Nature: The Gamma Beta Phi Society is an honor and service organization for students in colleges and universities in the United States of America. It is non-secret, non-profit, and co-educational, and membership therein does not exclude a student from membership in any other organization.
Symbols: The name of the organization is derived from the initial letters of the three Greek words for education, life, and friendship. It signifies that education and friendship constitute the basis of a full and happy life. The motto of Gamma Beta Phi is Progressus per Eruditioneum (progress through education), and its watchwords are Scholarship, Service, and Character.
These watch words denote the three major objectives of Gamma Beta Phi:
- To recognize and encourage individual excellence in education.
- To promote the development of leadership ability and character in its members.
- To foster, disseminate, and improve education through appropriate service projects.
History: Gamma Beta Phi was instituted on March 22, 1964, by a group of college educators. It was chartered as a non-profit educational organization on April 27, 1964. The Society grew out of the high school Beta Club organization; and Dr. John W. Harris, founder of the Beta Club, served as Gamma Beta Phi's Executive Secretary from 1964 until 1974.
The Idaho State University Chapter of Gamma Beta Phi was chartered on February 28, 2002.