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Over the last two months, the SOT voting members cast ballots on five proposed changes to the SOT Constitution and Bylaws. That vote concluded on Sunday, and we can announce that all the proposed revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws have officially passed.

Thank you to the voting members who cast ballots—we appreciate your active participation in shaping the future of our community.

What This Means

1. New Membership Structure (86% approval): We’re enhancing inclusivity with a restructured membership model. Now, members will initially join as Associate members. After three years of continuous membership, Associate members will be eligible for Full membership based on their engagement with the Society or scholarly achievements. This change acknowledges the diverse pathways into toxicology and ensures that our membership criteria reflect the evolving landscape of our field.
2. Expanded Voting Rights (83% approval): Associate members will now have the privilege to vote on Society matters, including officer elections. This expansion of voting rights ensures broader representation and empowers more voices within our community.
3. Virtual Annual Business Meetings (96% approval): To accommodate our growing and geographically diverse membership, the Annual Business Meeting will now be held virtually. This change not only increases accessibility but also frees up space during our in-person Annual Meeting for additional programming opportunities.
4. Updated Ballot Distribution (99% approval): To encourage greater participation in our leadership elections, the officer election ballot will now be distributed in the first week of January, instead of December 31. The voting process has also been streamlined to leverage modern technology, making it easier for members to cast their votes.
5. Standing Committee Updates (96% approval): In line with our strategic efforts, the names and focuses of some Standing Committees have been updated to better reflect the current goals and initiatives of the Society.

These revisions are a significant step forward in making our Society more inclusive, modern, and aligned with the needs of our members.

Next Steps

All changes are effective immediately, although it will take a few weeks to update all documentation and reference materials.

All current Associate members now have voting privileges within the Society and will be invited to vote in the next officer election.

In addition, all current Associate members who have been members for three or more years will be evaluated by the SOT Membership Committee to determine if they should be upgraded to Full membership. As outlined in the materials provided as part of the vote, the following criteria will be used to evaluate upgrades to Full membership:

Eligibility through SOT engagement is determined by the Associate member fulfilling at least two of the following criteria during a three-year period:

• • Attendance at one or more SOT Annual Meetings
  • Attendance at one or more SOT Regional Chapter meetings
  • Membership in at least one SOT Regional Chapter, Special Interest Group, or Specialty Section
  • SOT volunteer service

If an Associate member does not qualify for an upgrade to Full membership based on engagement with SOT, they will be asked to provide a statement describing their eligibility through scholarly activities or work history, including:

• • Conducted and/or published original research
  • Employment history
  • Regulatory or policy activities

The Membership Committee will review the eligibility of existing Associate members soon so that transitions to Full membership will be complete in time to renew for 2025.

As a reminder, criteria for Associate membership are:

• Demonstrated professional scientific activities in toxicology or related science (e.g., pharmacology, biochemistry, systems biology, environmental sciences, etc.) subsequent to highest achieved degree.
• Evidence of continuing professional involvement in toxicology or a related science.
• Sponsorship by two current SOT Full members. Members of SOT Council and Membership Committee may sponsor potential members.

We look forward to continuing our work together to advance the field of toxicology.

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