Beta Theta Pi - Gamma Kappa Chapter

A Few Quick Facts

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)

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
Scholarships awarded by Beta Theta Pi Foundation last year: 58
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

For a complete list of Beta facts, including a list of influential and famous members, please see the complete Quick Facts document .