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
