ABET Bylaws

I. Purpose of Bylaws

1. These Bylaws govern the operation of the ABET Board of Directors, hereinafter referred to as the Board, and its duly organized Commissions, Committees, Councils, and other associated bodies. The Bylaws derive their authority from Article Six (B) of the ABET Constitution and are an instrument of the Board. 
2. In the event of conflict between the Bylaws and the Constitution, the Constitutional interpretation is paramount. The Board shall resolve such conflicts.
3. The membership in ABET is defined in Article Four of the Constitution and in Section Two of these Bylaws.
4. A major purpose of ABET is accreditation, as defined in Article Two of the Constitution.
5. In pursuit of its accreditation purposes, as well as the other purposes defined in Article Two, ABET may undertake special projects or programs.
6. In support of its stated purposes, ABET, as an independent corporation, shall accept, acquire, receive, take and hold by bequest, devise, grant, gift, purchase, exchange, lease, transfer by judicial order or decree or otherwise, any property, both real and personal, of whatever kind, nature or description and wherever situated.
    

II. Admission of Members

1. A Society may apply for Member or Associate Member status in ABET with a letter from its governing body to the President of ABET. The letter should address the organization's rationale for seeking membership and provide specific details about how the applicant meets provisions of the Constitution, as detailed in Article Four, and these Bylaws defining Society eligibility. Information about the size and characteristics of its membership, e.g., qualifications for membership, proportion of members involved in the discipline covered by the application, etc., should be included.
2. The Member Society application must identify the curricular area, proposed criteria, and educational programs the society seeks to represent. It must provide the names and locations of programs that likely would seek accreditation, along with an estimated number of students in each program. The applicant society should also specify the population of programs that potentially would be accredited.
3. Upon receipt of the application, the President shall assign it to a committee to review and to provide a recommendation to the Board. This shall occur no later than the Board meeting after the one following receipt of the letter of application. The committee should be composed of at least three Directors or ABET Officers, and if the application is for Associate membership, at least one Associate Director.
4. The committee will evaluate the application and submit a report to the Board with its findings and a recommended action. The report should address the following items, plus any additional pertinent considerations:
1. The manner in which the stated objectives or purposes of the candidate Society reasonably can be expected to contribute to the purposes of ABET;
2. Verification and documentation that the Society meets the applicable membership characteristics contained in Article Four of the Constitution;
3. For Member Society status, the manner in which the programs proposed for representation by the candidate Society reasonably can be expected to supplement or strengthen the purposes of ABET;
4. Quantitative comparison of the candidate Member Society and its programs to existing ABET members and their programs, or candidate Associate Member to existing Associate Members.
5. If an existing Member Society has accreditation oversight for the subject programs, then that Society must be given the opportunity to relinquish or make its case for retaining its lead role for accreditation activities. The Committee will recommend a resolution. The Committee is responsible for soliciting additional information from the Society if the initial letter provides insufficient information for effective analysis and development of a recommendation.
5. Societies shall be admitted as Members of ABET by majority vote of the Board and subsequent ratification by at least two-thirds of the governing bodies of the Member Societies. Applicants for Associate Member Society shall be admitted by majority vote of the Board and subsequent ratification by the governing bodies of at least two-thirds of the combined total of the Member Societies and Associate Member Societies.
6. The applicant society will be admitted as a Member or Associate Member at the first Board meeting following receipt of the last Society ratification vote that provided the necessary two-thirds margin.  

III. Withdrawal

1. A Society may withdraw from ABET by providing written notice to the Executive Director of ABET at least six months prior to the effective date of withdrawal. The Executive Committee is empowered to accept the resignation, and the Board shall be notified through inclusion of the decision on the agenda of their next meeting. Should the Society's departure create operational issues, the Executive Committee is authorized to make necessary compensating adjustments.
2. The Treasurer will notify the Executive Committee if a Society is in arrears for more than six months for any financial obligation to ABET. A Society that fails to meet its responsibilities to ABET for a period of one year shall be considered in default if so resolved by the Board. The Society will be notified that the default constitutes a request for withdrawal from ABET that will become effective six months from the notification date. At the effective date of withdrawal, the Society loses any privileges of membership as discussed in Article Five of the Constitution.
3. If, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, the Society cures the deficiency during the interim six-month period, the issue will again be brought before the Board for consideration as soon as practical. The Society shall remain in good standing until final action by the Board, which becomes effective immediately upon their decision.
    

IV. Rules of Procedure, Accreditation Criteria, and Other ABET Policies

1. In addition to the Constitution and Bylaws, ABET may promulgate Rules of Procedure, Accreditation Criteria, and other such policies as may be needed. These Rules, Criteria, and policies will be approved by the Board, entered into the ABET record, will be publicly available, and will have stature equal to these Bylaws.
2. Rules of Procedure define the operations of Commissions and key Committees and Councils.
3. Accreditation Criteria are at the heart of the ABET purpose for quality assurance in education as stated in Article Two (A) of the Constitution. They provide guidance to the educational programs and to those who accredit them on the standards associated with programs of quality. Criteria are proposed by the respective Accreditation Commissions and approved by the Board for publication for a period of review and comment by the public. Final approval of any accreditation criteria changes shall be made by the Board. The current criteria, along with impending changes, will be widely available to the public.
4. When needed for good communications, sections of the Rules of Procedure will be promulgated separately for ABET finance and personnel procedures, for Councils and special programs, public release of information, and other such operations of ABET.
    

V. Directors

1. Society representatives shall be called Directors. Directors who represent the public shall be called Public Director
2. Directors shall be appointed to the Board by Member Societies. The number of Directors allocated to each Member Society is based on the current number of accredited programs for which the Member Society has lead responsibility.
   
   

   Number of Accredited Programs	Representative Directors
   0-99	1
   100-299	2
   300 or more	3

3. The Member Societies shall appoint their respective Directors and one or more Alternate Director(s) by the spring Board meeting for the term which begins at the close of the annual meeting of the ABET Board. The Directors shall serve for a term of three years. The terms of approximately one-third of the Directors shall expire each year. A Director shall not serve more than two complete terms in this capacity.
4. In case a Director is unable to attend a meeting of the Board, the Society shall designate an alternate to take his or her place. The Alternate Directors shall have the privilege of the floor for discussion at the meetings of the Board but shall not be entitled to vote unless recognized by the President of the Board as the designated alternate for the duly appointed Director.
5. A vacancy in the representation of a Member Society shall be filled by that Member Society by the appointment of an individual to complete the unexpired term. Completion of an unexpired term shall not be counted toward the total period of service.
6. The Board also shall elect five Public Directors. The Nominating Committee selects candidates as detailed in Section 12 of these Bylaws.
7. The term for a Public Director shall be for three years, for a term which begins at the close of the annual meeting of the ABET Board of Directors. A Public Director shall not serve more than two complete terms in this capacity.
    

VI. Training

Training is required for all new Directors, Alternate Directors, Public Directors, and Associate Member Representatives. The Board is responsible for providing this training to ensure that the Directors are knowledgeable about ABET policies, procedures and Accreditation Criteria. Annual training updates will be provided as part of the regularly scheduled meetings.

VII. Officers

1. The Officers of ABET shall be a President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Officers may not serve in dual roles as Officers and Representative Directors of the Member Societies. The Officers will serve a one-year term, with the exception of the Treasurer, who will serve a two-year term. The President and President-Elect shall not be eligible for immediate re-election to the same office at the expiration of the term for which they are elected. The Secretary may serve no more than two complete, consecutive terms. The Treasurer may serve no more than three complete, consecutive terms.
2. The Board shall elect its Officers. Only present and past Directors are eligible for nomination as Officers. The Treasurer must have served on the ABET Board of Directors within the last 3 years.  Associate Member Representatives and Public Directors are not eligible for nomination as Officers.
3. The President-Elect ascends to the office of President upon completion of the current term or in the event that the President is unable to perform the duties of the President. In the case when an Officer other than the President is unable to perform the duties of the office, the ABET Board may elect a substitute or replacement. The Executive Committee may appoint a replacement for any Officer unable to serve until the ABET Board meets to elect a replacement. The Treasurer must have served on the ABET Board of Directors within the last three years.
4. The Treasurer shall review the financial operation of ABET and report the findings to the Board. The Treasurer shall serve as the chair of the Finance Committee.
5. The Executive Committee serves to provide guidance to the Executive Director and to examine and formulate matters for consideration by the Board, Commissions, Councils, and Committees.
6. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President, the President, the President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, two Board Representatives, Chairs of the Commissions, Chair of the Accreditation Council, Chair of the Global Council, and the Executive Director. The Chairs of the Commissions, the Chair of the Accreditation Council, the Chair of the Global Council, and the Executive Director are non-voting members. The Executive Committee acts on behalf of the Board in the interim between meetings. A report of actions taken during this period must be provided for information purposes to the full Board at a regularly scheduled meeting.
7. Election of ABET Board of Directors Officers and Board Representatives to the Executive Committee shall be by majority (greater than 50%) vote of the board members present. If there are three or more candidates for a position, and none receive the majority of votes cast on an initial ballot, a second ballot involving the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes on the initial ballot will be conducted. 
    

VIII. Executive Director

1. The Executive Director of ABET is appointed by the Board, who will define duties appropriate to the position. The Executive Director shall be expected to attend all Board meetings and may attend all meetings of any duly constituted entity of ABET including, but not limited to, Commissions, Committees, Councils, and other such groups as may be established. The Executive Director is a non-voting participant in these meetings.
2. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the minutes of the Board meeting and shall be the custodian of records for ABET, including permanent records relating to ABET business.
3. The Executive Director is also the manager of the office of ABET. The Executive Director is responsible for recruiting, hiring, terminating and conducting performance reviews of the ABET staff and for making recommendations on staff remuneration.
4. For corporate purposes, the Executive Director performs the functions of Assistant Secretary.
5. The ABET President, assisted by selected members of the Executive Committee, will review the Executive Director's performance and make recommendations for the Director's remuneration.
    

IX. Conduct of Meetings

1. The Board shall schedule meetings to conduct business.
2. A meeting called the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, will convene annually during the fall, at which the new officers for the fiscal year shall be installed. The Board Directors shall meet at least once between Annual Meetings. Additional meetings may be called by the President or by at least three Members acting through their Directors. The Executive Committee will conduct meetings and essential business that arises between the two scheduled meetings of the Board.
3. Thirty (30) days notice shall be given for Board Meetings. An agenda shall be provided to Board members no later than two weeks prior to a meeting. An exception to the requirement for prior distribution would be any item for which two-thirds of the members of the Board present and voting agree to include on the agenda for any given meeting.
4. Any agenda item that contains a motion for action by the Board shall be in writing and supported by sufficient materials to permit an informed decision by the Board on that motion.
5. The Board shall vote on matters of substance, including but not limited to procedures, Accreditation Criteria, appeals of accreditation decisions, assignment of curricular matters to Commissions, organization and operation of each Commission, final approval of Accreditation Commission membership, assignment of programs to Members, general education issues, and financial matters including a budget and assessment fees.
6. A quorum of the Board shall exist at a meeting if there is a majority of the Directors of the Board present and at least two-thirds of the member societies are represented by at least one Director. Voting by the Board will follow rules established by ABET. Designated Alternate Directors will be permitted to vote if recognized by the President as standing in for a Representative Director.
7. Minutes of meetings of the Board will be taken and maintained among the permanent records of ABET. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the records of Board meetings and shall be custodian of records, including permanent records.
8. ABET shall establish its own meeting rules including an established agenda, methods for dealing with exceptions to the agenda, and conflicts of interest. The President will rule on matters of dispute.
    

X. Official Reports of ABET

1. ABET shall compile and maintain records including permanent records relating to ABET business. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the minutes of Board meetings and shall be the custodian of ABET records. ABET shall prepare and distribute reports of ABET operations.
2. ABET shall prepare reports annually that will include the reports of standing Committees, except the Nominating Committee; reports of the Councils; a report of each Accreditation Commission; the lists of accredited programs; accomplishments of ABET; a financial statement; a budget for the fiscal year; and any special reports requested by the President of ABET. Reports shall be made available to each Director, Commissioner, Member, and Associate Member and to appropriate institutions and organizations.
3. ABET shall prepare an accreditation yearbook that shall include the list of accredited programs. The yearbook also shall include the year of the Next General Review for each program and criteria and policies for accrediting programs.
    

XI. Financial Operations

1. The Board shall establish rules of financial procedures, approve an annual budget and assessment fee formula, receive and review reports of financial operations, and obtain an annual audit.
2. The Board shall receive for consideration an annual budget that is prepared by the Finance Committee and recommended by the Executive Committee. The Finance Committee shall prepare the annual budget for the next ABET fiscal year 30 days before the ABET spring Board meeting. The budget shall be submitted to the Executive Committee for its endorsement and to the Board for approval. The Board shall finalize and approve the budget at the spring meeting.
3. The Board shall receive reports of financial operations prior to each of its meetings. The Finance Committee shall prepare budget and expenditure reports for current and prior years for the Board meetings. Included among the reports shall be a five-year financial forecast.
4. The Board shall assess annual fees for Members, Associate Members, and institutions. The fees shall be based upon formulas established annually by the Board for each class of membership. The Finance Committee shall prepare recommendations for fees. The recommendations shall be submitted to the Executive Committee for its endorsement and to the Board for approval.
1. ABET headquarters shall notify all Members, Associate Members, and institutions of the assessments and fees for the ABET fiscal year no later than one month prior to the start of the fiscal year.
2. Payment of annual assessment or fees shall entitle each Member, Associate Member, and institution to receive copies of ABET annual reports and other publications.
3. The assessment for new members will be prorated by the date of admission.
5. ABET shall obtain an annual audit of its financial operation by an independent certified public accountant whose selection shall be approved by the Board. The Treasurer, Executive Director, and ABET financial staff shall provide policies, operational procedures, data and other information as may be requested by the auditors. The final audit will be presented to the Board by the Treasurer and approved by the Board.
6. ABET's fiscal year is October 1 to September 30.

XII. Committees

1. ABET establishes Committees to assist in the conduct of its business. Standing Committees normally will have directors assigned to them on an annual basis. The President-Elect is responsible for assignments to be effective in the following Presidential year.
2. Nominating Committee
1. The Nominating Committee shall recommend candidates for the offices of President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Board Representatives to the Executive Committee, and Public Directors for the ensuing year. Members of the Nominating Committee are ineligible for selection as candidates. Biographical information on prospective candidates will be provided to the Committee.
2. By four weeks prior to completion of the term of a Public Director, the Nominating Committee shall solicit from all Member and Associate Member Societies, the Public Director Committee, and others, names and biographical information concerning that Body's recommended candidate for the Public Director. From the group composed of those candidates, as well as the current Public Directors, the Committee shall recommend candidates to the Board for Public Director.
3. The names of the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee for all positions shall be submitted to the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall transmit the list of nominees to the Board with the agenda for its spring meeting. Additional nominations made by Directors from three or more Member and Associate Member bodies will be received at headquarters. The final slate will be transmitted to the Board with the agenda for its spring meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the spring meeting. Their election shall be completed prior to June 1, by mail or at the spring meeting, and their terms shall begin at the close of the Board's annual meeting. The Nominating Committee may be requested by the President or Board to provide additional nominations.
4. The Nominating Committee of the Board will solicit recommendations and will nominate Public Commissioner candidates in the same manner that is currently prescribed for the nomination of Board Public Directors described in (i) above. In addition, written statements of willingness to serve in this capacity must be provided to the Nominating Committee by those recommending candidates. The Nominating Committee will submit names of the Public Commissioner nominees to the various Commissions for election. The names of those nominees ratified by the Commissions will be submitted to the Board for final election.
5. The Nominating Committee shall be composed of the Immediate Past President of ABET, four (4) Directors, and a Public Director. The Immediate Past President shall serve as chair of the Nominating Committee, and the four Directors shall include one Director from one of the Member Societies with 300 or more academic programs; one from one of the Member Societies with 50-299 academic programs; one from the Member Societies with 10-49 academic programs; and one from the remaining Member Societies. The Immediate Past President's former society is not eligible to have a representative on the Nominating Committee for that year. Members of the Nominating Committee must have at least two years of service on the Board.
3. Finance Committee
1. The Finance Committee shall prepare the annual budget for the next ABET fiscal year 30 days before the spring meeting of the Board and shall present the same to both the Executive Committee for its endorsement and the Board for its approval. This Committee should review the previous year's budget performance and report its findings to the Executive Committee. The Committee shall maintain a five-year financial forecast. The Committee will also develop suitable supporting material relative to all financial aspects of ABET operations and present such to the member bodies each year at the time the annual assessments are determined.
2. The Finance Committee shall annually review ABET Financial Policies and recommend to the Board any changes, along with a rationale for the proposed changes.
3. The Finance Committee shall be composed of a Chair and six (6) members. Members of the committee shall include one Director from one of the Member Societies with 351 or more academic programs; one from one of the Member Societies with 66-350 academic programs;  one from the Member Societies with 11-65 academic programs; one from the remaining Member and Associate Member Societies; one Public Director; and the Treasurer. Members of the Finance Committee must have at least two years of service on the Board. The President shall designate the Finance Committee members.
4. Audit Committee
1. The Audit Committee is a committee of the ABET Board. It shall assist the ABET Board in fulfilling its responsibility to monitor the reliability and integrity of ABET's accounting and financial reporting. The Audit Committee is charged with approving the appointment, compensation, retention (and termination) of the independent auditors and with overseeing the work of the independent auditors.
2. The Audit Committee shall oversee compliance with ABET's Conflict of Interest Policy.
3. The Audit Committee shall investigate written concerns received regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, and auditing matters, including those brought to its attention in accordance with the ABET Whistleblower Policy, and violations of the ABET Code of Conduct.
4. In performing its oversight role, the Audit Committee is empowered to investigate any matter brought to its attention, with full access to all books, records, facilities and personnel of the organization and to retain outside counsel, auditors or other experts for this purpose.
5. The Audit Committee shall have at least two (2) members and a Chair. The committee is appointed by the ABET President and serve for two-year terms. Members of the staff and the ABET Treasurer are ineligible to serve on the Audit Committee. All members of the Audit Committee must be able to read and understand financial statements and have a general understanding of accounting and auditing matters. At least one member of the Audit Committee must have financial or accounting expertise. Committee members are members of the ABET Board of Directors and are not compensated for their service on the committee, nor do they have any financial interest in, or any other conflict of interest with, any entity doing business with ABET.
5. Awards Committee
1. The Awards Committee, with the assistance of its Subcommittees on ABET Fellows, ABET Honor Roll, and Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award, shall evaluate the qualifications of nominees and recommend no more than the indicated numbers of candidates for each of the following ABET awards:
1. Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award (one);
2. ABET Honor Roll (three); and,
3. ABET Fellows (five).
2. The Immediate Past President shall serve as chair of the Awards Committee. The Subcommittee on ABET Fellows shall consist of a chair and three members appointed by the President, all of whom are past recipients of the ABET Fellows Award, plus one current Board member. The Subcommittee on the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award shall consist of a chair, three members who are past recipients of the Linton E. Grinter Distinguished Service Award appointed by the President, plus one current Board member. The Subcommittee on the ABET Honor Roll shall consist of a chair and three members appointed by the President, all of whom are Board members.
6. Public Director Committee
1. The purpose of this Committee is to provide ABET access to public examination of questions and issues related to the Accreditation of Applied Science, Computing, Engineering, and Technology programs, leading to recommendations that will enhance the quality of the evaluation process, promote the beneficial aspects of Accreditation, and sustain the ideals of the professions represented within ABET.
2. This Committee shall work to benefit materially the accreditation process through examination of the impact of accreditation on the interests of students, accredited programs, the public, employers, and the professions represented within ABET. This Committee shall convene prior to each of the Board meetings. The chair shall provide interim reporting at the annual Board meeting and shall make an annual report to the Executive Committee.
3. The membership of the Committee shall consist of seven members of the Board, five (5) of whom shall be Public Directors, the immediate Past President, and a Director. The chair shall have a one-year term with no more than two (2) successive terms.
7. Ad hoc Committees and Task Forces Appointed by the President
   Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces shall be appointed as needed by the President and approved by the Board. They shall be given charges and asked to report to the Board. A period of time to accomplish the charge shall be set on each ad hoc Committee or Task Force. 

XIII. Councils

1. Councils provide advice to ABET for development of its policies. These Councils may be comprised of members other than Directors.
2. Accreditation Council
   The Accreditation Council (AC) shall formulate and recommend to the Board policies and procedures regarding the Accreditation processes of ABET. Particular emphasis shall be placed upon process improvement and process uniformity across the Commissions. However, the emphasis on process uniformity shall not preclude the pursuit of improved best practices or the variation of practices among the Commissions where the activities of the Commissions appropriately differ.
1. The AC shall be composed of the Chair, Chair-Elect, and Past Chair of each of the Commissions. The Chair of the AC shall be appointed by the President for a one-year term beginning at the close of the Summer Commission Meeting. The Chair of the International Activities Council shall serve as a non-voting member.
3. Global Council
1. The Global Council, or GC, shall formulate, and recommend policies and procedures regarding global activities of ABET to the Board for approval. The GC does not have authority to set policies, but is responsible for implementation of those global policies set by the Board for which no other entity within ABET is responsible. The GC is not responsible for accreditation, for consultation to individual programs or institutions, for training of volunteers, or for educational workshops provided by ABET staff.
2. The GC is responsible for recommending, to the Board for approval, participation in new Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with other accreditation or governmental agencies. The GC shall perform other duties, regarding global activities, specifically assigned by the Board or Executive Committee.
3. The GC is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the signatories of MRAs operating policies and procedures regarding the implementation of MRAs, as well as admission of new signatories. Additionally, GC is responsible for implementation of MOUs and consultancies to other accreditation or governmental agencies.
4. The GC is responsible for implementing policies and procedures relating to Substantial Equivalency recognition of non-U.S. based educational programs. This responsibility sunsets upon expiration of the last Substantial Equivalency recognition.
5. The GC shall have a Chair recommended by the President for appointment by the Board for a one-year term, renewable by recommendation of the President and approval by the Board for up to five consecutive terms. The Chair may appoint other Officers from GC membership as judged appropriate. The Chair will preside at all meetings of the Council and will be responsible for the conduct of the business of the Council.
6. The GC shall be composed of at least nine members, the majority of whom shall be Board members and at least one shall be a Public Director. All GC members are recommended by the president for approval by the Board. Each appointment shall be for terms up to three years duration. Appointments shall provide for staggered terms to ensure continuity. Reappointments to a second term may be recommended by the president for approval by the Board.
4. Industry Advisory Council
1. The Industry Advisory Council, or IAC, shall provide ABET leadership with access to industrial viewpoints on issues of accreditation, Applied Science, Computing, Engineering, and Technology education, and matters affecting the relevant professions; reactions to proposed ABET programs and policies as they relate to industry and government, while bringing those programs directly to the attention of leaders in industry.
2. The IAC shall also develop methods to stimulate the involvement of industrial firms in the work of ABET through increased participation as Board Members, members of the Accreditation Commissions, Program Evaluators, Committee members, and conferees.
3. The IAC shall be composed of approximately fifteen Applied Science, Computing, Engineering, or Technology leaders of industry or government invited to serve in this capacity by the President. One such member shall be appointed as Chair by the President. The President, President-Elect, and Executive Director shall also serve as regular members.
5. Academic Advisory Council
1. The Academic Advisory Council, or AAC, shall provide ABET Leadership with access to academic viewpoints on issues of accreditation; applied science, computing, engineering, and technology education; matters affecting the relevant professions; reactions to proposed ABET programs, procedures, and policies as they relate to the education sector of ABET constituencies; while also providing opportunities for enhancing communication between ABET and the academic community.
2. The AAC shall also develop and implement mechanisms to stimulate the involvement of diverse elements of the academic community in the work of ABET through increased participation as Board members, members of the Accreditation Commissions, program evaluators, committee members, and attendees of ABET professional development events.
3. The AAC shall be composed of approximately 20 academic leaders associated with applied science, computing, engineering, and technology programs appointed to serve in this capacity by the president of ABET. One member of the AAC shall be appointed to serve as the chair by the president of ABET. The president, president-elect, and executive director of ABET shall also serve as regular members of the AAC.

XIV. Commissions

1. The accreditation of educational programs leading to degrees shall be conducted by bodies called Commissions that are established by the Board of Directors. The Accreditation Commissions are responsible for conducting accreditation evaluations of educational programs and rendering decisions, on these programs, that are based on policies and Accreditation Criteria that have been approved by the Board. The Accreditation Commissions shall make final decisions, except for appeals, of accreditation actions. In the event of an appeal of a Commission's action, the Board shall render the final decision on behalf of ABET.
2. In addition to their responsibilities in accreditation, the Commissions shall make recommendations to the Board regarding policies and the Rules of Procedure.
3. The Commissions of ABET shall be:
1. Applied Science Accreditation Commission (ASAC),
2. Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC),
3. Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC), and
4. Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission (ETAC).
4. Curricular Responsibility of Member Societies
1. Areas of curricular responsibility define groups of programs that have similar disciplinary content.
2. A Member Society having primary responsibility for a particular curricular area will be designated by the Board as Lead Society for that particular curricular area.
3. Member Societies may also be assigned to assist a Lead Society. Such a Member Society will be designated by the Board as a Cooperating Society and will assist through the recommendation of appropriate Program Criteria and the nomination of qualified Program Evaluators to the Lead Society.
4. Curricular responsibility of a Lead Society, in consultation with its cooperating societies, includes the recommendation of appropriate Program Criteria; the nomination, training, mentoring, and evaluation of qualified Program Evaluators; and the recommendation of Program Evaluator assignments for visits.
5. The Commissions shall recommend to the Board the assignment of areas of curricular responsibility to Member Societies.
5. Board Liaisons to the Commissions
   Board Liaisons to the Commissions shall serve as non-voting members of the Commissions who advise the Commissions on Board policies, and report at least annually on Commission issues that may require Board attention.
    

XV. Other Operations of the Board

1. In support of its stated purposes, ABET may create and operate separate activities. These may be, but are not necessarily limited to, consultative, review, or study programs; they may involve fees for services. Where there are financial or personnel ramifications to these activities they will be fully reviewed and accounted for by the respective ABET review entities. The Board of Directors will be kept fully apprised of their operations.
2. Agencies, both private and public, external to ABET may engage ABET for its expertise. Such engagements are called projects and are part of ABET's fulfillment of its purposes. When these projects are made formal by contract, contain reimbursement to ABET for its expenses, require ABET to deliver an outcome, or have any other feature that requires performance by ABET, then the project will be approved by the Board.

XVI. Conflict of Interest

ABET will publish a separate, Board-approved policy on conflict of interest. The potential is large for personnel of ABET to have a conflict of interest with programs under accreditation review, the institutions that contain them, or other entities involved with ABET. ABET personnel include, but are not necessarily limited to, members of the Board, ABET staff, members of the Commissions, Program Evaluators, and ad hoc participants in other ABET activities. Inasmuch as conflicts may not always be avoided, they must be declared and the impact of the conflict ameliorated. This policy is included in the ABET Rules of Procedure.
 

XVII. Confidentiality

ABET will publish a separate, Board-approved policy on confidentiality. The operations of ABET involve a great amount of information that has been shared in confidence. It behooves ABET, in the fulfillment of its purposes and in keeping the trust of those involved in the Accreditation process, to maintain this confidence. All participants in ABET, members of the Board, ABET staff, members of the Commissions, Program Evaluators, and ad hoc participants in other ABET activities, will be bound by ABET's policy on confidentiality. This policy is included in the ABET Rules of Procedure.
 

XVIII. Appeals

ABET will publish a separate, Board-approved policy on appeals. The Board will adjudicate appeals of not-to-accredit actions according to a separately published Board-approved policy on appeals. It is expected that the Commissions, in following their rules of procedure, will assure responsible reviews of programs and maintain a consistent application of the criteria. Nonetheless, programs that have been denied accreditation shall have an avenue for appeal. This policy is included in the Accreditation Policy and Procedure Manual within the section titled "Appeals, Reconsiderations, and Immediate Re-Visits".
 

XIX. Amendments to the Bylaws

1. The Bylaws may be amended by vote of the Board. Motions to amend the Bylaws must be in writing and circulated with the agenda for the next meeting of the Board. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws made orally during the progress of a meeting will be referred to the appropriate committee for the preparation of a written motion. If the motion to amend is approved on first reading, it shall be circulated as soon as practical to member societies and their representative Board members. Amendments are effective upon approval by a majority vote on second reading.
2. Changes in the Constitution that require changes in the Bylaws shall be accompanied by draft Bylaw amendments. Ratification of the Constitutional amendment will result in approval of the accompanying Bylaw change.

XX. Indemnification

Should any Officer, Director, agent, or employee of ABET become or be made party to any action, suit, or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was such Officer, Director, agent, or employee, then the Board shall have the authority in their sole discretion to indemnify such persons against part or all of any judgments, fines, or penalties levied against him or her, including attorney's fees and expenses incurred by her or him, in connection with such action provided that the ABET Board believes that such Officer, Director, agent, or employee acted in good faith. This indemnification may be made in advance of final disposition of the action.