Membership in SMARTS

Inquiries from potential new members of SMARTS are always encouraged, as opportunities to join the consortium typically arise every year. Acceptance of a new member depends on the balance of resources and scientific programs associated with current members. If you are interested in joining SMARTS, either at an individual or an institutional level, please contact Charles Bailyn at charles.bailyn@yale.edu for more information.

Categories of Membership:

A "Member" of the SMARTS 2 Consortium may be a research or academic institution; a specific department or division within such an institution, as represented by the institution; or individual research groups or researchers, whose membership in the Consortium has satisfied the conditions of the SMARTS Agreement and has been approved by the Management Council.

• Primary Members: Members who in any semester contribute $25,000 or the equivalent in any combination of cash, services, operations, telescopes, or instrumentation (the "Primary level"). Primary Members are entitled to a seat on the SMARTS 2 Management Council. A Primary Member is entitled to attend and vote in the Management Council when its Membership Agreement has been signed and its contribution made or (in the view of the Management Council) adequately committed. Membership in the Management Council terminates at the end of the last semester for which the Primary Member contributed at least the Primary level.
• Secondary Members: Members who contribute at less than the Primary level, or who choose to be considered as Secondary Members. A Secondary Member will not be entitled to a seat on the SMARTS 2 Management Council. Secondary Members must be sponsored by a Primary Member and apply for time through the Primary Member. Primary Members who sponsor Secondary Members will not have increased voting rights by virtue of their sponsorship.
• Individual Investigators: Individual investigators may also join SMARTS. The agreements for Individual Investigators do not require institutional signatures. The institutions with which Individual Investigators are associated are not listed as SMARTS members.

SMARTS Membership Agreements:

As stated in the SMARTS2 by-laws, Members will join SMARTS by signing a Membership Agreement. A Membership Agreement shall be effective for one or more semesters. The Membership Agreement will obligate the Member to abide by the requirements of the SMARTS Agreement. It will describe the contribution to be provided by the Member to the Consortium and establish a payment schedule or other timing constraints, if appropriate. It will set forth the proportion of SMARTS telescope time and the anticipated number of observing nights to which this contribution will entitle the Member. The Membership Agreement may also specify fractions of the available time and anticipated total observing nights for specific combinations of telescopes, instruments, and observing modes.

last updated July 24, 2008