The aims and purposes of Phi Lambda Upsilon are the promotion of high scholarship and original investigation in all branches of pure and applied chemistry. Phi Lambda Upsilon was founded as an honorary chemical society in March 1899, at the University of Illinois. This was the first honor society dedicated to a single scientific discipline. In just over one hundred years, Phi Lambda Upsilon has grown into an organization comprising sixty-seven chapters and more than 55,000 members.

The Beta Pi Chapter of Phi Lambda Upsilon was installed at St. Cloud State University on April 13, 1986. Professor Jack F. McKenna spearheaded the formation of the SCSU chapter. Of particular note, the Beta Pi Chapter was approved as the first chapter of PLU that was not at a school offering graduate degrees in chemistry.

Dr. Jack F. McKenna serves as the Chapter Councillor.