Bylaws

College of Fellows Bylaws

Article I: NAME

The core organization of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) shall be known formally as the College of Fellows. It will be referred to herein as “the College.” It shall consist of elected Fellows.

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Article II: PURPOSE

The College is established to represent the collective consideration by AIMBE Fellows of all aspects of the field of medical and biological engineering. The College, as the resource body of AIMBE, shall consider educational, professional, technical, historical, philosophical, and definitional aspects of medical and biological engineering, as set forth in Article V, Section 1.2 of the AIMBE Bylaws.

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Article III. RESPONSIBILITIES

The College shall serve as the electorate for the officers of AIMBE.

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Article IV: MEMBERSHIP

Categories of membership in the College include:

  1. Fellow
  2. Foreign Fellow
  3. Fellow Emeritus
    1. Fellows shall be persons who have distinguished themselves in the field of medical and biological engineering. Eligibility for Fellowship shall be limited to those individuals who have their permanent residence in the United States.
    2. Foreign Fellows shall have the same qualifications for membership as Fellows. They shall also have the same privileges except that they will not be eligible to vote nor to hold office. Qualified individuals who have permanent residence outside the United States shall be eligible for Foreign Fellowship status. Foreign Fellows shall constitute no more than 5% of the membership of the College. A Foreign Fellow who attains U.S. citizenship or becomes a permanent resident of the U.S. will be designated a Fellow effective with either of these changes.
    3. Fellow Emeritus status may be conferred upon Fellows and Foreign Fellows who meet the following criteria:
      1. They have been Fellows in good standing.
      2. They are fully retired or have emeritus status from a university; are fully retired from business or industry; are at least 65 years of age; are not principal investigator or project director on any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement. Fellows who meet the above criteria may apply for emeritus status if they wish. Upon conferral of emeritus, membership fees shall be reduced to an amount set by the AIMBE Board of Directors. Emeritus Fellows shall have the privileges of fellowship with the following exceptions:
        1. They hall not be eligible to vote.
        2. They shall not be eligible to hold office.

Section I. Requirements

A person shall be qualified as a candidate for Fellow or Foreign Fellow who has made identifiable contributions in one or both of the following categories.

  1. Important contributions to the theory or practice of medical and biological engineering.
  2. Demonstration of unusual accomplishment in promoting the field of medical and biological engineering.

Section II. Limitations

  1. Fellows shall have participated in and contributed to education and academe, industry, government, or health care.
  2. Technical and professional interests of the Fellows should reflect the diversity of the field of medical and biological engineering.
  3. The number of Fellows shall not exceed 2% of the total number of individuals active in medical and biological engineering. This number may be estimated from the membership of recognized societies and professional associations with a component that is consistent with engineering in biology and medicine. The number of Emeritus Fellows shall not be considered in the approximation of the appropriate membership of the College.

Section III. Nomination and Election of Fellows

  1. Candidates for Fellow may be recommended by Fellows of The College, or by voting representatives of the Council of Societies, Industry Council or Academic Council.
  2. Candidates for election by mail ballot shall be selected by The Committee on the Membership of the College from the nominees submitted.
  3. Election of Fellows shall be determined by mail ballot. Election shall be by affirmative vote on 75% of ballots cast for the candidate. Ballots must be received by the date specified in the ballot instructions to be valid. An election shall be conducted annually.
  4. Failure to receive sufficient votes for election to Fellow shall not constitute prejudice for future election.

Section IV. Membership Privileges and Limitations

Fellows in good standing shall be entitled to hold elective or appointive office, to attend all open meetings and functions of AIMBE, and to vote on any question coming before the College. Functions or meetings that are jointly sponsored by AIMBE with other organizations or are endorsed by AIMBE may limit access to AIMBE Fellows. Section V. Membership Fees, Dues, and Assessments

  1. Fellows shall pay an annual fee to be determined by the AIMBE Board of Directors.
  2. Annual fees shall be payable on January 1, or upon election to the College.
  3. There shall be a one-time initiation fee to be paid by all Fellows. This fee will be established by the AIMBE Board based on costs for initiations.
  4. All Fellows whose fees are in arrears shall receive a second notice after 60 days. Those not responding with 180 days following the first notification may have their names removed from the list.
  5. No fees shall be refunded to any Fellow whose membership terminates for any reason.
  6. Emeritus membership fees shall be a percentage of regular membership fees. This percentage shall be determined from time to time by the AIMBE Board of Directors.

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Article V. MEETINGS

  1. A general assembly of the College shall be called at least once per year. This assembly shall be the annual business meeting of the College.
  2. Notice of an assembly shall be mailed or transmitted to all Fellows at least 45 days prior to the assembly.
  3. A quorum for the general assembly shall be constituted by 25 Fellows of the College.
  4. Special meetings may be called by the Chair of the College, or by one-third of the Fellows, provided that notice of the meeting is mailed or transmitted at least 45 days prior to the date of the meeting. Quorums for special meetings shall be constituted by 25 Fellows.
  5. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the conduct of all meetings.
  6. Special issues may be decided by mail ballot.

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Article VI. GOVERNANCE

Section I. Officers Officers of the College shall include:

  1. Chair
  2. Chair Elect
  3. Past Chair
  4. Secretary/Treasurer

These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the College.

Section II. Election of Officers

  1. Officers shall be elected by the College
  2. The terms of office for the Chair, Chair Elect and Past Chair of the College shall be one year. The term for Secretary/Treasurer shall be three years.
  3. Election of officers shall be held prior to the general assembly of the College. Newly elected officers shall assume office at the end of the annual meeting.
  4. Candidates for all offices shall be Fellows in good standing. All candidates must consent to serve and abide by these bylaws.
  5. Candidates may be nominated either by a process involving a nominating committee or by petition of 10% of the active Fellows with the prior written consent of the nominee.
  6. Elections shall be held by mail certified ballot. The candidate receiving the plurality of the votes shall be elected.

Section III. Vacancies

  1. Any officer may be recalled by a two-thirds vote of all active Fellows in good standing.
  2. In the even of the resignation or removal of the Chair, the Chair Elect will fill the unexpired term. The new Chair will appoint a member at large from the college to serve as a member of the executive committee until the next regular election.
  3. Vacancies, for whatever, reason, for the office of Secretary or Past Chair shall be filled by election by mail ballot if more than 8 months remain of the term of office. Otherwise, the Chair shall appoint a Secretary (or member at large to the Past Chair position) with the approval of the remaining members of the executive committee.

Article VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section I. The Chair

  1. Shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the College.
  2. Shall serve as Chair of the Executive Committee.
  3. May call special meetings of the College and College committees.
  4. Shall appoint College committee chairs
  5. Shall represent the College as its representative on the AIMBE Board of Directors.

Section II. The Secretary/Treasurer

  1. Shall keep accurate records of all College meetings.
  2. Shall transmit to the AIMBE Board of Directors summaries of all business conducted by the College.
  3. Shall maintain a roster of members and representatives
  4. Shall maintain a current copy of the bylaws
  5. Shall be responsible for the timely transmittal of meeting notices.
  6. Shall conduct correspondence as directed by the College.

Section III. The Chair Elect

  1. Shall assume the responsibilities of the Chair in his/her absence.
  2. Shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the College.
  3. Shall serve as Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee.

Section IV. The Past Chair

  1. Shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee
  2. Shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee for officers of the College.

Section V. The Executive Committee

  1. Shall review and act on such business that may come before the committee on behalf of the College. The Executive Committee shall provide background and make recommendations to the College for such items of business requiring action by vote of the Fellows.
  2. Shall review and approve appointments to standing and special committees as provided by these bylaws.
  3. Shall have responsibility for fiscal affairs of the College

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Article VIII: COMMITTEES

All standing and ad-hoc committees of the College are to be limited to business conducted for the effective operation of the College. In no case will these committees represent AIMBE to the public, agencies, or other organizations outside AIMBE without expressed formal assent given by the AIMBE Board of Directors.

Unless otherwise noted in these bylaws, all standing and ad-hoc committee shall be appointed by the Chair of the College and shall be subject to approval of the Executive Committee.

Section I. Standing Committees

  1. Nominations Committee (for Officers of the College)
    1. Shall solicit candidates to be nominated for the offices of Secretary and Chair Elect
    2. Shall assure that all nominations are in compliance with the bylaws.
    3. Shall be chaired by the Past Chair of the College and include three Fellows who shall have been appointed by the Chair of the College.
  2. Membership Committee
    1. Shall recommend criteria and procedures for admission and termination of Fellows, Foreign Fellows, and Emeritus Fellows as specified in the bylaws.
    2. Shall receive and review nominations for membership in the College.
    3. Shall consist of at least 12 fellows of the College who shall be representative of the different areas of Medical and Biological Engineering. Upon assuming office, the Chair of the College shall appoint at least three Fellows to 3-year terms on the Committee. The Chair of the College will also designate a Chairperson of the committee among the Fellows who are in the last year of their appointments to the Committee. In the initial formation of the Committee, the First Chair of the College shall appoint groups of Fellows to respective terms of three, two, and one years.
    4. Shall conduct elections of Fellows and Foreign Fellows.
  3. Bylaws Committee
    1. Shall receive and review recommendations for changes in the bylaws.
    2. Shall notify the membership of any pending action on the bylaws three months in advance of the Annual Business Meeting.
    3. Shall consist of a chair and three Fellows appointed by the Chair of the College with approval of the Executive Committee.
  4. Strategic Planning Committee
    1. Shall be chaired by the Chair Elect of the College.
    2. Shall include Fellows of the College appointed by the Chair of the College as necessary and appropriate.

Section II. Ad-Hoc Committees

Ad-hoc committees may be appointed by the Chair with the approval of the College as deemed necessary. An ad-hoc committee shall limit its activities to the accomplishment of the task to which is it appointed. Upon completion of this task, the committee shall be dissolved. A special committee shall become a standing committee upon amendment of the bylaws in Article IX of these bylaws.

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Article IX: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

  1. 1. Proposed amendments must be transmitted to the membership 30 days Prior to the Annual Business Meeting.
  2. 2. Changes to the bylaws may be enacted by two-thirds majority vote of the assembly of the College at the Annual Business Meeting and with approval of the AIMBE Board of Directors. April 15, 1993