This year has been a year of change and growth for Beta Alpha Psi. Actions that started nearly three years ago matured into new directions for BAP, which in turn created the need for more changes. Why were changes necessary and how were they developed? I hear that question frequently and addressed the issues in the Regional meetings I attended.

Why:

• Initiates had dropped from 7,902 in 1992 to 5,652 in 1999; and we had 38 more chapters in 1999.

• Supporting Associates dropped from over 30 organizations to 16 over a 10 year period.

• Employer hiring patterns changed both as to timing as well as majors. First and second semester juniors are interviewed and secure internships coincident with or prior to joining ΒΑΨ so that the "employment" motivation on the part of students and employers became less significant. Finance and MIS majors are as much in demand by our Supporting Associates as are Accounting majors.

• Universities were combining majors and integrating courses in an attempt to remove academic "silos" and better prepare students for business careers. We needed our programs to do likewise.

The Process: Over a two-year period the then Boards met with student leaders, faculty advisors, deans of business schools, heads of accounting departments, and the ΒΑΨ Supporting Associates. From this process came a strong demand for change and an agreement around what the changes should be. But I assure you, there were those who liked ΒΑΨ just the way it was regardless of the metrics we cited that indicated that our business model was in trouble. The Board could not/would not let ΒΑΨ run the risk of becoming extinct.

The Changes: Finance and MIS students are now eligible for pledging and membership, and students may pledge after 30 semester hours rather than the previous requirement of 60. These changes were made to the national bylaws, but chapters can elect to accept or reject them.

Adding Value: Because we are now a more inclusive organization but very selective with our honors requirement, we have attracted a national e-mail newsletter partner, AccountingWeb, and an Internet communications Web site, Pro2Net, which are providing their services worth over $25,000 each at no cost to BAP. Additionally, both have agreed to become dues paying Supporting Associates. We now have a national database that will open more employment opportunities for pledges and members while making ΒΑΨ more valuable to our Supporting Associates.

What's Next: With three different majors and pledges/members ranging from sophomores to graduate students, our Program of Chapter Activities needs to be completely revised. A task force chaired by President-elect Diane Pattison has been at work since September. Their proposals were presented and discussed at all the regional meetings, a final recommendation was made to the Board in June, and the new PCA will be beta tested by volunteer chapters in 2000-2001. All chapters will follow a new PCA for 2001-2002.

Change is difficult, but in the case of BAP, it was essential. We applaud those chapters that have embraced the changes. Their chapters, their pledges and members, and national ΒΑΨ will be better because of their actions.

Sincerely,

Bernard J. Milano