CONSTITUTION SUMMARY

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝐼: 𝑁𝐴𝑀𝐸

This organization shall be known as Alpha Eta Mu Beta, The National Biomedical Engineering Honor Society; referred to herein as the Society. The Society is incorporated in the state of Louisiana.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝐼𝐼: 𝑃𝑈𝑅𝑃𝑂𝑆𝐸

That those in the profession of Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering, who by their attainments in college or in practice have manifested a deep interest and marked ability in their chosen life work may be brought into a closer union so as to promote an understanding of their profession. To mark in an outstanding manner those who, as students in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering, have conferred honor on their Alma Mater by distinguished scholarship, exemplary character, honorable activities, and leadership. To aid those students to progress through association with alumni who have attained prominence.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝐼𝐼𝐼: 𝑀𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐸𝑅𝑆𝐻𝐼𝑃

Active Membership

Members are required to attend one AEMB meeting and one event each semester to maintain a good standing within the organization. Attendance will be taken at each event.
Active membership shall be open to those full-time undergraduate duly registered in a Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering curriculum that has been accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET), who are ranked as juniors or seniors by their college and are in good and regular standing. All such curricula shall be referred to herein as Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical Engineering Technology or BioTechnology programs are not considered comparable curricula.
Only those juniors or seniors who have maintained a cumulative GPR of 3.50 or above shall be eligible for active membership. In all cases, candidates for membership shall have completed at least six semester credit hours (or the equivalent) of Biomedical Engineering courses.
To be considered juniors, students shall be in the next-to-last year of their curriculum or shall be considered U3 classification. To be considered seniors, students shall be in the last year of their curriculum or shall be considered U4 classification.
Candidates for membership to AEMB, in addition to having the required scholastic rank must have a continuous record of intellectual activity and of attainment in Biomedical Engineering; must be of exemplary character; must possess qualities of high integrity, breadth of interest both inside and outside of Biomedical Engineering and unselfish service to the community and the profession. A Chapter shall have a procedure for the evaluation of the exemplary character of candidates.
In the case of students whose eligibility is in doubt because of irregular standing or curriculum, the matter shall be referred to the National Executive Council for appropriate action.
Membership in any other fraternity or society shall not prevent a student from active membership in AEMB.
Transfer students ranked as juniors or seniors who have transferred from some other institution or school or from some other department in the same school shall be eligible for active membership provided they have maintained a scholastic grade average of 3.5 or above of the class from which they transferred and provided they maintain this average for one grade period after the transfer. In all cases, candidates for membership are required to have completed at least six semester credit hours (or the equivalent) of Biomedical Engineering courses.
Active membership shall also be open to graduate students duly registered in a Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering curriculum. To be eligible for membership, a graduate student:
- Must be a candidate for a degree in Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering from a university with an ABET accredited undergraduate and/or graduate program;
- Must have completed at least 12 semester hours of graduate courses for students in a Ph.D. program, or nine semester hours of courses in a Master’s degree program, six of which are Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering courses towards the degree;
- Must have a grade-point-average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale and rank in the upper one-third of eligible graduate students.
- Must have, at minimum, 1 first author professional publication (conference abstract, proceeding or journal paper). Graduate students may be admitted for membership without fulfilling this requirement, however this publication requirement is to be fulfilled upon graduation and is to be moderated by the faculty advisor.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝐼𝑉: 𝑂𝐹𝐹𝐼𝐶𝐸𝑅𝑆

The executive officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Their term of office shall not exceed one year. Chapter-specific officers include a Student Organization Liaison, Outreach Coordinator, and Outreach Assistant Coordinator. Additional officer positions can be created as needed at the discretion of the executive officers prior to the next election term. At the time of their election, the officers of the chapters must be registered in a Biomedical Engineering or Bioengineering curriculum, and preferably be active members of the Society. Each chapter shall have a Faculty Advisor who is a member of the college faculty and of Alpha Eta Mu Beta.
The officers of the Texas A&M University Chapter of Alpha Eta Mu Beta shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Student Organization Liaison, Outreach Coordinator, and Outreach Assistant Coordinator.
The duties of the President shall be to organize and guide the chapter, and to preside over meetings. The Vice President shall preside over meetings that the President is unable to attend and aid the President in any way needed. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all finances of the chapter. The Student Organization Liaison will communicate with different engineering organizations. The Outreach Coordinator will oversee community outreach activities with the assistance of the Outreach Assistant Coordinator.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝑉: ELECTIONS

Section 1. Election of Officers

Election of officers shall be conducted by an open ballot in April of each school year. A three-quarter vote of all active members present shall be required to elect a person into office. If nominees are unopposed, the position will automatically be granted to the nominee.

Section 2. Election of Members

Election of members shall be conducted either by secret or open ballot as the chapter sees fit at the time of election. Academic eligibility will be verified by the chapter’s Faculty Advisor and other eligibility requirements will be determined by the active members. Elections shall be held as soon after the date of determining the eligibility of the candidates as possible. A simple majority of all active members present shall be required to elect a person to membership.
All candidates for membership shall be elected by an active chapter. They shall be initiated, according to the prescribed ritual, either by the active chapter or by a group of members to be designated by the Executive Director.
There should be an initiation of new members held near the middle of the fall semester.

_______________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝑉𝐼: BUDGET

All monies belonging to this organization shall be deposited and disbursed through a bank account established for this organization at the Student Organization Finance Center and/or the Fiscal Office. All funds must be deposited within 24 hours after collection. The advisor to this organization must approve and sign each expenditure before payment.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝑉𝐼𝐼: 𝐴CTIVE CHAPTER RESPONSIBILITIES

Meetings

Each chapter shall hold a minimum of four (4) meetings during each academic school year. Additional meetings may be held during the summer if the active members attending the summer term so desire. For the purpose of this requirement, each meeting must have a quorum present.
A quorum shall consist of a simple majority (half plus one) of the active membership of the chapter.
A special meeting may be called at any time at the discretion of the President of the chapter.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 𝑉𝐼𝐼: DISCIPLINARY ACTION/EXPULSION

Members

An active member may be expelled from his/her chapter and the Society for failure to uphold the Constitution and for such acts that brings discredit upon the member or the Society, or for any just cause as shall be ruled upon by the chapter, except as set forth in Article VIII, Section 1.b.
The method of expulsion is by vote of four-fifths of the active membership of his/her chapter upon charges presented and signed by at least four active members of the Chapter and after a thorough and impartial interview and evaluation of the member concerned, except in the following situations: Any case involving an active member convicted of a crime or convicted by a student honor court or a school administration shall be referred to the National Executive Council. Authority for expulsion, in the case of a conviction of a crime or convicted honor violation, is vested solely in the National Executive Council; and action taken shall follow the procedure set forth in Article VIII, Section 1.c.
In the case where an active member is found guilty of a crime or of an honor violation by a student honor court or by school administration, the faculty advisor of that Chapter shall submit a complete report to the Executive Director for action by the National Executive Council. A notation of the violation shall be made of the member’s permanent record, subject to removal at the discretion of the National Executive Council. After review of the case, the National Executive Council shall decide by a simple majority vote to either expel or censure the member. The decision will be communicated in writing to the members, with copies to the Department Head, Chapter President and Faculty Advisor.
Before any action is taken to dismiss any member, she/he will be notified by the President, in writing, by email, of the specific rules which they are alleged to have violated.
Any member in this situation will be given the opportunity to share her/his views on any allegations brought against her/him.
An expelled member has the right of appeal within thirty (30) days to the National Executive Council.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 IX: 𝐶𝑂𝑀𝑀𝐼𝑇𝑇𝐸𝐸𝑆

Ad hoc committees shall be established by a majority vote of the Executive Officers prior to the elections for the year the committee shall be active.
The Committee Chair of such a committee shall be elected as a full Officer of the organization.
Any member of the organization may join the committee upon approval by the Committee Chair and the President.

________________________________________

𝐴𝑅𝑇𝐼𝐶𝐿𝐸 X: 𝐴𝑀𝐸𝑁𝐷𝑀𝐸𝑁𝑇𝑆

Constitution changes can be initiated by any Officer or by written petition from a minimum of six (6) active members.
This constitution may be amended by an affirmative three-quarters vote of active members in person or by email provided the proposed changes were sent to each member at least thirty days prior to the vote.
Each subsequent amendment to chapter bylaws must be submitted to the National Executive Council and approval must be granted.
Amendments shall become effective upon written notification of the ratified amendments to all members by email.00

Constitution: News