Part 2: Definitions

Part 2. Definitions

The following selected terms are defined to facilitate a more thorough understanding of The Student Code of Conduct. This list serves as a general framework and is not intended to be exhaustive of all the terms referenced in The Student Code of Conduct that might require interpretation or clarification. The Director for Student Conduct & Restorative Practices, or designee, shall make the final determination on the definition of any term found in The Student Code of Conduct.

1. Appeal Officer: Any person(s) authorized by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee to conduct a review of a decision reached by a Hearing Officer.
2. Business Day: Any day, Monday through Friday, that the University is open.  
3. Complainant: The individual who is alleged to have experienced the misconduct. The University can serve as the complainant.
4. Conduct file: The printed, written, or electronic file which may include, but is not limited to, all information obtained as part of an investigation, including any determination regarding responsibility and any audio or audiovisual recording or transcript; any conduct sanctions and/or remedies; any appeal, including the result of the appeal; and any informal resolution and the result therefrom. Conduct files for violations of The Student Code of Conduct, are maintained by the University for a period of at least seven years from the date of graduation. Records are subject to the protections and release provisions by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), as it may be amended from time-to-time.
5. Conduct Hold: An administrative hold placed on a student's record when the student has not completed an assigned sanction or has withdrawn from the University while a conduct matter is pending. 
6. Designee: Any employee that has responsibility for implementing The Student Code of Conduct.
7. Director for Student Conduct & Restorative Practices: The person in Student Affairs, designated by the Vice President for Student Affairs and by the Dean of Students to be responsible for the overall coordination of the University student code of conduct system, including the development of policies, procedures, and education and training programs.  The Director for Student Conduct & Restorative Practices may serve as a hearing officer, investigator, and/or appeal officer. 
8. Hearing Officer: A university employee authorized to determine the resolution of an alleged violation of The Student Code of Conduct, and/or to impose sanctions or affect other remedies as appropriate.
9. Guest: A non-Wentworth student, and in the residential setting, any students who are not current residents of the room/suite/apartment they are visiting.
10. Impacted Party: The individual or group, in the Restorative Justice process, who was affected by the behavior of the respondent.
11. Instructor: Any faculty member, lab technician, or other person authorized by the University to provide educational services (e.g. teaching, research, or academic advising).
12. Investigator: A university employee, or designee, who is authorized to investigate and determine the resolution of an alleged violation of The Student Code of Conduct.
13. Investigative Report: 
14. Maxient: The electronic database used to track an incident and the response taken.   
15. Member of the university community: Any university student, instructor, faculty member, or staff member; any other person working for the University, either directly or indirectly (e.g., private enterprise on campus); or any person who resides on university premises. A person's membership status in a situation shall be determined by the Director of Student Conduct & Restorative Practices, or designee.
16. Party(ies): a person or people forming one side in an agreement or dispute.
17. Policy: The written regulations, standards, and student conduct expectations adopted by the University and found in, but not limited to, The Student Code of Conduct; the Housing Agreement; the Sexual Misconduct Policy; Academic Student Catalog; and other publicized university notices. 
18. Preponderance of the Evidence: A standard of proof in which the totality of the evidence offered in support of a fact is greater or more convincing than the evidence which is offered in opposition to it; given the totality of information the version of events that is more likely than not. Preponderance of the evidence requires more than 50 percent certainty to determine responsibility for a policy violation.  
19. Reporting Party: Any person who submits an allegation that a student violated The Student Code of Conduct.
20. Report: Any allegation of misconduct against a student or student organization. "Report" is used interchangeably with "complaint" in this document. 
21. Respondent: An individual reported as the alleged perpetrator of misconduct.  
22. Student: Any person admitted, registered, enrolled, or attending any university course or program. This includes students who withdraw while conduct charges are pending, those who are not officially enrolled for a particular term but have a continuing relationship with the University (including those on a leave of absence), or those who have been notified of their acceptance of admission. Persons admitted but never matriculated may not be considered students. For purposes of the jurisdiction under the Student Code of Conduct, the Dean of Students or designee will make the final determination regarding whether an individual is a student.   
23. Student Organization: An association or group of people, including but not limited to, any student group, team, or club, that has complied with the formal requirements for university recognition or are recognized by the University.
24. Support Person: Any person the student selects to attend a meeting associated with The Student Code of Conduct. A support person may not play an active role in the conduct process including but not limited to, asking questions, presenting evidence, or making statements. Please refer to Part 4: Section 6: Hearing Support Services for more information. 
25. University: Wentworth Institute of Technology.
26. University official: Any person authorized by the University to perform administrative, instructional, or professional duties. 
27. University premises: All land, buildings, facilities, and other property in the possession of or owned, used, or controlled by the University, either solely or in conjunction with another entity or person.
28. Witness: Any individual who has relevant knowledge of a specific incident. Character witnesses are not allowed as part of The Student Code of Conduct.