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 interfraternity 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

• Founded: August 8, 1839
• Initiated Betas: 183,769
• Living Betas: 125,946
• Undergraduate membership with pledges: 5,911
• Chapters/Colonies: 122 in the U.S. and Canada
• Last year there were more than 900 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)
• 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
• 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