KINGSTON, R.I. – Sept. 26, 2023 – The University of Rhode Island College of Business has earned high honors for its chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for AACSB accredited business programs.
In its recognition, the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business praised the college’s dedicated support for the chapter, which earned the organization’s second highest distinction for the 2022-23 academic year. URI’s chapter has consistently earned high or highest honors from the society since 2016.
“Chapter recognition is important to acknowledge the scholarship and hard work of our undergraduate and graduate members,” said Donna Gamache-Griffiths, chapter adviser, associate teaching professor and coordinator of URI’s International Business Program. “Only AACSB accredited colleges and universities are able to have the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society, so it is truly a select and distinguished group of students who join.”
Founded in 1913, the society has more than 980,000 members from over 600 collegiate chapters in business schools accredited by AACSB International. Membership in the society is the highest recognition a business student can receive in a business program accredited by the association.
URI has 50 undergraduate and graduate students in the chapter—and more than 1,000 alumni. To qualify, URI juniors and seniors must be ranked among the top 10% of their class; graduate students in the top 20%.
As a member of the honor society, students can take advantage of numerous educational benefits, such as a waiver of fees on graduate exams, scholarships, tuition discounts, as well as attend conferences, achieve ethical leadership certification, and participate in various lecture series. The college supports the chapter by sending chapter co-executives to the society’s annual leadership summit, along with promoting the group to current and incoming students, holding chapter activities and encouraging members to support other college and URI clubs.
“The most notable benefit for students is the immediate recognition of achieved excellence among graduate schools and employers,” she said.
Senior Olivia DeMoura of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, a major in general business administration, says being a member of the chapter has enabled her to take on another leadership role as a student representative of the club, along with helping her to grow personally and professionally and meet peers she would not have known otherwise.
“Being a part of Beta Gamma Sigma is very exciting and makes me very proud of all I have accomplished during my time at URI,” said DeMoura, the chapter’s student executive. “For myself and all the other members, it is a great feeling to be recognized for all the hard work we have put into our studies.”
High honors status makes the chapter eligible to nominate students for some of the society’s most prestigious global awards, such as Outstanding Chapter Advisor of the Year, and business achievement and entrepreneurial achievement awards that recognize community business leaders, alumni and donors.
The URI College of Business celebrating its centennial as a leader in business, research and outreach in Rhode Island since 1923. Today, the college has more than 2,300 undergraduate and about 350 graduate students across 10 undergraduate majors, eight graduate programs, three Ph.D. specializations, and one executive doctorate program.