Article 1. Name and Foundation

The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health (International Institute) is a postdoctoral Institute of the Babes-Bolyai University (BBU) located in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. It is co-founded with the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI), New York City, NY, USA. Other prestigious organizations involved in the development of applied mental health interventions may and probably will be added as partner affiliates of the International Institute, provided they subscribe to this statute.

Article 2. Objectives and Procedures

• (a) International Institute aims to promote advanced study and scholarship in psychotherapy and applied mental health by postdoctoral training and research. It offers training in psychotherapies and other mental health applications/interventions culminating in a postdoctoral degree for those who have already been awarded a doctoral degree in their field (e.g., PhD, EdD, PsyD, MD, DSW, D.Min.) or other accredited doctoral degree in mental health or related areas, relevant to psychotherapy and applied mental health interventions. As a part of this program the students and/or the members of the International Institute can develop research projects and/or offer workshops and offer psychological and mental health services.
• (b) Candidates for the degree should complete at the post-doctoral level or teach at the post doctoral level four (4) courses offered by the Albert Ellis Institute (or other, future affiliates), or by the Babes-Bolyai University, during the previous four years, and shall write a final report (i.e., dissertation) supervised by a member of the International Institute's Faculty. Further reliance for candidacy will be made upon each applicant’s acquired expertise in psychotherapy and other mental health applications such as pharmacology, mental health testing, group psychotherapy, development of school based mental disorders prevention programs, vocational counseling/coaching, pastoral interventions, and marriage & family interventions, inter alia.
• (c) Each candidate will choose a Supervisor from among the members of the International Institute's Faculty. The final report should not exceed 100 pages for the body of the text. Former publications of the applicant can be used in great measure to make up the dissertation. After the dissertation is approved by the Supervisor, the candidate will come to the International Institute in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, for a collegial presentation of his/her work (presentations by videoconference are also acceptable) with a committee representing the Board of the International Institute. Course completion through participation or teaching of the courses plus the final dissertation with presentation and payment of all fees will enable International Institute of BBU to confer the DSc (ScD) degree.

The postdoctoral degree is a Post-Doctoral Scientist-Practitioner Degree. The degree will be conferred by the “grand-parenting” procedure for (see the Art. 4) the creation of an initial Faculty of the International Institute. Degrees thereafter will be earned before being awarded as outlined in 2-C, above.

Article 3. Fees

Registration for each Faculty candidate who proceeds through the “grand-parenting” procedure shall be $100 to cover administrative costs.

Each applicant shall pay a nonrefundable registration fee of $100.  All costs for collection of information about the candidate shall accrue to the candidate.

The trainees should pay for each course in which s/he enrolls at either AEI initially and at BBU. Candidates who submit taught courses as opposed to completed courses to meet the qualification of 4 courses taken or taught within the past 4 years shall pay a fee of $100 to submit each such taught course.

The fee for Supervision of the dissertation shall be $1,500.  This fee can be paid during the course of supervision but must be paid in full before meeting the committee appointed by the International Institute's Board.

Travel expenses to Cluj-Napoca, Romania are the responsibility of the candidate. Cluj-Napoca and its environs are rich in culture and vacation potential.

In lieu of travel, videoconferencing can be undertaken for the collegial meeting between the committee of the Board and the candidate. The expenses for videoconferencing will be the responsibility of the candidate.

The cost of the collegial meeting of the candidate with the committee of the Board will be $250.  A short form of the dissertation will be published in the Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies (an PsychInfo abstracted Journal) and the complete dissertation will be stored for reference in the archives of the International Institute, being available on a permanent basis. A non-refundable fee of $150 will be charged for this required arrangement. 

The direct fees for the above schedule will be approximately $2,000. This figure does not include travel, videoconferencing, or courses taken at AEI initially or through BBU. These costs are moderate and are structured to be collegial and foundational. They will be modified from time to time by the Board.

Article 4. Governance of the International Institute

The Board of Directors is composed of the Head of Psychology Department of Babes-Bolyai University (initially Mircea Miclea, PhD), (now: Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Head of Department Daniel David, Ph.D.), two representatives appointed by the Albert Ellis Institute (initially Raymond DiGiuseppe, Ph.D. and James McMahon, PsyD, PhD), and the Director of the Romanian Center for Cognitive and Behavior Psychotherapies (initially Daniel David, PhD). A representative of each new partner institution will become a member in the Board of Directors. The members of the Board of Directors can simultaneously be Faculty of the International Institute. To conform to Romanian Law, the President of the Board will be Romanian, and the Executive Committee (President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer) of the Board will be majority Romanian (two of three/four positions). The Secretary-Treasurer of the International Institute need not be a Mental Health Professional. If necessary, the Board members can nominate one professional as Secretary and one professional as Treasurer, responsabilities for each being established by the Board and both having together only one vote. Profit-Loss Statements will be rendered annually at a time fixed by the Board and will be published on an appropriate website for review. The International Institute is intended to be not-for profit. However, reasonable but not excessive compensation will be made to Board members for their work within meetings. The Board will meet at least once per annum but no more than 4 times. Attendance can be by videoconference, in person, or by telephone. Substitutes are not permitted at Board meetings. In case of health, death or other issues that preclude a Board member from participating in meetings or doing his/her job, the President with Board consent will appoint a Faculty Member of the International Institute to fill the vacancy—with an eye toward achieving the spirit of International collegial cooperation. 

The President shall fulfill all duties expected of a President of a corporation and he/she is elected for maximum two terms, each of 3 years. The first President of the International Institute shall be Daniel David, PhD, and he shall serve for 3 years. He may succeed himself by vote of the Board for an added 3 years term. He may serve on the Board so long as he is elected. Nomination and election will be by Board members. The first such President shall also serve as Executive Director of the International Institute –unless he appoints someone else- and shall undertake as his or her main responsibility recruitment of Faculty.

The Vice-President shall act in place of the President whenever the President is not available. The first such Vice-President shall be Mircea Miclea, PhD, and he may succeed himself in a similar manner as stipulated for the President.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct correspondence that does not fall within the responsibility of the President or Vice President, record minutes of meetings, and account for all money.  The first such Secretary-Treasurer will be James McMahon, PsyD, PhD, and he may succeed himself as stipulated concerning the President.  He may opt to appoint an assistant who speaks Romanian, is not Faculty, and whose integrity and service will earn him or her a small salary voted by the Board. If necessary, the Board members can nominate one professional as Secretary and one professional as Treasurer, responsabilities for each being established by the Board; in this case, both together will have only one vote.

The International Institute will be administered by an Executive Director (ED) for the day to day operations of the International Institute. This position shall be compensated at a level determined by the whole Board. The ED will consult with the Board, execute policy contained herein and as determined by the Board, and interact with Faculty. The ED will scrutinize all paper work from applicants and will recommend to the candidates appropriate Faculty Supervisors after consultation with them. The ED in consultation with the Executive Committee shall insure that all Romanian Laws are adhered to by the International Institute. The ED shall maintain and effect liaison to conform to all rules and regulations that effect the International Institute appropriate for BBU. The ED shall consult with BBU representative and then assure that Board and Faculty are immune from suits, legal attacks, and penalty of law plus make appropriate disclaimers on all International Institute's stationery and printed material. Ordinarily, income taxes and other taxes shall not be imposed upon applicants or withdrawn from stipends paid to Faculty Supervisors. Other salaried personnel of the International Institute will pay appropriate Romanian taxes in consultation with their tax advisers. A checking account shall be maintained by the International Institute in both Cluj-Napoca and New York, preferably with a bank that does business in both locations. Checks must be signed by two officers of the Board, although a petty cash fund can be established for the ED to use at the ED’s discretion with report to the Board for annual report.

The Faculty of the International Institute will be composed of prestigious professionals in the area of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health Interventions acting as an independent evaluating, monitoring, and consultative international committee.

Article 5. Financial Independence

The International Institute will be self-sustaining. It will be sustained and operate from funds coming from tuition fees, donnations, grants, and other finnancial contributions. 

Administrative and accountancy management of the International Institute will be undertaken according to the provisions regulating the Administration, Finances, and Accountancy of the Babes-Bolyai University, parent of the International Institute.

Article 6.  By-Laws

By-laws will be developed to detail day to day, international and internal operation of the International Institute.