Article I. Mission Statement
The Society of International Chinese in Educational Technology (SICET), pronounced [‘saiset’], is a nonpolitical, non-profit academic organization. The goal of this organization is to gather Chinese scholars worldwide and global experts in the field of educational technology to promote academic collaboration and support among members. The mission of the SICET is to establish and strengthen international academic connections, exchanges, research, and scholarship among members in educational technology; advocate the application of technology in educational settings; and promote international collaboration of members and other scholars in the field. SICET was originally established in 2003 and is currently registered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, located in the United States of America.
Article II. Membership Eligibility and Member’s Responsibilities
2.1. SICET membership is open to any individual or organizational entity who agrees with the mission statement of this society and is willing to contribute to this society.
2.2. Members are obliged to follow the bylaws and any other regulations that may later be enacted by SICET, and punctually pay membership dues. The Executive Committee will determine the amount of membership dues.
2.3. Members in good standing have the right to vote and the right to be voted for.
2.4. No member of SICET can speak on behalf of SICET or participate in elections representing SICET without authorization from the Executive Committee.
2.5. Except those specified in this document, any other motion signed by ten (10) or more members or approved by the Executive Committee must be submitted to the general members for voting, which can then be passed with a 51% majority vote.
2.6. Members can withdraw from SICET. Membership may be terminated if a member violates the Bylaws or conducts actions detrimental to the welfare and interest of SICET or its members. The Executive Committee determines disciplinary judgments on members who violate the bylaws, based on the Executive Committee’s votes.
2.7. Hold Harmless Clause: SICET members are responsible for the consequences of their own actions, including the research they conduct or chose to share. SICET does not take credit or responsibility for any research conducted or shared by its members. The views or opinions of the individual presenters/authors do not reflect those of SICET.
Article III. Organization Structure and Elections
3.1. Organizational Structure
The organizational structure of SICET includes SICET members, a SICET Council, an Executive Committee, a Presidential Team (including the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President), a Special Advisor, and appointed officers (Treasurers and Director of Technology Committee).. The Special Advisor is appointed by the President.
3.2. The SICET Council
3.2.1. Then SICET Council is composed of fifteen (15) members from different regions (5 members are from North America, 5 members from Mainland China, and 5 members from other regions). Any active SICET member may nominate an eligible person, including himself or herself, for a position on the SICET Council. The final decision regarding Council members is decided by the Executive Committee. The term for a Council member is two years, and each member can run for two consecutive terms.
3.2.2. The SICET Council members may serve in the Executive Committee and subcommittees including Development and Management Committee, Academic Affairs Committee, and Technology Committee.
3.2.3. SICET Council elects the Executive Committee members.
3.3. The Executive Committee
3.3.1. The Executive Committee consists of three (3) members, including Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Development and Management Committee, Director Academic Affairs Committee, and Director Technology Committee. The Executive Committee members are nominated by the acting presidential team from the SICET general members with more than two years of active membership, and voted by the SICET Council. The term for an Executive Committee member is two years.
3.3.2. The Executive Committee will elect the President, who is nominated by the Immediate Past President.
3.4. The Presidential Team
The Presidential Team includes the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, and Vice President. The term for Presidential Team members is one year. The new President will nominate the President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Executive Committee members. The President-Elect must be in good standing as a member of SICET for at least two consecutive years to be eligible for this position. The President can appoint a replacement when a SICET Council member or an Executive Committee member cannot perform his/her responsibilities through at the end of his/her term. The President can also appoint non-Council members to serve on a special task force as needed.
Article IV. Officers and Governance
4.1 Presidential Team
4.1.1 President.
The President is the primary spokesperson for SICET and is expected to interact with other societies, government officials, and the public on behalf of SICET. The President’s duties include: (a) coordinating and supporting all elected members to ensure regular operations; (b) nominating a President-Elect to the Executive Committee at the conclusion of his/her term and mentoring the President-Elect in operations; (c) appointing a replacement in the case of emergent vacancy of any elected position; (d) planning and leading quarterly SICET Executive Committee meetings; (e) serving as the chair of Educational Innovation through Technology (EITT) conference and assisting the EITT program chair with all conference related tasks; and (f) keeping a log of activities and information to present to the President-Elect at the last Executive Committee meeting of his/her term. If the President resigns or is otherwise relieved from his/her duties, the President-Elect will assume these duties till the President’s term.
4.1.2 President-Elect.
The President-Elect collaborates with the President to carry out presidential tasks and shall automatically become the next President at the end of his/her term. The President-Elect’s duties include: (a) becoming familiar with SICET history, documents, and operations; (b) assisting and supporting the President as needed; (c) in the absence of the President, assuming all presidential duties; and (d) assisting the President in organizing one major conference (EITT or SICET/AECT, Association for Educational Communications and Technology); and (e) serving as the program chair for that conference responsible for all conference related tasks. If the President-Elect cannot carry out his/her duties, the President will appoint a replacement to serve until the next election.
4.1.3 Immediate Past President.
The Immediate Past President provides advice and leadership to the SICET Council regarding past practices and other matters to assist in governing SICET. The Immediate Past President supports the President and the President-Elect on an as-needed basis. In addition, the Immediate Past President shall ensure the smooth transition of leadership within the Presidential team.
4.2. The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is the core leadership team of SICET and operates all SICET events. The Committee members need to attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings and report their work at the meeting. All decisions on actions for SICET events need to pass with a 51% majority vote.
4.2.1 Office
4.2.1.1 Secretary.
The Secretary assists the President with administrative tasks and is responsible for: (a) communicating with the Executive Committee members, SICET Council, and the general members; (b) assisting the President to schedule quarterly Executive Committee meetings; and (c) keeping meeting minutes to share with all SICET members.
4.2.2 Committees
SICET events are specifically operated by two committees: Development and Management Committee (DMC) and Academic Affairs Committee (AAC). The Executive Committee appoints each director by a majority vote. Each committee director selects three to five (3-5) members chosen from the SICET Council. The committee directors can also invite any SICET member to work on a special task.
4.2.2.1 The Development and Management Committee (DMC).
The DMC aims to establish a strategic development plan to recruit members and to extend the academic impact of SICET, by taking into account the SICET mission, member distribution, and academic characteristics. The Director of the DMC is responsible for forming and learning the DMC to conduct the following activities: (a) establish a strategic plan for member recruitment; and (b) create SICET newsletters, update SICET brochures, and manage the SICET member WeChat Group. The DMC Director must attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings to report on committee work, and keep a log of activities and information to present to the next DMC Director.
4.2.2.2 The Academic Affairs Committee (AAC).
The AAC is responsible for SICET academic and scholarly activities. The Director of the AAC is responsible for forming and leading the AAC to conduct the following activities: (a) organize research webinars, online forums, and/or workshops; (b) organize academic exchange activities; and (c) assist the SICET/AECT and EITT conference chairs in distributing calls for proposals and reviewing conference papers. The AAC Director must attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings to report on committee work, and keep a log of activities and information to present to the next AAC Director.
4.3. Appointed Officers
Appointed Officers are selected and voted by the SICET Council based on qualifications and expertise. The officers need to attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings and report their work at the meeting.
4.3.1 Treasurers
Two Treasurers will be appointed. The Treasurers are responsible for SICET financial management. The treasurer’s duties include: (a) managing bank accounts, book-keeping, and payments; (b) issuing SICET membership payment receipts; (c) budgeting for SICET events, and advising on the financial implications of strategic and operational plans; (d) filing taxes with IRS annually; (e) keeping all financial files to pass on to the next Treasurer; and (f) attending quarterly Executive Committee meetings to report on work.
4.3.2 Director of Technology Committee (TC)
The TC is responsible for designing and maintaining the SICET Website’s front- and back-ends. The TC Director is responsible for forming and leading the TC to conduct the following activities: (a) maintain the SICET website domain and email accounts; (b) manage SICET members’ accounts; (c) update webpage information with SICET events and provide required technical support for various task forces; (d) send system-generated emails to SICET members to remind them to pay their membership dues; (e) archive SICET documents including bylaws, meeting minutes, newsletters and brochures; and (f) recommend emerging technologies or tools to facilitate communication and/or social networking among members. The TC Director must attend quarterly Executive Committee meetings to report on committee work, and keep a log of activities and information to present to the next TC Director.
Article V. SICET/AECT and EITT Conferences
5.1 The SICET/Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Conference
SICET is an affiliation of AECT. The SICET/AECT conference is SICET’s annual conference organized in accordance with AECT regulations, including a call for proposals, proposal reviews, and presentation session schedules. The Vice President or President forms and leads the SICET/AECT conference planning committee to organize the SICET subsection of AECT. Any SICET member can serve on the SICET/AECT conference planning committee.
5.2 The International Conference of Educational Innovation through Technology (EITT)
EITT is an international conference supported by SICET. All SICET affiliated universities are eligible to apply to host the EITT conference. The application to host the annual EITT conference should be submitted to the Executive Committee by the end of February each year. The Executive Committee will evaluate all applications and decide on the host university for the following year. The next host university will be publically announced at the closing ceremony of every EITT conference, and shall give a presentation to showcase their vision for the next EITT conference. Host universities shall pay SICET for administrative and support costs.
Article VI. SICET Journals
6.1 SICET Journals
SICET houses two refereed international journals publishing original materials concerned with the theoretical underpinnings, successful application, and potential for advancing technology integration in a global range at all education levels.
The International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning (IJTTL) is a Semi-annual online journal published since 2004. The primary mission of the IJTTL is to explore multiple perspectives of technology integration and promote research, positions, and practices that advance the application of technology for teaching, learning, and training. IJTTL invites manuscripts under the main scope of integrating technology into teaching and learning on all related topics.
The Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE) is a quarterly journal published in print and online since 2013. The aim of JETDE is to provide a platform for international scholars and experts in the field of educational technology and encourage academic cooperation, communication, and support among professionals. JETDE provides a multidisciplinary forum and a focal point for SICET members to exchange best practices and research across disciplines, education levels, and educational technologies.
6.2 Editor-in-Chief
Each SICET journal is led by an Editor-in-Chief who reports to the Executive Committee and the President directly.
The Editor-in-Chief manages and oversees journal publication. Specific responsibilities include: (a) ensuring that the content and quality of the publication meet the journal’s standards/objectives; (b) forming an editorial review board; (c) developing strategies and style guidelines; (d) leading the editorial review board in blindly reviewing manuscripts; (e) making editorial decisions on the manuscripts; (f) attending the Executive Committee meeting to report work on journal affairs; and (g) working to prepare both journals for inclusion in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
The Editor-in-Chief of each journal is appointed by the President and the Executive Committee based on the recommendation of a task force formed to search for a new Editor-in-Chief when needed. No specific terms limits are imposed on this position.
Article VII. SICET Bylaws Amendment Process
7.1. The SICET Bylaws should reflect what SICET is doing as it evolves and changes over time. The Bylaws should be updated/revised at least once every five years.
7.2. Any bylaw amendments need to be approved by the Executive Committee and pass with a 51% majority vote to be adopted.
*The latest updates to the English version of SICET bylaws were approved by the executive committee on Dec 22, 2023.