Biomedical Engineering Society ERAU Student Chapter

BMES

By-Laws
Biomedical Engineering Society Student Chapter at
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1

The name of this organization shall be the Biomedical Engineering

Society student chapter at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Unviersity
(BMES ERAU).
This organization is a student chapter of the national Biomedical
Engineering Society (BMES).

ARTICE II

PURPOSE

Section 1

The mission of the BMES Student Chapter at ERAU is to build and

support the biomedical engineering community in Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University and local community with activities
designed to communicate recent advances, discoveries, and
inventions; promote education and professional development; and
integrate the perspectives of the academic, medical, governmental,
and business sectors. The society will involve the research &
development of biomedical and bioengineering technologies. BMES
ERAU shall introduce students to the profession of biomedical
engineering, as it relates to other engineering disciplines and to the
professional role of BMES ERAU. It will prepare students to enter
into the profession of biomedical engineering, expand student
knowledge of specific tools and techniques used in biomedical
engineering and related fields, develop leadership abilities and
professional qualities among student members, and provide an
environment for social interaction and exchange of ideas between all
levels of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty.

ARTICLE III

AUTHORITY

Section 1

This organization is a recognized student organization at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach and adheres to all
campus policies as set forth by Student Activities & Campus Events.

Section 2

This organization is affiliated with the national Biomedical

Engineering Society and adheres to the national BMES Bylaws.

Section 3

This organization may establish Standing Rules to govern

administrative and procedural matters (such as time and location of
meetings, etc.). Standing Rules shall not conflict with these bylaws.
Standing Rules may be adopted, amended, or temporarily suspended
by a majority vote present at an organization meeting where a
quorum is present (advance notice is not required).

Section 4

The rules contained in the most recent version of Roberts Rules of

Order, Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for this
organization and shall govern in all cases to which they are
applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws
and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Membership in the organization shall be open to those regularlyenrolled Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
students. Full members must be members of the BMES national
organization.

Section 2

Current and perspective members must be in good academic

standing with the university. They also must maintain a minimum
cumulative 2.0 grade point average each term. Active members must
be enrolled in at least six credits at the Daytona Beach location
(three units for graduate students) each semester.

Section 3

Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer

positions may not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national
origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status,
citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The organization shall
have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race,
religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity,
marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability.

Section 4

There is a probationary period for new members before they become

full members. Probationary status lasts until the student becomes a
paid member of the national Biomedical Engineering Society.
2

Probationary members have no voting rights dismissal of a

probationary members requires a full vote of the Executive Board.
Full membership is grants immediately that dues for the
organization are paid and the student becomes a paid member of the
Biomedical Engineering Society.
ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1

The officers of the organization shall be the President, PresidentElect (Vice President), Treasurer, Administrator, and Student Affairs
Representative.

Section 2

Duties of Officers:
a. The President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the
organization, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and
shall prepare the agenda for meetings. The President shall be the
official spokesperson of the organization, representing the
policies, views, and opinions of the organization in its relations
with the campus and community at large. The President shall
appoint all committees and committee chairs. The President shall
be an ex-officio member of all committees. The President is
responsible for making Best Practice recommendations to the
next elected President. The President shall have such further
powers and duties as may be prescribed by the organization.
b. The Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the
absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform all
legal duties assigned by the President. The Vice President shall
assume the office of President if the office becomes vacant. The
Vice President (President-Elect) shall assume the office of
President following the end of the calendar year.
c. The Treasurer shall handle all financial affairs and budgeting of
the organization, maintain all necessary accounting records, and
prepare monthly financial reports for the membership. Said
records shall be maintained in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles. The Treasurer shall collect and
deposit all dues and fees. The Treasurer shall maintain bank
accounts in the organizations name, requiring signatures of both
the Treasurer and President for authorized disbursements.
d. The Administrator shall take minutes at all meetings of the
organization, keep these on file, and submit required copies to all
organization members. The Administrator shall be responsible
for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies thereof
3

on file. The Administrator shall maintain membership records for

the organization. The Administrator must maintain a record of all
pertinent information for the Chapter Development Report.
e. The Student Affairs Representative shall conduct all studentrelated affairs to include the schedule and reservation of
meetings, hosting of Student Activities Fair booths or other
University events, scheduling members for Fundraising,
University, or Community Service events, and shall be head of
the Recruitment Committee (unless otherwise revisited by the
President).
Section 3

Qualifications necessary to hold office in this organization are as

follows:
To be eligible for office, candidates must be in good standing and
regularly enrolled students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,
Daytona Beach. Additionally, all officers must maintain a minimum
overall 2.5 grade point average each term and not be on probation of
any kind. Officers must be enrolled in at least six credits (three
credits for graduate students) each semester while holding office.
No member may hold more than one office. No member may serve
more than two years in the same office.

ARTICLE VI

SELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1

The elected officers are elected annually. Elections are held by April
1st and shall take place at a regularly scheduled meeting of the
organization at which a quorum is present. At least one weeks notice
shall be provided for any meeting at which an election is to be held.

Section 2

Nominations for officers shall be made at the regular meeting

immediately preceding the election. Nominations may also be made
from the floor immediately prior to the election for each office.
Members may nominate themselves for an office.

Section 3

The officers shall be elected in this order: President, Treasurer,

Administrator, and Student Affairs Representative.

Section 4

Officers shall be elected by majority vote. Optional: If no candidate

receives a majority vote, a runoff election shall be held between the
two candidates receiving the highest number of votes. In the event of

a tie, there shall be a revote. If the result of the revote is still a tie, the
election shall be decided by the President.
Section 5

Votes shall be cast by secret ballot; however, when there is only one
candidate for an office, a motion may be made to elect the candidate
by acclamation.

Section 6

The following officers shall be appointed by the President: Vice

President.

Section 7

Officers shall assume office on April 1st and shall serve for one year.

Section 8

Officers may be recalled from office for cause. To initiate a recall

election, a petition signed by half of the voting members must be
submitted at a regular meeting and a recall vote shall be taken at the
next regular meeting. The officer subject to recall shall be given
written notice of the recall at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at
which the recall vote will be held and shall be given an opportunity
to provide a defense. A two-thirds vote is required to remove an
officer.

Section 9

If the position of President becomes vacant as the result of

resignation, ineligibility or recall, the Vice President shall assume the
office of President. Vacancies in any other elected office shall be
filled by an election held at the next regular meeting where the
vacancy was announced. Nominations may be made at the meeting
where the vacancy is announced, and nominations may also be made
from the floor at the time of the election. The President may appoint
an interim officer to fill the vacancy until the election is held.

ARTICLE VII

MEETINGS

Section 1

Regular meetings shall be scheduled monthly during the academic

year.

Section 2

Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority of the

Executive Committee.

Section 3

Business cannot be conducted unless a quorum of the membership is

present. A quorum for this organization is defined as at least one
third of the voting membership.

Section 4

Members must be present to vote. Absentee or proxy voting is not

permitted.

Section 5

In order to vote a member must be in good standing which

indicates that the member has paid dues and attends the majority of
meetings. An excused absence is that which is communicated with
the Secretary previous to the meeting conferences, academic
presentations, and all matter of relation to the BMES Student
Chapter, account for excused absences.

ARTICLE VIII

ADVISORS

Section 1

The organization shall appoint a full time faculty or staff member

employed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach
to serve as the university advisor to this organization as required by
the University. Auxiliary staff, part time staff, and student assistants
are not eligible to serve as advisors. The advisor shall fulfill the
responsibilities specified in the Advisor Agreement Form. Advisors
shall serve on an academic year basis or until their successor has
been selected.

Section 2

The organization may also appoint a community advisor. The

community advisor must currently either work or conduct research in
the biomedical or bioengineering fields it would also be
recommended to have the community advisor be a representative of
the national Biomedical Engineering Society.

ARTICLE IX

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1

The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected and appointed

officers, with the advisor serving as non-voting member.

Section 2

The Executive Committee shall meet weekly during the academic

year. Special meetings may be called by the President or a majority
of the Executive Committee. All members must be given 24 hours
notice of the meeting. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the
Executive Committee members.

Section 3

When necessary, Executive Committee business can be conducted

via email or via online meetings.

Section 4

The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the

affairs of the organization between meetings and is authorized to
take action when action must be taken prior to the next meeting.

Section 5

The Executive Committee shall report to the membership all actions

taken between meetings. Except when it is too late to do so (such as
when a contract has been executed), any actions taken by the
6

Executive Committee may be rescinded or modified by the

membership by a majority vote.
ARTICLE X

STANDING AND AD HOC COMMITTEES

Section 1

The organization shall have the following standing committees:

Research & Development, Fundraising, and Recruitment.

Section 2

The duties of each of Standing Committees are as follows:

Research & Development shall be in charge of completing projects
associated with Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering.
Fundraising shall be in charge of raising money for conferences,
trips, guest speakers, etc.
Recruitment shall be in charge of finding new members and
communicating the mission and projects of BMES to ERAU and the
local community.

Section 3

The President shall have the authority to establish ad hoc committees

as may be necessary from time to time to carry out the work of the
organization.

Section 4

The President shall appoint the chairpersons and members of all

committees.

ARTICLE XI

FINANCES

Section 1

Membership dues shall be $30 per academic year to include

national BMES membership dues. Additional dues may be decided
by the Executive Board.
Justification: For travel to conferences, for guest speakers, for
R&D.

Section 2

Dues shall be paid by the second meeting of the attendee.

Section 3

This organization has the ability to assess the membership for special
purposes. Assessments shall be determined by a quorum of the
membership at a regularly scheduled meeting

Section 4

Members who have not paid their dues or special assessments by the
due date shall be considered as not being in good standing and shall
7

lose all membership privileges, including voting, until the dues are
paid.
Section 5

The Executive Committee shall propose an annual budget to be

voted upon no later than the second regular meeting of the academic
year. Any unbudgeted expenditures shall be approved in advance by
the membership. When financial decisions must be made between
meetings, the Executive Committee is authorized to approve
expenditures.

Section 6

Organization funds shall not be used to purchase or reimburse

members for alcoholic beverages.

ARTICE XII

DISCLIPLINE OF MEMBERS

Section 1

When a member believes that another member has engaged in

conduct that is detrimental to the organization, a written charge may
be filed with the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee
shall review the charges and may conduct a preliminary investigation
if deemed appropriate. If the preliminary investigation concludes that
misconduct appears to have occurred, Executive Committee shall
conduct a hearing on the matter. The member alleged to have
engaged in the misconduct shall be given at least 72 hours notice of
the hearing and be given an opportunity to present a defense. By a
majority vote, Executive Committee shall determine whether
misconduct occurred. If it determines that misconduct did occur, the
Executive Committee shall prepare a report to the membership of its
findings and recommended sanctions, which may include expulsion,
suspension, or lesser sanction(s) including, but not limited to, a
reprimand, removal from office, a fine or corrective remedies.

Section 2

The membership shall review the hearing report in executive session,

and the member accused of misconduct shall have an opportunity to
rebut the information in the report. After providing a statement to the
membership, the member accused of misconduct shall leave the
room for the remainder of the deliberations.

Section 3

The membership shall vote first on whether the member has engaged
in misconduct. If by a two-thirds vote, the membership determines
that misconduct has occurred, the membership shall then by a twothirds vote, determine appropriate sanction(s). The accused member
shall be immediately notified of the outcome.

Section 4

By a two-thirds vote, the membership may reinstate a member who

has been suspended or expelled.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1

Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be presented to the

membership, in writing, one meeting prior to the meeting where the
amendment will be voted upon. The Executive Committee shall
review and make recommendations on all bylaw revisions prior to
consideration
by
the
membership.

Section 2

Bylaw amendments require approval by two-thirds of the voting

members present at a regular meeting. The amendment shall be
effective immediately unless otherwise stipulated in the amendment.

Section 3

A copy of any amendments to these bylaws must be submitted to the

Student Activities & Campus Events office at Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University within two weeks after adoption. In addition
a current copy of these bylaws will be found on the organizations
Connection page.

These bylaws were adopted on ______ and most recently revised on 10/22/2014.