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 provide an exhaustive list 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. "Director for Student Conduct & Restorative Practices”" refers to 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 appellate officer. 
2. "Appellate Officer" means any person or persons authorized by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee or Dean of Students to conduct a review of a decision reached by a hearing body.
3. "Business Day" means any day, Monday through Friday, that the University is open.   
4. "Complainant" means the individual who is alleged to have experienced the misconduct.  The University can serve in the capacity as complainant.    
5. "Conduct file" means 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 disciplinary sanctions and/or remedies; any appeal, including the result of the appeal; and any informal resolution and the result therefrom. Conduct file, including those resulting in a finding of "in violation," 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.
6. "Designee" means any employee or designee has responsibility for implementing or administering The Student Code of Conduct.
7. "Disciplinary Hold" means an administrative hold placed on a student's record when the student does not respond to the request of a University official to attend an Administrative Hearing and has not completed an assigned sanction, or, with respect to a student, has withdrawn from the University while a conduct matter is pending.
8. "Guest" means a non-Wentworth student, and in the residential setting, any students who are not current residents of the room/suite/apartment they are visiting.
9. "Hearing Officer" or "Hearing Body" means a University employee member or student who is authorized to determine the appropriate resolution of an alleged violation of The Student Code of Conduct, and/or to impose sanctions or affect other remedies as appropriate.
10. "Incident database" or “Maxient” means the electronic database used to track an incident and the response taken.  
11. "Instructor" means any faculty member, lab technician, or any other person authorized by the University to provide educational services (e.g. teaching, research, or academic advising).
12. "Investigator" means a University employee or designee who is authorized to investigate and determine the appropriate resolution of an alleged violation of The Student Code of Conduct.
13. "May" is used in the permissive sense.
14. "Member of the University community" includes any person who is a student, instructor, faculty member, or University 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 status in a situation shall be determined by the Director of Student Conduct & Restorative Practices or designee.
15. "Policy" is defined as 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.
16. "Preponderance of the Evidence" means 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 is understood to require more than 50 percent certainty to determine responsibility for a policy violation (51% or greater).  
17. "Referring Party" means any person who submits an allegation that a student violated The Student Code of Conduct.
18. "Report" means any allegation of misconduct against a student or student organization. "Report" is used interchangeably with "complaint" in this document.
19. "Respondent" means an individual who has been reported to be the alleged perpetrator of conduct.  
20. "Shall" and "Will" are used in the imperative sense.
21. "Student" Any person admitted, registered, enrolled, or attending any University course or program. This includes students who withdraw while disciplinary 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 for admission. For purposes of the jurisdiction under the Code of Conduct, the Dean of Students will make the final determination regarding whether an individual is a student. 
22. "Student Organization" means an association or group of persons, including, but not limited to, any student organization, team, or club, that has complied with the formal requirements for University recognition or are recognized by the University.
23. “Support Person” means any person the student selects to attend a meeting associated with The Student Code of Conduct.  Support persons may not play an active role in the process, including, but not limited to, asking questions, presenting evidence, or making statements. Please refer to Hearing Support Services.
24. “University” or “Institute” means Wentworth Institute of Technology.
25. “University official” includes any person authorized by the University to perform administrative, instructional, or professional duties.
26. “University premises” includes 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.
27. “Witness” means any individual who has relevant knowledge of an incident.  Character witnesses are not allowed as part of The Student Code of Conduct.