Section I:

This organization shall be known as the Columbia University Student Chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society (CU-BMES), which shall have been granted a charter by the Biomedical Engineering Society.

ARTICLE II- Objectives

Section I:

The object of the chapter shall be to promote the profession of biomedical engineering through the organized effort of this group in study, research, and discussion of the fields of biomedical engineering and the dissemination of knowledge thereby gained. The chapter shall promote membership in the BMES by acquainting the student body with the ideas, purposes and objectives of BMES.

ARTICLE III - Membership

Section I:

Any person who is a regularly-enrolled, full-time student in an undergraduate college curriculum in engineering, or pre-medicine, which culminates in a bachelor's degree, or in any graduate-level degree program which will enhance professional competence, and who is also a member in good standing of BMES is eligible for membership in CU-BMES. The term "full-time" implies that the individual's principal current pursuit is college studies as a regularly-enrolled student in a college or university. This does not include a member who is engaged in full-time employment who is incidentally pursuing studies on the side.

Section II:

All members of CU-BMES are subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Biomedical Engineering Society.

ARTICLE IV - Student Council

CU-BMES is classified as a professional organization and is to be registered with the Student Council of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The chapter is directly represented in the Student Council and Council decisions shall be binding upon this organization as long as they are not in conflict with this Constitution and its Bylaws.

ARTICLE V - Officers

Section I:

The officers of CU-BMES shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section II:

The officers of CU-BMES shall be elected in the manner prescribed by its Bylaws. They shall normally be elected for period of one year.

ARTICLE VI - Constitution

Section I:

This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting, provided that written notice of the amendments has been sent to the address of record of each member and to the faculty advisor(s) at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting. Upon passage, an amendment becomes effective as soon as it is ratified by BMES headquarters.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - Dues

Section I:

The annual dues for the national BMES for Student members have been established at $15 for 1994.

Section II:

Student applications for membership are evaluated at Society headquarters. Students will individually be notified of their acceptance for BMES membership.

ARTICLE II - Nominations

Section I:

The officers in consultation with the senior and graduate student members shall prepare a ballot consisting of at least one member for each office. Permission of the candidates to have their names on the ballot will be obtained.

Section II:

At the last meeting before the annual election meeting, the Nominating Committee will make known the ballot. At this meeting, additional nominations will be accepted from the floor and included on the ballot.

ARTICLE III - Elections

Section I:

Elections shall be held in February.

Section II:

New officers shall take office on March 1 and continue through the last day of February of the following year.

Section III:

Special meetings will be called to elect new officers needed to fill any vacancies which may occur, provided that written notice of this meeting, its purpose, and office to be filled has been posted as detailed in Article IV at least ten days prior to the date of such a meeting.

Section IV:

A student shall not normally be elected to office if graduating before completing at least one-half year in office.

Section V:

A majority vote of all member present shall be necessary to elect an officer.

Section VI:

All elections shall be by secret ballot.

Section VII:

Impeachment of any officer shall be accomplished only upon presentation of just and reasonable cause for such action to the Faculty Advisor of CU-BMES and, upon the Faculty Advisor's approval, with a two-thirds vote of all enrolled members of the chapter and shall be subject to review by BMES headquarters.

ARTICLE IV - Meetings

Section I:

CU-BMES shall hold at least five meetings during the school year, with the exact date determined by the officers.

Section II:

Notice of all meetings shall be posted on the student bulletin board of each SEAS department in which a student member is known to be enrolled. Posting shall commence at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting, and may be further publicized as seems appropriate.

ARTICLE V - Programs

Section I:

Meetings shall be devoted primarily to the profession of biomedical engineering.

Section II:

At least one field trip shall be scheduled each academic year an must be supervised by the Faculty Advisor.

Section III:

Members shall be expected to attend at least 3 CU-BMES meetings in each academic year in order to remain in good standing and in order to represent themselves as an active member.

ARTICLE VI - Duties of Officers

Section I:

The President, shall supervise the organization's affairs and activities. The President is the executive, administrative, presiding and reporting officer. The President shall be responsible for public relations, publicity and promotion of the CU-BMES' activities. The President will appoint a representative to the Joint Engineering Council at the university, if one exists, and will work with the Faculty Advisor and Society headquarters in all council and Society matters.

Section II:

The Vice-President who shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, shall also supervise membership promotion. The Vice-President may be the appointed representative to the Joint Engineering Council. The Vice-President's primary responsibility will be program planning and execution.

Section III:

The Secretary shall be responsible for posting notices of all regular and special meetings and shall keep a permanent record (minutes) of such meetings. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining a current roster of members and for timely communications with the Society headquarters. The Secretary will be responsible for maintaining a continuous address box (or other permanent chapter address) and checking it frequently for correspondence.

Section IV:

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial records of the organization, for the disbursement of funds at the direction of the membership (by vote) and with the approval of the Faculty Advisor, and for reporting in detail when requested by the membership. Income will be received through income-producing functions approved by the membership and Faculty Advisor.

ARTICLE VII - Awards Program

Section I:

The chapter shall encourage its members to submit papers and/or theses for consideration for the Dr. Harold Lamport Award for a Young Investigator, sponsored by the Biomedical Engineering Society.

ARTICLE VIII - Committees

Section I:

The officers shall appoint such committees as seem required.

ARTICLE IX - Rules of Order

Section I:

Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all meetings for the organization an its committees.

ARTICLE X - Faculty Advisor

Section I:

The Faculty Advisor shall be appointed annually by the Chapter/by the Dean of Students in consultation with the Chapter officers.

The Faculty Advisor must be an Associate member, Member or Senior member of the Society. He/she shall serve CU-BMES and the BMES as an intermediary and resource person.

Section I:

ARTICLE XI - Amendment

These Bylaws may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the members present at any regular or special meeting, provided written notice of the proposed amendment has been posted as detailed in Article IV at least ten days prior to the meeting. Upon passage, an amendment becomes effective as soon as it is ratified by Society Headquarters.