Student Chapter Renewal
Student chapters are required to renew their chapter status on an annual basis.
Annual Renewal
Renewal is completed by submitting a Chapter Development Report (CDR) to BMES on April 15 each year, making this task mandatory.
BMES recommends each student chapter review the Chapter Development Report Guidelines to successfully complete their renewal and eligibility for awards.
All CDRs must be submitted via the 2025 CDR Submission form in a single .pdf document by April 15.
Student Chapter Development Report Guidelines
The BMES Chapter Development Report (CDR) is a tool for BMES student chapters to monitor and assess their progress on an annual basis. It is also the means by which chapters renew their chapter charter to stay nationally recognized.
This tool also acts also as a measure for BMES to award student chapters for their successful operations, activities, and programs. As such, the CDR guidelines outlined below are designed to maximize each submitted CDR’s Outstanding award potential.
We strongly encourage chapters to create CDRs as a record of their chapter’s ongoing activities. Updating your CDR yearly will ensure that your chapter records are accurate and up to date and will assist next year’s leadership by tracking the previous year’s programs.
Submitting a CDR is a requirement; however, it is up to the chapters how many sections (and thus how many Outstanding Awards) they wish to submit for. Additionally, each CDR will have space to include the information for your one FREE BMES Student Membership – Consider it your chapter’s compliance reward for submitting a yearly CDR.
High scoring CDRs are also considered for the following awards:
- Outstanding Chapter Award
- Commendable Achievement Award
- Outstanding Outreach Award
- Outstanding Mentoring Program Award
- Outstanding Chapter-Industry Program Award
- Up and Coming New Student Chapter Award
- Outstanding Societal Impact Award
- Outstanding High School Chapter Award
There is no maximum page limit when writing your CDR, but we do request you be succinct in your submission; BMES encourages you to meet the requirement minimums while still being free to elaborate program details where necessary.
Membership Renewal
In order for your CDR to maintain compliance with BMES as well as to be eligible for an award, Chapters must meet the minimum requirement of an active BMES membership meaning that the students and the advisor(s) listed ALL have either paid or renewed their student or professional membership with our society. If you would like to pay or renew memberships for your chapter members simultaneously, please email studentaffairs@bmes.org.
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Membership Requirements
Undergraduate/Graduate Student Chapter Compliance
Student Chapters must meet and maintain the following minimum requirements:
- Ten (10) BMES Student Members
- One (1) BMES Professional Member as their Faculty Advisor
Student Chapters in this category should be made up of either undergraduate or graduate students at a single university, though some discretion will be made to sister universities (i.e., any two university BME departments who work closely together).
Dual University Chapter Compliance
Any two universities forming a single Student Chapter must meet and maintain the following minimum requirements:
- Fifteen (15) BMES Student Members
- Two (2) BMES Professional Members as their Faculty Advisors
High School Chapter Compliance
High School Student Chapters need to meet and maintain the following minimum requirements:
- Five (5) BMES Student Members
- One (1) Faculty Advisor — being an active BMES member, while encouraged, is not required
Format Requirements
The only required page is the first page titled: Renewal Document. If you are submitting for awards, it is suggested you include all other pages listed. Your CDR should be formatted into sections to receive the minimum point allocations for award consideration; if your CDR does not contain each section or it doesn’t adhere to the guidelines, you will not be allocated points for that section. Chapter scores will be provided upon request.
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Detailed Format Requirements
I. Renewal Document (Required)
- Faculty Advisors Information
- Name
- Email Address
- Ten core Student Members Information
- Name of ten student BMES members
- Email Address
- Chapter Positions (if applicable)
- Student Chapter/Department Website Link
- One Free Student Membership Information
- Name
- Email Address
- Chapter Positions (if applicable)
II. Cover Page
- Year
- Contact Information of Submitting Party
- Minimum 200-Word CDR Summation
III. Cover Letter
- One-Page Chapter Summation from the Faculty Advisor
IV. Table of Contents
- Administrative Report
- 200 Word Abstract
- Chapter Officer Information
- Membership Breakdown
- Chapter Meeting Dates and Agendas
VI. Treasury Report
- 200 Word Abstract
- Chapter Balance Sheet
VII. Chapter Activities
- Abstract of all Chapter Activities
VIII. Social or Other Activities
- 200 Word Abstract
- List of Social, Networking, or Other Chapter Activities
- Breakdown of Attendance and Cost
IX. Inter-Chapter Activities
- 200 Word Abstract
- List of any Chapter Activities Coinciding with another BMES Student Chapter
- Breakdown of Attendance and Cost
X. Outreach Activities
- 200 Word Abstract
- List of any Outreach Activities
- Breakdown of Attendance and Cost
XI. Mentoring Activities
- 200 Word Abstract
- List of any Mentoring Activities
- Breakdown of Attendance and Cost
XII. Industry and Professional Development Activities
- 200 Word Abstract
- List of any Industry or Professional Development Activities
- Breakdown of Attendance and Cost
XIII. Societal Impact Activities
- 200 Word Abstract
- List of any published, created, or working projects that provide a real-world solution to medical issues affecting those in their community.
- Breakdown of Attendance and Cost
XIV. National BMES Meeting
- Summation of Past Experiences or Future Expectations/Goals for Attending the Annual Meeting
XV. Future Direction
- Summation of Next Year’s Chapter Goals
- Outline of Goal Achievement Strategy
- Faculty Advisors Information
Revocation of a Student Chapter Charter
A student chapter’s charter may be revoked by the Biomedical Engineering Society if it fails to satisfy the qualifications criteria cited above, if it fails to renew its charter annually, or if its continuance is considered not to be in the best interest of the Society.