Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI)
Community Engagement and Research Program (CERP)
Steering Board Bylaws
ARTICLE I: AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD
Section 1. Purpose The Steering Board of the ACTSI Community Engagement and Research
Program (CERP) will:
•Establish policies and conditions under which research can be conducted through the CERP
•Establish priorities for CERP research and projects
•Review all protocols proposed for implementation in the community using CERP resources
•Advise and guide research scientists
ARTICLE II: MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Section 1. Officers Officers shall be Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary. The
Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be elected from among the community members of the
Board. . A member of the CERP staff will record the minutes of the meeting for review by the
Secretary.
Section 2. Term of Office Officers shall serve a two-year term and may be re-elected for one
additional term.
Section 3. Number and Qualifications Unless otherwise determined by a two-thirds vote of
the Board, the Board shall consist of the members outlined in Section 4 – Membership, but not
more than fifteen (15) persons. A member of the Board may select a representative to serve on
the Board in that member’s absence. This representative will have the same voting privileges as
the member.
Section 4. Membership The Board shall consist of academic and community members.
Community representatives shall always be in the majority on the Board. The following shall be
entitled to recommend a member to the Board for appointment:
a) Academic Members
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ACTSI Principal Investigator (Emory University)
ACTSI Co-Principal Investigator (Morehouse School of Medicine)
CERP Leader (Morehouse School of Medicine)
CERP Co-Leader (Emory University)
b) Community Members
Representatives of the community advisory boards or similar bodies affiliated with
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Morehouse School of Medicine Prevention Research Center
Emory Prevention Research Center
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Southeastern Regional Clinicians Network (Morehouse)
Community Physicians Network (Morehouse)
Center for AIDS Research (Emory)
Jane Fonda Center (Emory)
c) Additional members of the Board shall be approved by a majority vote of the current
members.
Section 5. Removal A Board member may be removed from the Board for failure to attend at
least half of the regular meetings in a calendar year. Another member shall then be sought to
represent the same entity.
Section 6. Meetings The Board shall hold not fewer than 4 regular meetings per year on dates
to be determined at the first meeting of the year. Call meetings may be held on the initiative of
the Chairperson, at the request of one or more members, or the CERP Director. At least one
week’s notice shall be provided to all members for call meetings. Meetings shall be held at a
place specified by the Board.
Section 7. Quorum A quorum for the transaction of business shall be one more than half of the
Board membership.
ARTICLE III: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Board.
ARTICLE IV: YEAR
The operating year of the Board shall begin on the first day of October, and end on the last day
of September each year.
ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the
Board and the CERP Leader and Co-leader. The Executive Committee shall meet as needed
between regular meetings of the Board and shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Board on
an interim basis. Actions taken by the Executive Committee are subject to ratification by the
Board at a regular or called meeting.
Section 2. Project Review Committee The Project Review Committee shall consist of up to
four community representatives appointed by the Chair of the Board. The Committee may, at its
discretion, select an Advisor from among the other Board members or an Advisor who is not a
member of the Board. No protocol or project shall be conducted by the CERP until reviewed
and approved by the Project Review Committee. The actions of the Committee shall be reported
to the Board at its next regular meeting.
Section 3. Additional Committees Additional committees shall be appointed by the Board as
needed.
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