Sigma Beta Delta is the International Honor Society in Business.
 
The purposes of Sigma Beta Delta are to encourage and recognize scholarship and achievement among students of business, management and administration, and to encourage and promote personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind.
 

History:

The beginnings of Sigma Beta Delta can be traced to June 19,1986, where, at a Beta Gamma Sigma Long-Range Planning Committee meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, the decision was made to thoroughly examine its relationships with AACSB non-accredited schools. In subsequent discussions, Beta Gamma Sigma leaders acknowledged that the business honor society is a vital participant and positive force in higher education, and should be available to all regionally accredited baccalaureate institutions.

The culmination of the discussions was a decision by the Beta Gamma Sigma Board of Governors in January 1994 to establish Sigma Beta Delta. Seven founding chapters were established early in 1994. They include: Belmont University, Houston Baptist University, McKendree College, Morehouse College, North Carolina State University, Saint Leo College and Southern University. By the end of the chartering period, June 30,1995, an additional 54 charter chapters had been installed for a total of 61 founding and charter chapters. Through September 1998, a total of 123 chapters had been established in 38 states.

The creation of Sigma Beta Delta Follows a 200-year tradition of honoring scholastic achievement in higher education, beginning with the establishment of Phi Beta Kappa in Williamsburg, Virginia 1776.

The Meaning of Sigma Beta Delta:

The principles of Sigma Beta Delta are represented by three Greek words, the initials of which form the name of our Society.
 
Sigma is the initial letter of the Greek word which means wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge gained over time, analyzed and used with discernment. Wisdom is not merely information, but allows one to acknowledge information, consider its validity and relevance, and then incorporate into one's own life what is appropriate. Wisdom is knowledge applied.

Beta is the initial letter of the Greek word which signifies honor. Honor is a personal quality of the highest value. Honorable persons are held in esteem, considered to be trustworthy, and admired by others because they live a life that is worthy of such recognition. Honorable persons have chosen to live a life that is bounded by integrity and ethical decision making so that they may be free of the tyranny of dishonor. Honorable persons respect others and are willing to provide leadership to the benefit of humankind.

Delta is the initial letter of the Greek word which signifies the pursuit of meaningful aspirations. To aspire to worthy goals sets apart persons of accomplishment from those who merely mark time with their lives. Persons of wisdom and honor must aspire to a course to achieve their objectives, for goals without action are no more fulfilling than action without goals. To aspire toward the fulfillment of one's goals to serve humankind and develop personally and professionally will lead to a life of meaning and satisfaction.

Lifetime Membership:

Membership in Sigma Beta Delta should be the goal of every student of business in a baccalaureate or master's degree program at a school with a Sigma Beta Delta chapter.

To be considered for invitation to the Society, the highest national recognition your faculty can offer, students must rank in the upper 20 percent of their class. This is the opportunity to become one of the select few who earn lifetime recognition within Sigma Beta Delta, the International Honor Society for Business, Management and Administration.
 
More information can be gathered from:   http://www.sigmabetadelta.org