Constitution of the University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon

Department of Biomedical Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin

ARTICLE I

• NAME

The name of this organization shall be the University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon.

ARTICLE II

• PURPOSE

The purpose of the University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon shall be to bring together and recognize those biomedical engineers at The University of Texas in Austin who present exemplary levels of scholarship, leadership, and character in order to foster professional development of its members and encourage mentorship in the field.

ARTICLE III

• MEMBERSHIP
  • Section 1. Active Membership

a. Active membership shall be open to students eligible for major sequence in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas who are in good and regular standing.
b. Only those students who are founding members or have completed the requirements of conditional membership are eligible for active membership.  Upon induction into the society, members need also fulfill the service and social hour requirements set forth the previous semester and attend a majority of the general meetings to remain active.  Members who do not meet these requirements will be deemed inactive, will be ineligible for honors or awards, and will need to complete candidacy service and social hour requirements to regain active status.
c. Should the cumulative GPA of an active member fall below 3.5, that member will be given one provisional semester to bring it up to 3.5 or above. If it remains below 3.5 after the provisional semester, he or she will be considered ineligible. Ineligible members may not participate in society events, but may regain active status with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above and upon repeated completion of conditional membership requirements (excluding repaying dues).
d. Candidates in the University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon, in addition to the stated requirements herein, must be of unimpeachable character, have ability to make use of the knowledge and information acquired, have capacity and willingness for hard work, and have genial nature and ability to work in harmony with all sorts of people. The conduct of all members shall at all times meet the high standards of the University of Texas and Beta Mu Epsilon.

• Section 2. Conditional Membership
  
  a. Only students with at least 7 BME hours, junior standing, and an overall and major GPA at or above 3.5 shall be eligible to apply for conditional membership.
  b. Eligible students will be invited to apply during the fall or spring semester based on transcripts of the previous spring or fall semester, respectively. Eligible member’s character and general abilities will be determined through the use of a written essay.
  c. Conditional members will be inducted as described in Article III, Section 3 following their semester of application and candidacy.
  d. Conditional members must attend all official meetings and complete service and social hour requirements set by the society.
  e. Conditional members must pay a lifetime due that has been set by the previous semester.
• Section 3. Election of Conditional Members
  
  Election of new members shall be conducted by secret ballot. A three-quarter vote of all active members present shall be required to elect a person to membership.
• Section 4. Founding Members
  The University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon was founded by
  
  John Hoover
  Tim Hsu
  David Irwin
  Harsha Mittakanti
  Michael Adams
  Pamela Basto
  Ellen Chen
  Justin Choi
  Nathan Gomes
  Simran Kaur
  Zong Law
  Justin Lo
  Scott Lundy
  Jenn Riggs
  Lupe Rodriquez
  Kunal Shaw
  Brian Sheu

ARTICLE IV

• OFFICERS
  • Section 1. Officers

The offices of the University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Chair, Service Chair, and Webmaster.

• Section 2. Duties

President: Determines and emails eligible candidates, plans and runs officer and general meetings, organizes and delegates tasks within the society, and keeps track of registration and administrative items.

Vice President: Acts as a corporate liaison, finds speakers for meetings and introduces them, collects resumes, and compiles a resume CD.

Secretary: Keeps minutes and attendance at meetings, makes and distributes sign-up/in sheets, acts as an SEC representative, and attends bimonthly SEC meetings.

Treasurer: Designs a budget and negotiates for funds, reimburses expenditures, buys food for meetings, and orders other items as necessary.

Social Chair: Plans, attends, and advertises upcoming social events.

Service Chair: Plans, attends, and advertises upcoming service events.

Webmaster: Updates website with current information, takes pictures at events to post on website, acts as an SEC representative, and attends bimonthly SEC meetings.

• Section 3. Term of Office.

Officers shall be elected at the end of each semester to serve for the next semester. . Officers shall be elected by a simple majority of a quorum of members. A quorum of members shall be one-half of the active membership.

• Section 4. Faculty Advisor

In addition to these officers, there shall be a faculty advisor. The faculty advisor shall be one of the Biomedical Engineering Department's faculty members. The duties of the faculty advisor shall be to help the organization with its affairs and promote good relations between the faculty and the University and the members of the University of Texas Chapter of Beta Mu Epsilon. The faculty advisor shall be elected by a simple majority of a quorum of members.

ARTICLE V

• MEETINGS
  • Section 1. Number of Meetings

At least four official meetings shall be held each semester.

• Section 2. Special Meetings

Special Meetings may be called by the President.

• Section 3. Motions

A simple majority shall be required to decide in favor of a motion.

ARTICLE VI

• COMMITTEES

Committees may be appointed when projects arise that require the work of a committee. The officers shall appoint the committee chairperson and committee members.

ARTICLE VII

• AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by any member at any official meeting. Amendments must receive a positive vote from three-fourths of the total number of members.


This constitution was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the society, signed below, on October 6, 2004.

          This constitution was modified by a three-fourths majority of the society on April 18, 2008.

Department of Biomedical Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
Founded 2003

4/20/2008