to the MDP
- Receive automatic emails indicating new members that completed MDPs on-line
- Ongoing basis - encourage paid members to complete online MDPs
- Send follow-up email/call/note to invited students and faculty (non-responses) encouraging membership acceptance
- Notify BGS for special shipping requests (domestic orders will be shipped to chapter standard UPS unless otherwise requested)
8-10 days prior
- BGS processes and ships initial (1st) chapter order
1 week prior
- Chapter receives, proofs and prepares initial (1st) chapter membership order materials for ceremony
1 – 10 days prior
- BGS processes and ships additional orders
1 – 8 days prior
- Chapter receives, proofs and prepares additional chapter membership order materials for ceremony
0 days prior
Following Ceremony Date
+1 – 14 days after
- Distribute any new member materials to new members not in attendance at the ceremony (include copy of ritual for them to read)
- Mail membership payment to Central Office (one payment for all memberships @ $65 U.S. + $2 U.S. shipping cost per member)
- Complete MDPs (as much information as available to you) for new members that did not complete their own
NOTE: Fourteen (14) days following induction ceremony date Central Office staff must create basic MDPs for remaining paid members’ (using only basic/created information – name, permanent address of school, email address, DOB, gender) to reconcile chapter payment to members paid. Chapters should note that this process by the Central Office will not provide correct and complete member contact information which can only be provided by member or chapter input.
- Begin planning for next induction ceremony
14+ days after
- Continue follow up to non-responses as long as chapter chooses
- Approximately two months following the ceremony or at the conclusion of the semester, BGS Central Office sends a follow-up invitation to membership to chapter non-respondents through a direct email invitation (after contacting the collegiate chapter).
BGS Sample Planning Calendar
(Based on a Fall and Spring Induction Ceremony)
Academic Year
Fall
September
- Read September issue of BGS Connection for information about running a successful chapter
- Plan any special activities for academic year
- Complete election process 9-12 weeks prior to induction ceremony
- Register and update Chapter Officer information on the Online Ordering System
- Order necessary supplies from Central Office through the BGS Online Ordering System
- Input names and emails of students and faculty into the BGS Online Ordering System
- Check BetaNet website (www.betagammasigma.org) for updates
- Supply name of student attending Student Leadership Forum
- Deadline for Medallion for Entrepreneurship and Business Achievement nominations: September 21
October
- Faculty officer or administrative assistant attends Fall Chapter Training Workshop (every 2-3 years)
- Tapping Ceremony
- Mail or distribute membership invitations to qualifying students and faculty
- Distribute Dean’s follow-up letter
- Other follow-up activity
- BGS news release in campus paper
- Input Membership Order into the Online Ordering System
November
- Fall induction ceremony
- Reserve facilities for next year’s ceremony
- Student member attends the Student Leadership Forum
Spring
January
- Read January issue of BGS Connection for information about running a successful chapter
- Begin work on identifying spring inductees
- Confirm participation in Scholarship Program (eligible chapters)
- Check BetaNet website (www.betagammasigma.org) for updates
- Read regular B-Mails sent to chapter officers for important reminders
- Deadline for Outstanding Chapter Award nominations
February
- Complete election process 9-12 weeks prior to induction ceremony
- Order necessary supplies from the Central Office through the BGS Online Ordering System
- Chapter Officer or Administrative Assistant attends Chapter Training Workshop
- Celebrate BGS Founders' Week (week of February 19)
March
- Tapping CeremonyMail invitations
- Distribute Dean’s follow-up letter
- Other follow-up activity
- BGS news release in campus paper
- Supply attendee’s name for Biennial Convention (even-numbered years) to Central Office
- Complete Membership Order on the Online Ordering System
- Reserve a space for student to attend next Student Leadership Forum
- Chapter Officer or Administrative Assistant attends Chapter Training Workshop
- Announcement of Outstanding Chapters
April
- Induction Ceremony/Event
- Establish next year’s committees
- Elect next year’s officers
- Biennial Convention (even-numbered years)
- Reserve facilities for next year’s event
- Select chapter's scholarship recipient (if the chapter qualifies)
Summer
May
- Send Scholarship Recipient application to Central Office
June
July
August
- Begin work on identifying fall inductees
- Register to attend Fall Chapter Training Workshop
- Provide to the Central Office the name of student attending November Student Leadership Forum
Probation/Deactivation of Collegiate Chapters
A collegiate chapter that does not hold an induction ceremony for three (3) consecutive years shall be considered to be not functioning and will be placed on probation for a period of one (1) year. If the chapter fails to hold an induction ceremony during the year of probation, the Board of Governors may declare the chapter inactive by a majority vote. The Board, by a majority vote, may at any time reactivate the chapter upon application from faculty and administration of the school or college
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