Beta Tau was founded in 1974 at the UM School of Nursing and Health Studies. It is an extension of STTI, which was founded in 1922 by seven nurses at the Indiana University Training School of Nurses.

The William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award is the highest award given by the McKnight Fellowship program. The award is handed out annually to one Florida professor to recognize their mentorship work with the McKnight Fellowship program, an organization that provides scholarships to African American and Hispanic students pursuing doctorate degrees in all fields of study.