Constitution for the Chapter of Alpha Eta Mu Beta the Biomedical Engineering Honor Society at Georgia Tech
Created March 30th, 2005 Revised October 31st, 2009
Article I. Name
Section 1. This organization will be recognized as Alpha Eta Mu Beta the Biomedical Engineering Honor Society at Georgia Tech, referred to henceforth as AEMB.
Section 2. The symbol will be the early form of the Greek letters Alpha, Eta, Mu, Beta. Use of the symbols AEMB will be permitted.
Article II. Purpose
The purpose of the Georgia Institute of Technology Chapter of Alpha Eta Mu Beta is to recognize, encourage and promote the excellence of the Biomedical Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology who have distinguished scholarship, activities, leadership, and have demonstrated outstanding character.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. Active Membership
A. All members of AEMB will be Georgia Institute of Technology students who meet eligibility requirements for participation in extra-curricular activities as stated in the Student Rules and Regulations and Student Government Association (SGA) policies. Only Georgia Institute of Technology students can vote or hold office.
B. Juniors (those with at least 60 undergraduate credit hours) who have obtained a grade point average in the top one-fifth of the junior class and seniors (those with at least 90 undergraduate credit hours) who have achieved a grade point average in the top one- third of the senior class in the Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology are eligible for active membership. The scholastic requirements may be raised above those set forth in the National Constitution via the amendment of this constitution. All candidates must have completed at least six credit hours of BME courses at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
C. Transfer students may be eligible for active membership provided the requirements stated in Article III, Section B. are met after the transfer student has completed the first semester at Georgia Institute of Technology.
D. Graduate students who are pursuing a degree in the Biomedical Engineering department will be eligible for active membership when the pending national constitution requirements are finalized.
E. In addition to outstanding character and scholastic rank, candidates for membership must have no violations of the institution’s honor code, have the ability to share ideas with others, work in harmony with others, and have a genial nature.
F. Any discrepancies concerning the eligibility of any candidate will be resolved by the Executive Committee. If needed, the case can be taken to the National Vice-President for review and decision. The complaint should be sent with a copy of the current chapter bylaws. The appeal of any particular decision will rest solely with the National Executive council.
Section 2. Inactive Members A. An active member may become inactive upon the member’s absence from two mandatory meetings per semester.
Section 3. Alumni Membership A. Any graduate of the Biomedical Engineering program who during his or her college
career was eligible for membership, may be entitled to alumni membership providing that the candidate received his or her degree while the school was accredited by ABET.
B. Any member will become an alumni member upon graduation from the Biomedical Engineering program.
C. A member who upon receiving a degree at one institution and pursing another degree at
another institution may apply to the AEMB chapter at the second institution to revert his or her status to active membership. The member must abide by the laws of the AEMB chapter of the second institution if the request for active membership is approved.
D. All alumni members will be listed as associate members and as such do not have the privileges to vote or hold office (refer to Article III, Section 1.A).
Section 4. Selection of Members
A. Membership selection is in compliance with Georgia Institute of Technology rules, regulations, and policies and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
B. Membership will take effect when an interested candidate completes an autobiographical presentation, video, or essay, and pays all dues.
Section 5. Expulsion of Members
A. An active member may be expelled from AEMB for failure to live up to the Constitution and for the performance of some act that brings discredit upon the member or AEMB, or for any just cause as will be ruled upon by the chapter, except as set forth in Article III, Section 5. B.
B. The method of expulsion is by vote of four-fifths of the AEMB membership upon charges presented and signed by four AEMB members and after a thorough and impartial trial of the member concerned, except in regards to institute judicial matters.
C. Any case involving an active member convicted by a student honor court or a school administration will be referred to the National Executive Council. Authority for expulsion, in the case of a convicted honor violation, is vested solely in the National Executive Council; and action taken will follow the procedure set forth in Article III, Section 5. C.
D. In the case where an active member is found guilty of an honor violation by a student honor court or by a school administration, the faculty advisor of that Chapter will submit a complete report to the National Executive Director for action by the National Executive Council. A notation of the violation will be made on the member's permanent record, subject to removal at the discretion of the National Executive Council. In the case of an extreme honor violation, the National Executive Council will expel the member.
E. A member so expelled has the right of appeal within thirty days to the National Executive Council.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. Only Georgia Institute of Technology students who are already members of AEMB can hold or run for office.
Section 2. The Executive Committee and its duties are as follows:
A. President: The President will be the executive officer of the Executive Committee and will have general supervision of the affairs of the AEMB and will preside at meetings. The President will represent the AEMB at conferences, conventions and faculty or alumni meetings. The president also has power to establish new committees with the consent of the Executive Committee.
B. Vice-President: The Vice-President will be the junior executive officer and will act on the behalf of the President in the event of his or her absence.
C. Secretary: The Secretary will record the proceedings of each meeting and distribute the minutes to the members.
D. Treasurer: The Treasurer will maintain records of all expenditures and ensure that generally accepted accounting practices and monetary controls are in place.
E. The Executive Committee will ensure that the chapter follows the National AEMB Constitution, such as submitting the Annual Report and holding four meetings each academic year.
F. The Executive Committee has power to establish and remove committees. Committee chairs will be considered as officers and may be appointed by the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Officers will be elected in the following manner:
A. The elections for officers for the forthcoming year will take place no later than one month prior to spring semester final exams.
B. Any student member of the AEMB may campaign or be nominated for any officer position. The candidate names will be emailed out to the list to be voted on at the election.
C. The candidate for each office receiving the most votes will be the victor.
D. Any officer vacancies must be filled by a general election.
E. New officers take office at the last meeting of the semester.
F. In the case of a tie, a runoff will be held between the two candidates. If again a tie persists, the outgoing officer shall cast the deciding vote.
Section 4. Officers will be removed in this manner:
A. If an officer fails to maintain Institute requirements for holding office (good standing, for example), he or she will resign immediately.
B. If it is believed that an officer is not fulfilling his or her constitutional duties, then a petition requesting his or her removal must be signed by at least two-thirds of the voting membership and presented at a general meeting. Then, upon verification of the validity of the petition, by the advisor, and, at least two weeks but no more than four weeks from the date of submission, another meeting will be held at which the grievance will be presented, with both sides having the opportunity to present a case.
C. The Faculty Advisor, if appropriate, will preside over the removal hearing. After all arguments have been heard, a secret-ballot vote will be held. If at least two-thirds of the active voting members vote for removal, the officer will be removed immediately.
D. If the President is removed or resigns, the Vice-President will take his or her place in the interim. All other officers will be nominated by active members and voted on in accordance with regular election procedures.
Article V. Advisor
Section 1. A full-time Georgia Institute of Technology faculty member will serve as advisor to
the organization. The candidate will hold rank above instructor in the program in Biomedical Engineering and have at least three years of full-time teaching and/or research experience as a faculty member in Biomedical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. If no such advisor exists or is willing, the BME general advisor will act as the AEMB advisor.
Section 2. Nominations for advisor will take place within the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will choose the advisor and invite him or her to serve as advisor for the next academic year. The faculty advisor is initiated at the next regularly scheduled initiation ceremony of the sponsoring chapter. The term for the advisor is one year.
Section 3. Seven copies of a biography and qualification statements of each candidate written by two members of the proposing chapter, indicating outstanding contributions, must be submitted to the National Office six weeks prior to the scheduled initiation date for approval or disapproval by the National Executive Council. In no case may a faculty member be initiated without specific written approval from the National Executive Director.
Section 4. During the annual Officer Elections, the chapter will vote on whether to continue the Advisor appointment or not. The Advisor must receive at least two-thirds of the total number of eligible votes in order to retain the Advisor for the next academic year.
Section 5. The duties of Advisor include: meeting with the chapter officers, reviewing the yearly budget, signing all required paperwork and advising on issues of risk management, organization leadership, and Georgia Institute of Technology policy. The advisor is required to attend the initiation ceremony for the new members.
Section 6. The Advisor can be removed for not carrying out the duties and expectations as defined in this document. Any member can bring concerns to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will meet with the Advisor to discuss the concerns. After this meeting, the Executive Committee will vote on whether to remove the Advisor. Two-thirds of the total number of eligible votes is required to remove the Advisor.
Section 7. If an Advisor steps down or appointment is not continued, the Executive Committee will follow the process stated in Section 2.
Article VI. Dues
Section 1. All members will pay the initiation fees required by the National AEMB Society, as well as by the chapter at the Georgia Institute of Technology, defined in Article VI, Section
Section 2. The Executive Committee will set the amount of dues at the beginning of fall semester. Dues are to be paid within two weeks after the first meeting.
Article VII. Parliamentary Procedure
Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order will govern all meetings.
Article VIII. Constitutional Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the constitution will be submitted to the Executive Committee in writing for consideration.
Section 2. Written notification of the proposed amendment to all voting members must be made by mail or email, at least two weeks in advance of any proposed change in the constitution.
Section 3. This Constitution may be amended by an affirmative three-quarters vote of responding eligible members (Article III, Section 1. E.).
Section 4. Amendments are subject to the approval by the SGA and the Student Activities Committee (SAC).