Article III.  Membership criteria

A.         Regular members

1.      Regular membership is open only to the Director or designee of the Director of a unit or division in an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the United States or Canada which has the central responsibility for educational research in that school (a “Unit”).  The Unit must have institutional scope and it must possess a recognizable, coherent organizational identity within the institution.  In addition to its research role, the Unit may have additional responsibilities in Faculty development, promotion of educational change, recognition and assessment of teaching, or similar matters. 

2.      No more than one individual from each medical school may be a regular member of the Society.  In the event that there is more than one individual from any one medical school seeking membership, the executive committee will, after consultation with the Dean or Associate Dean of that School, decide which office Director is eligible for membership. Membership is based on the institution meeting the stated criteria outlined in Section 1.  A change of Directors only, with no organiza-tional change, does not require a new application for membership. Members of SDRME who leave their unit of medical education and become director of another unit must apply for membership.

3.      The Membership Committee will process membership applications from prospective members and make recommendations in this regard to the Executive Committee.  New membership must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee.  Membership will be considered by the Executive Committee three times each year; at the annual Summer Meeting, at the Fall meeting and at the Executive Meeting in early Spring.  If membership documents are completed by a prospective member between the Executive meeting and the annual Summer Meeting, and that member has expressed interest in attending the Summer meeting, they may be permitted to do so subject to the approval by the Membership Committee and unanimous agreement by the Executive Committee.

4.       Regular members shall pay the fees and dues set by the Executive Committee.

5.      Non-payment of fees and dues for two consecutive periods from the date of initial issuance of dues statement will result in termination of membership.

6.       If, for any reason, the member or the Unit that they direct fails to meet the criteria outlined in section 1 above, membership will terminate one calendar year later.

B. Emeritus members

1.       A member of the Society who has distinguished him/herself through meritorious service, may be considered for emeritus status.  This title must be recommended after the director has left his or her position in the medical education Unit and will normally be granted only to those who have been a regular member of SDRME for at least 10 years.

2.       Recommendations for emeritus status in SDRME will be submitted to the Society by the Executive Committee following a review of the candidate's status by the Membership Committee, who will also have the responsibility of keeping track of those members who may be eligible for emeritus status.  Approval of emeritus membership will be decided by a majority vote of the members of SDRME at either the annual or the fall meeting of the Society.

3.      Emeritus members will continue to receive communications from the Society as well as the option to attend meetings of the Society.  Emeritus directors will not have voting privileges, will not hold office, and will not pay dues for membership in the Society.

C.         Ex-Officio Members

1.       The SDRME President and President (or other appropriate senior official) of an organization with which the Society wishes to establish a continuing relationship will identify a representative of that organization who will be invited to become an ex-officio member of SDRME upon a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee.

D.        International Affiliate Members

1.      Individuals responsible for medical education research in medical schools outside North America may become an SDRME international affiliate member.

2.      Criteria for acceptance of international affiliate members are that they have an active leadership role in medical education and have obtained the support of the appropriate administrative leader within their institution.  Applicants are not subject to formal review by the Membership Committee; rather, acceptance is based upon a review by the International Membership Committee.

3.       The annual fee for international affiliate members will be set by the Executive Committee.

4.       International affiliate members are non-voting members who cannot hold office.

5.   International affiliate members will receive all SDRME postings and are encouraged to participate in all SDRME activities.