Delegates to Beta Theta Pi’s 167th General Convention, held last week in Toronto, Ontario, voted to significantly increase the grade point average (GPA) standard for chapters of the Fraternity. The new standard will require all chapters and colonies to meet or exceed a 2.7 GPA.

In 1984, Beta Theta Pi was the first Fraternity to adopt a 2.5 standard for chapters. Again in 1997, Beta was the first to require a 2.5 of individual members. Likewise, this move makes the Fraternity a leader with respect to the academic standards held by North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) organizations. “You are at the top of the standards,” said NIC Executive Director Jon Williamson. “You’re leading the way. I congratulate you on having the courage to take it to 2.7.”

The cumulative grade point average for Beta Theta Pi chapters in 2005 surpassed 3.0 for the first time in recent years. With 115 chapters reporting, the Fraternity averaged a 3.01 GPA for 2004-05. The past decade has seen a significant improvement in Beta scholarship. In 1997, the Fraternity’s cumulative GPA was a 2.82 with less than 45 percent of chapters above the respective All-Men's Average (AMA.) In 2005, the Fraternity GPA was 3.01 with 63 percent of chapters above the respective AMA.