Section 1. Classes of Membership
The voting membership shall consist of all Colleagues, Fellows, and Members of the Chapter. There shall also be non-voting members (Associates and Student Affiliates) and any additional special classes of membership that are established by a three-fourths vote of the full Executive Council.
Section 2. Qualifications for Membership
- Member: Any person who is a Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society shall be eligible to become a Member of the Chapter. A Member of the Chapter must be a Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
- Colleague: Any person who satisfies the membership qualifications to become a Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, but wishes only to join the Europe Chapter is eligible to become a Colleague of the Chapter. A Colleague must satisfy the same qualification requirements as a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, without being a member of the Society. Those qualifications include a College or University degree approved by the Society´s Executive Council and five full time years of applicable experience in human factors work. Appropriate academic degrees beyond the bachelor´s degree or equivalent may be substituted in part for work experience up to a total of four years. Interpretation of applicable academic degrees and work experience shall be made by the Membership Committee. For exceptional applicants, the requirement for a College degree may be relaxed by a 75% vote of the Executive Council.
- Associate: Any person who is interested or active in the human factors field, but who does not qualify for Member or Colleague status, shall be eligible to become an Associate of the Chapter.
- Student Affiliate: Any person who is enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited college or university shall be eligible to become a Student Affiliate of the Chapter.
- Sustaining Member: Any person, corporation, or organization that contributes to the Chapter an amount prescribed by the Executive Council shall be eligible to become an Sustaining Member of the Chapter.
- Fellow: Fellows of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society are eligible to become Fellows of the Chapter.
- Special: Qualifications for any special class of membership, shall be established by the Executive Council.
Section 3. Application for Membership
Persons desiring election to any class of membership shall submit to the Membership Committee Chair on a prescribed form, a written application that specifies the candidate´s qualifications. Procedures for application to special classes of membership shall be established by the Executive Council.
Section 4. Election to Membership
The applications of applicants recommended for membership to any class of membership in the Chapter by the Membership Committee shall be submitted to the next Executive Council meeting by a Committee member or other designated person planning to attend, if scheduled to take place within the next three months. Otherwise, the Membership Committee shall make copies of applications and simultaneously forward them to Officers of the Executive Council for their votes to be returned by Post or Fax to the Secretary. Applicants to any membership class recommended by the Membership Committee may be elected into the Chapter by a majority vote of the full Executive Council.
Section 5. Termination of Membership
The affiliation of a person with the Chapter in any membership class may be terminated at any time by resignation or by a two-thirds vote of the full Executive Council. Failure to pay dues for one year, or conduct prejudicial to the purposes of the Chapter, shall be sufficient cause for termination.
Section 6. Reinstatement of members
Procedures and conditions for the reinstatement of members shall be established by the Executive Council subject to the requirements of the other pertinent Sections of this Article.
Section 7. Privileges
Members in good standing of all membership classes shall be entitled to participate in all activities of the Chapter, have a hearing before expulsion, inspect official records of the Chapter, insist on enforcement of the By-Laws and rules of the Chapter, and receive one copy of all Chapter publications. Colleagues, Fellows, and Members in good standing shall also be entitled to vote and to hold office. Any voting member may raise any question or issue, except dissolution of the Chapter, to any officer(s) of the Chapter by post for consideration by the Executive Council. Special classes of members shall be entitled to any privileges established by the Chapter´s Executive Council except that the privileges of voting and holding office shall depend solely upon meeting the basic qualifications for Member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society or Colleague of the Chapter.
Section 8. Change of Membership Status
Any Chapter member in good standing with a non-voting membership status shall be entitled to be reclassified to a voting membership status upon verification of election to, or change of membership status to, a voting class of membership in the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Such a change in membership status can also be accomplished by presenting direct evidence of qualifications for the new membership class.
Section 9. Dues.
Annual dues shall cover the fiscal year of the Chapter, from January 1 through December 31, and shall be established by the Executive Council for each class of membership.