Members

(1) The members of the Association shall be classified as full, extraordinary and honorary members.

(2) Full members shall be those who participate fully in the work of the Association. Extraordinary members shall be those who promote the Association’s activities in other ways. Honorary members shall be those who are appointed as such due to extraordinary achievements in connection with the Association.

(1) All natural and legal persons as well as organisations with legal personality are in principal eligible to become members of the Association.

(2) Universities and institutions of higher education, research funding agencies and other organisations which conduct or support scientific research are eligible to become full members.

(3) Those natural and legal persons and other organisations with legal personality conducting or supporting scientific research which cannot become full members in accordance with Par. 2 but have an interest in the fulfilment of the Association’s objectives are eligible to become extraordinary members.

(4) The Board of the Association shall decide on the induction of full and extraordinary members.

(5) Honorary members shall be appointed by the General Assembly on the basis of nominations by the Board of the Association with a two-thirds majority.

(6) The induction of full or extraordinary members may be denied without any indication of reasons.

(7) Until the Association is formally established, members will be selected on a preliminary basis by the founders of the Association. However, those memberships will only become effective upon the formal establishment of the Association.

(1) Membership in the Association shall lapse upon the member’s death, loss of legal personality in the case of legal entities and organisations, or by resignation or expulsion.

(2) Members may only resign from the Association as of December 31 or June 30 each year. Members who wish to resign must notify the Board accordingly at least one month in advance. Where such notice is submitted less than one month prior to the resignation date, it will not become effective until the next resignation date. The postmark on the letter of resignation shall be used to determine whether such a notice is sent in time.

(3) The Board of the Association may expel a member who falls more than six months into arrears in paying membership dues despite two written payment reminders indicating a reasonable period for late payment.

(4) The Board of the Association may also decide to expel a member from the Association due to severe violations of other member obligations.

(5) In response to a motion from the Board, the General Assembly may revoke an honorary membership for the reasons listed in Par. 4.

(6) In cases where membership is terminated the affected member loses all entitlements. The obligation to remit any unpaid membership dues will remain unaffected. The membership fee will not be refunded.

(1) Members are entitled to receive information on the Association’s activities.

(2) Full Members are entitled to

1. use all offers and facilities according to the resolutions of the General Assembly;
2. file an application for the agenda of the General Assembly;
3. participate at the General Assembly with voting rights;
4. practice the active and passive right to vote in the General Assembly;
5. consider the financial conduct of the Association in the General Assembly;
6. obtain final statements of the Commission for Research Integrity in cases of severe research misconduct when the member is affected;
7. call the Arbitration Board of the Association.

(3) Extraordinary and honorary Members may participate at the General Assembly without the right to vote. They are subject to the duty of confidentiality as all other organs of the Association (§ 9.2).

(4) All Members are obliged to make every reasonable effort to promote the interests of the Association and to avoid any actions which would be detrimental to the reputation or objectives of the Association. Members are required to observe the Statutes of the Association as well as the decisions and resolutions taken by the organs of the Association. Full and Extraordinary members are obliged to pay their membership dues in a timely manner and in the amount set by the General Assembly.

(5) Full members are obliged to fully cooperate with the Commission for Research Integrity in investigations, particularly in providing all necessary information and documents. If the member has initiated an internal investigation in the same case it immediately informs the Commission for Research Integrity.