Section Charter

Charter written on October 1, 2025


ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization is the Lifetime Data Science Section (hereafter called the “Section”) of the American Statistical Association (hereafter called the “Association”).

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES
The Section focuses on promoting and supporting the development, application, and appropriate use of statistical methods for the design and analysis of lifetime data and time-to-event data with censoring, truncation, and competing risks, counting processes, multi-state, multiple or clustered events, longitudinal biomarker histories, and quality-of-life models. The objectives of the Section include, but are not limited to:

1. Promoting and supporting the development of new methods for lifetime data.
2. Identifying new areas of application and appropriate use of lifetime data. 
3. Fostering interdisciplinary research on lifetime data in areas such as biomedical research, finance, economics, imaging, engineering, genomics, and genetics. 
   

In pursuing these objectives, the Section will work closely and coordinate with other sections of the Association whenever appropriate. In particular, the Section shares interests with other sections in the following areas:

1. The analysis of observational and experimental data involving humans.
2. Evaluation of therapeutic interventions on chronic disease processes
3. Dealing with diverse administrative data sources.
4. Modeling dynamic phenomena in business, industry, sociology, and other fields.
5. Publication of research developments and results.
6. Organization of educational programs for statisticians and researchers working in these areas.

ARTICLE III. FUNCTIONS
In support of the Section’s objectives, the Section will perform the following functions: 

1. To assist in the advancement of knowledge in lifetime data science by fostering wider and more effective use of appropriate statistical methods.
2. To plan and support, in cooperation with the Association, appropriate sessions on lifetime data science at the Annual Meeting of the Association.
3. To organize and facilitate conferences, workshops, webinars, and other continuing education activities in the field of lifetime data science.
4. To publicize the activities of the Section and other items of interest to its members through the Section webpage and newsletters.
5. To stimulate the preparation of articles dealing with lifetime data science for publication under the auspices of the Association.
6. To sponsor and award trainees making exceptional oral or poster presentations at scientific meetings.
7. To establish and foster relationships with related professional organizations (e.g., the International Biometrics Society) and with other sections of the Association (e.g., Biometrics, Biopharmaceutical Statistics, Statistics in Epidemiology).

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Association may join the Section by paying Section dues.

Section dues are set by the officers of the Section and may be adjusted annually in consultation with the Treasurer of the Association.

The membership year for each member of the Section shall coincide with that member’s membership year within the Association.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

1. Section officers must be members of the Section. 
2. The officers of the Section shall consist of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Past-Chair, Program Chair, Program Chair-Elect, Past-Program Chair, Treasurer, Administrative Officer, Communications Officer, Webinar Chair, and Council of Sections Representative(s) (the number is determined by the Association’s Council of Sections Governing Board). Elected positions shall consist of the Chair-Elect, Program Chair-Elect, Council of Sections Representative(s), Treasurer, and Administrative Officer. The Communications Officer and Webinar Chair shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and appointed by the Chair.
3. The term of the Chair-Elect shall be one year, and the Chair-Elect shall automatically succeed the Chair on January 1 of each year. The Chair shall automatically succeed the Past-Chair on January 1 of each year.
   The term of the Program Chair-Elect shall be one year, and the Program Chair-Elect shall automatically succeed the Program Chair on January 1 of each year.
   The Program Chair shall automatically succeed the Past-Program Chair on January 1 of each year.
   The term of the Treasurer and Administrative Officer shall be three years, beginning on January 1 following the election.
   The term of Representative(s) to the Council of Sections is prescribed in the Charter of the Council of Sections.
   The term of the Communications Officer and Webinar Chair shall be three years, beginning on January 1 following the appointment by the Chair. 
4. The Chair is the chief officer of the Section and is a member of the Executive Committee. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Section and of the Executive Committee. The Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may designate committees or individuals to carry out functions of the Section. The Chair shall coordinate the work of the officers and committees of the Section. The Chair shall review the regular financial reports provided by the Association's central office. The Chair shall transmit to the Section's depository in the office of the Association copies of any items of permanent importance to the Section, and to the incoming Chair all records and correspondence of continuing interest to the Section, or copies thereof. The Chair is responsible for the Section’s annual business meeting at the Annual Meeting of the Association.
   The Past-Chair shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and preside over meetings of the Section and the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chair. The Past-Chair shall lead the Nominations Committee.
   The Chair-Elect shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and preside over meetings of the Section and the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chair and Past-Chair.
   The Program Chair shall be responsible for developing and coordinating the Section's sessions and other program events at national and regional meetings of the Association.
   The Program Chair shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the Program Committee, and as a member of the Association's Program Committee.
   The Program Chair-Elect shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the Program Committee to assist the Program Chair. The Program Chair-Elect will work with the Association to plan next year meetings and activities.
   The Past-Program Chair shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the Program Committee to assist the Program Chair. The Past-Program Chair will chair the committee of the Section’s Study Paper Award Competition.
   The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall oversee budget preparation, submit it to the Association, and monitor the Section’s dues collections, expenditures, and financial reports prepared by the Association. The Treasurer is responsible for reporting the financial status of the Section to the membership at the time of the annual meeting, and transmitting to the incoming Treasurer all records, ledgers, and correspondence of continuing importance to the Section, or copies thereof.
   The Administrative Officer shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee. The Administrative Officer is responsible for keeping the minutes at Section business meetings, including the annual business meeting and Executive Committee meetings, and transmitting copies to the members of the Executive Committee, and submitting these to the Association after approval by the Executive Committee. The Administrative Officer shall transmit copies of resolutions of the Section to appropriate persons and groups. The Administrative Officer shall also perform other duties of record-keeping and correspondence as requested by the Chair and transmit to the incoming Administrative Officer all records, ledgers, and correspondence of continuing importance to the Section, or copies thereof.
   The Representative(s) to the Council of Sections shall serve as member(s) of the Executive Committee. The Representative(s) shall attend all meetings of the Council of Sections of the Association. The Representative(s) shall report to the membership at the time of the Annual Meeting of the Section on important developments of Council meetings, bring up for discussion important issues currently before that body, request formal expression of opinion by the membership if needed, and bring before the Council matters of interest to the Section when so requested by the Executive Committee or by vote of the members. The Representative(s) shall transmit to the Council the views of the Executive Committee and of members on issues before the Council and shall perform all other duties of Representatives as stated in the Charter of the Council of Sections.
   The Communications Officer shall maintain the webpage of the Section and edit the newsletters. The Communications Officer shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee.
   The Webinar Chair shall arrange and coordinate webinars and other continuing education activities sponsored by the Section. The Webinar Chair shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee. Other duties and responsibilities of the officers, not inconsistent with this Charter, may be established by a Responsibilities and Procedures Manual, which may be adopted or modified from time to time by the Executive Committee.
5. No officer shall be eligible for immediate re-election or re-appointment to the same office. The Chair-Elect and the Program Chair-Elect shall automatically succeed the Chair and Program Chair, respectively, at the annual change of officers, which shall occur on January 1. The Chair and the Program Chair shall also automatically succeed the Past-Chair and Past-Program Chair, respectively, at the annual change of officers. The Communications Officer and Webinar Chair are not term-limited.
6. An individual may hold no more than one office within the Section at a given time.
7. If the office of Chair or Program Chair becomes vacant, the Chair-Elect and Program Chair-Elect shall become the Chair and Program Chair, respectively, with their terms extending through the following year. Vacancies in other offices shall be filled by appointment by the Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.
8. The term and manner of choosing each officer are summarized in the following table: 

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

1. Types of Committees
   The committees of the Section shall consist of the Executive Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Program Committee, and such other committees as the Executive Committee may establish from time to time.
   The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Past-Chair, Chair-Elect, Program Chair, Past-Program Chair, Program Chair-Elect, Administrative Officer, Treasurer, Council of Sections Representative(s), Communications Officer, and Webinar Chair. The Executive Committee will manage the affairs of the Section. All elected members of the Executive Committee may vote on official business. The Executive Committee may invite others to serve as non-voting members or ad hoc participants.
   The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Past-Chair, Past-Program Chair, and one person designated by the Chair of the Nominating Committee. The Past-Chair shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for nominating a slate of officers for each annual election of the Section.
   The Program Committee shall consist of the Program Chair, Program Chair-Elect, Past-Program Chair, and such other member(s) as the Program Chair may appoint. The Program Committee is responsible for the Section’s educational programs, including the Annual Meeting of the Association, Section conferences, and other activities.
   Other committees deemed necessary to carry out the work of the Section may also be established, such as a conference organizing committee. The establishment of a committee shall include prescribing of its functions and the method of appointment of its members. Such committees shall continue in existence at the discretion of the Executive Committee, except as may be otherwise provided at the time of establishment.
   A quorum of 50% of voting members must be present at official meetings for all committees, and an opportunity for discussion of matters requiring vote must be allowed. Formal motions and financial disbursements must occur during official meetings of committees. Each standing committee must submit an annual report to the Chair of the Section upon request of the Chair.
   
   
2. Membership
   The term of membership, if not otherwise specified in this Charter, shall be three years. Initial terms for new committees shall be set by the Chair of the Section for one, two, or three years so that, as nearly as possible, one-third of the members shall be appointed each year. Each committee shall be governed by a chair appointed by the Chair of the Section, unless otherwise specified in this Charter.
   All committee members shall be members of the Section.
3. Nomination and Election
   1. Nominating Committee
      Each year the Section shall hold an election of officers. Elections shall be conducted by the Association.
      For each annual election, the Nominating Committee shall submit, no later than September 1, to the Administrative Officer and the Chair of the Section, nominations for each position to be filled. In addition, any Section member nominated by petition of five or more members of Section shall also appear on the annual ballot, provided that the petition is presented to the Administrative Officer and Chair of the Section by September 1.
   2. Voting Rights
      All enrolled Section members shall be eligible to participate in elections. Balloting shall be carried out by the Association for electing Section officers. The Past-Chair shall coordinate with the Association’s office, provide required information, and represent the Section for purposes of elections. Ballots shall be sent to current Section members. Balloting shall occur according to Association’s procedures and standards.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
The annual business meeting of the Section shall be held in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Association and shall be announced in advance, preferably in the program for that meeting. A quorum of 50% of voting Section officers must be present at the official annual business meeting. The Section may also hold additional meetings at times and places designated by the Chair or by a vote of two-thirds of the Executive Committee. Business may also be conducted with the Section members by mail and/or email.


ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by the officers of the Section or by a petition signed by at least 5% of the members of the Section and submitted to the Section Administrative Officer and Chair by September 1. The proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Section members for a vote at the time of the annual election of officers. If approved by a majority of the Section members voting, the amendment shall become effective immediately, unless otherwise specified in the amendment itself. A copy of the amendment shall be filed with the Administrative Officer of the Association.