Chi Beta Phi
Encyclopedia
Chi Beta Phi National Science Honorary (ΧΒΦ) is an honorary scientific society for undergraduates. The object of the organization is to promote interest in science and to give recognition to scholarly attainment in science. Members participate together in events of scientific interest and wholesome fellowship. Activities of the Honorary are not restricted to any one particular discipline of the scientific field but reflect endeavors in all areas of science. Therefore, the novice student of science is exposed at a crucial time in their college career to the many possibilities offered by several scientific areas of study, while the advanced student is afforded an opportunity to keep abreast of important advancements in science outside of their specialized field of interest.
A shield with beveled edges; stamped on the face of the shield in the upper left corner (as faced) an electrode at discharge, symbolizing Physics; in the upper right corner a microscope, symbolizing Biology and Psychology; midway between these and in the point of the shield, a star, symbolizing Mathematics and Astronomy, with the surrounding nimbus representing the computer sciences; in the lower point of the shield crossed retorts, symbolizing Chemistry and Geology; across the center and face of the shield a band, bearing the Greek letters Chi Beta Phi.
, Ashland, VA. While working in the laboratory, Mr. Greene conceived the idea of a general science fraternity which would give to undergraduates special opportunities to discuss the latest achievements in science and the outstanding problems in his field of endeavor. With the assistance of his classmates and three professors in the science departments of Randolph-Macon, and with faculty approval, the Fraternity was organized in April, 1916. For four years Chi Beta Phi existed as a local organization. However, during the school year 1920-21, an expansion program was inaugurated and three chapters were installed (College of William and Mary
, Hampden-Sydney College
, and Emory University
).
On May 5 and 6, 1922, the first National Convention was held in Williamsburg, VA. It was here that the real organization of Chi Beta Phi began. At the first convention a system of nomenclature was put into effect. Each chapter was assigned a Greek letter which was given out by the chapter’s beginning in Chi Beta Phi. Hence, Randolph-Macon College
became Alpha chapter, the first born of Chi Beta Phi.
The Fraternity steadily continued to grow through the years and on May 13, 1925, Chi Beta Phi became a chartered National organization. On May 27, 1935, Chi Beta Phi was approved as an associated society by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
Chi Beta Phi was solely a society for men until May 11, 1939, when it merged with the sister society Chi Beta Phi-Sigma and became Chi Beta Phi National Science Fraternity. Rho Chapter was reinstated as the first co-educational chapter. In 1999 the National Conference approved a name change to Chi Beta Phi National Science Honorary.
Today the Honorary consists of more than 25 chapters located throughout the eastern United States. It has a growing membership which numbers about 7,000. Once a year, the chapters meet to discuss business and welcome new chapters to the organization. Everyone comes to enlighten their minds. However, none of this could have ever been without the dream of science major John Howard Greene.
Membership
Chi Beta Phi consists of regular, honorary, and associate members, who have received acceptance into the membership of an affiliated chapter. A member may be an undergraduate student, graduate student, alumnus of, or teacher in the institution in which the chapter is located. In addition, they must show a marked interest in science and have a scholastic average in all college and/or university courses and in all science courses, taken prior to election to chapter membership, higher than that required for graduation by institution, although a higher average may be required by any chapter. Membership is for life and requires payment of only one national life membership fee. Chapter dues and initiation fees are regulated by the individual chapters.Badge
Regalia
- Motto: Scientia Omnia Vincit – Science Conquers All
- Colors: Colonial Blue and Crimson
- Flower: Cape Jasmine
- Tree: Ginko biloba
History
Chi Beta Phi originated in the mind of John Howard Greene during his senior year at Randolph-Macon CollegeRandolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
, Ashland, VA. While working in the laboratory, Mr. Greene conceived the idea of a general science fraternity which would give to undergraduates special opportunities to discuss the latest achievements in science and the outstanding problems in his field of endeavor. With the assistance of his classmates and three professors in the science departments of Randolph-Macon, and with faculty approval, the Fraternity was organized in April, 1916. For four years Chi Beta Phi existed as a local organization. However, during the school year 1920-21, an expansion program was inaugurated and three chapters were installed (College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
, and Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
).
Randolph-Macon College
Randolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
became Alpha chapter, the first born of Chi Beta Phi.
The Fraternity steadily continued to grow through the years and on May 13, 1925, Chi Beta Phi became a chartered National organization. On May 27, 1935, Chi Beta Phi was approved as an associated society by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Chi Beta Phi was solely a society for men until May 11, 1939, when it merged with the sister society Chi Beta Phi-Sigma and became Chi Beta Phi National Science Fraternity. Rho Chapter was reinstated as the first co-educational chapter. In 1999 the National Conference approved a name change to Chi Beta Phi National Science Honorary.
Today the Honorary consists of more than 25 chapters located throughout the eastern United States. It has a growing membership which numbers about 7,000. Once a year, the chapters meet to discuss business and welcome new chapters to the organization. Everyone comes to enlighten their minds. However, none of this could have ever been without the dream of science major John Howard Greene.
Organization
The units of the Honorary are the Grand Chapter, consisting of five members who are designated as the Board of Directors of the organization, and the local chapters holding charters issued by the Grand Chapter. The government of the Honorary is vested in an annual national business conference and in the Grand Chapter. The business conference is composed of the Grand Officers and one delegate from each chapter. In the interim between meetings of the national convention, the Grand Chapter is the ruling body, although any action of the Grand Chapter is subject to recall by a three-fourths majority vote in the chapters.Active Chapters
- 1916 – Alpha – Randolph-Macon CollegeRandolph-Macon CollegeRandolph–Macon College is a private, co-educational liberal arts college located in Ashland, Virginia, United States, near the capital city of Richmond. Founded in 1830, the school has an enrollment of over 1,200 students...
- 1921 – Gamma – Hampden-Sydney CollegeHampden-Sydney CollegeHampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
- 1923 – Epsilon – University of CharlestonUniversity of CharlestonThe University of Charleston is a private university in Charleston, West Virginia, United States of over 1,300 students.-History:The school was founded in 1888 as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church...
- 1925 – Zeta – Davis & Elkins College
- 1925 – Kappa – Marshall UniversityMarshall UniversityMarshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
- 1935 – Rho - West Liberty State CollegeWest Liberty State CollegeWest Liberty University is a school located in West Liberty, West Virginia, United States, near Wheeling. Formerly known as West Liberty State College, West Liberty University is an institution in northern West Virginia offering a variety of degrees, undergraduate and graduate...
- 1941 – Theta Sigma – Limestone CollegeLimestone CollegeLimestone College is a private four-year, coeducational liberal-arts college located in Gaffney, South Carolina. Limestone College is a Christian non-denominational college. Its programs lead to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, Associate of Arts or Associate of...
- 1945 – Kappa Sigma – Mary Washington College
- 1947 – Phi – University of MemphisUniversity of MemphisThe University of Memphis is an American public research university located in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee and is the flagship public research university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system....
- 1948 – Chi – Columbia CollegeColumbia College (Columbia, South Carolina)Columbia College is a private liberal arts women's college in Columbia, South Carolina. The school is affiliated with United Methodist Church and has more than 1,500 students...
(Columbia, South Carolina) - 1948 – Omega - Lynchburg CollegeLynchburg CollegeLynchburg College is a private college in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, related by covenant to the Christian Church with approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The Princeton Review lists it as one of the 368 best colleges in the nation...
- 1952 – Alpha Beta - Lenoir-Rhyne CollegeLenoir-Rhyne CollegeLenoir–Rhyne University is a co-educational, private liberal arts university founded in 1891 and located in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. The university is affiliated with the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ....
- 1953 – Alpha Delta - Franklin College
- 1954 – Alpha Epsilon -Keuka CollegeKeuka CollegeFounded in 1890 and located on the shores of Keuka Lake in New York State’s Finger Lakes region, Keuka College is an independent, four-year, residential, coeducational college that places emphasis on career and pre-professional education....
- 1955 – Alpha Zeta – William Carey CollegeWilliam Carey CollegeWilliam Carey University is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in the United States, affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Mississippi Baptist Convention. The main campus is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; there are two subsidiary...
- 1956 – Alpha Eta – Newberry CollegeNewberry CollegeNewberry College is a liberal-arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located on a historic campus in Newberry, South Carolina.The college has 1,025 students and a 19:1 student-teacher ratio...
- 1964 – Alpha Iota – Glenville State CollegeGlenville State CollegeGlenville State College is a public four-year college located in Glenville, a town in the rural north-central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia.-History:...
- 1964 – Alpha Kappa – Athens State College
- 1965 – Epsilon Sigma – State University of New York at OneontaState University of New York at OneontaThe State University of New York College at Oneonta is a four-year liberal arts college in Oneonta, New York, United States, with approximately 5,800 students. The College offers many bachelor's degrees and a number of graduate degrees...
- 1969 – Alpha Xi – St. Francis College
- 1970 – Alpha Pi – University of Rio GrandeUniversity of Rio GrandeThe University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College are twin colleges in Rio Grande, Ohio, United States....
- 1973 – Alpha Rho – Lyon CollegeLyon CollegeLyon College is an independent, residential, co-educational, undergraduate liberal arts college affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Founded in 1872, it is the oldest independent college in Arkansas...
- 1974 – Alpha Sigma – Molloy CollegeMolloy CollegeMolloy College is located in Rockville Centre, New York, a Nassau County community on Long Island, in the United States. with a brand new, state-of-the art residential facility. It also has a new 550 seat performing arts facility-- The Madison Theatre...
- 1984 – Alpha Tau – Rust CollegeRust CollegeRust College is a historically black liberal arts college located in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Located approximately 35 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee, it is the second-oldest private college in the state...
- 1984 – Alpha Upsilon – Shenandoah UniversityShenandoah UniversityShenandoah University is a comprehensive private university located in Winchester, Virginia in the United States. It has an enrollment of approximately 3,800 students across more than ninety programs in six schools: College of Arts & Sciences, Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, Shenandoah...
Awards
- Outstanding Chapter Award (based on the information contained in the Chapter Reports)
- Blackwell Distance Award (to the chapter bringing the most members the farthest distance to the annual business conference)
- Host Award
- National Key Award (presented annually to the most outstanding student member of Chi Beta Phi)
- Awards are presented for the top three paper presentations at the National Conference
- Bardwell Award (outstanding chapter advisor)