Definitions and Terminology

As the student conduct process is different than a criminal or legal proceeding and has different goals,the following terminology is used:

Academic Penalty: an academic consequence imposed by a faculty member for academic dishonesty within a specific course

Advisor: a person who serves to assist, support, or advise a student during a conduct proceeding. This person does not speak on behalf of the student.

Charges/Violations: the specific section(s) of the Student Code of Conduct that the respondent is accused of violating

Complainant: the individual who files the complaint

Complaint: a report that a student violated one or more College policies

Conduct Record/Prior History: The record of past conduct incidents that a student may have been involved in. This is not taken into consideration to determine responsibility for a specific case, but it may be used to determine appropriate sanctions.

Finding: a determination of whether a respondent is responsible or not responsible for violating a college policy

Informal Resolution: concluding a case by the respondent and the hearing officer reaching agreement about the findings of responsibility and sanctions

Resolution Board: a formal hearing board comprised of 3 faculty and 2 students. Administrative Hearing: a hearing that occurs before one or more College staff members appointed to serve as hearing officers

Respondent: the student who is accused of misconduct in the complaint. Sometimes may be referred to as the Accused student

Sanctions: consequences that are issued as a result of being found responsible for violating the Student Code of Conduct

Standard of Proof: Findings are determined based on a preponderance of the evidence, or a "more likely than not" standard. This means if it appears more than 50% likely that a student violated a policy, he/she would be found responsible.

Witness: any person who has relevant information about a conduct case