WAC 174-120-025   Definitions.  For the purposes of these rules the following terms have the meanings indicated:

     (1) "Adjudicative hold" means a notification by the campus grievance officer or vice-president for student affairs that a student will not be allowed to register for classes until he/she gets a clearance from the grievance officer.

     (2) "Binding arbitration" means a process in which parties in conflict submit their differences to the judgment of an impartial third party appointed by the campus mediator with the consent of both parties.

     (3) "Calendar day" means all days of the month not just working days. In cases where a specified due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the working day closest to the date due will be used (i.e., if the tenth day deadline falls on Saturday, the document will be done on Friday).

     (4) "Campus grievance officer" means a faculty or staff person who shall be appointed by and accountable to the vice-president for student affairs. The grievance officer is responsible for determining if violations of this policy have occurred, for investigating and initiating formal disciplinary action on behalf of the college, and for keeping all records specified in these hearings procedures.

     (5) "College facilities/premises" means property owned, leased, operated, controlled, or supervised by the college.

     (6) "College-sponsored event or activity" means activities or events involving planning or funding or other approved or authorized participation by the college.

     (7) "Default judgment" means a decision made by the trier of fact that, due to the appealing student's failure to appear, the proposed sanctions of the campus grievance officer will be adopted by the trier of fact.

     (8) "Evergreen community" means currently enrolled students and currently employed faculty and staff members.

     (9) "Exception to trier of fact's findings" means a written request by either the campus grievance officer or the student requesting a review of the findings by the reviewing officer.

     (10) "Hearing board" means five community members appointed by and from the different sectors of the college community, which includes one faculty; one classified or exempt staff; and three students; to hear appeals of the campus grievance officer's findings. The vice-president for student affairs shall be responsible for ensuring that hearing board members and their alternates are appointed. The vice-president for student affairs will appoint the chair of the hearing board, who, with technical and clerical assistance of the vice-president for student affair's office, will write and issue the board's finding. An assistant attorney general, an administrative law judge, or any qualified community member may serve as a nonvoting advisor to the hearing board on the hearing process.

     (11) "Housing grievance officer" means the director of housing or his/her designee. The housing grievance officer is responsible for determining if violations of the housing policy have occurred, for investigating and initiating formal disciplinary action on behalf of the college, and for keeping all records specified in the procedures.

     (12) "Mediator" means an impartial, neutral third party who helps disputants reach their own mutually agreeable settlement. Trained volunteer mediators are available through the campus center for mediation services, which also provides telephone conciliation and resource referral. In addition, the dean of student and academic support service is the campus mediator and has been appointed by the vice-president for student affairs. Any third party may serve as a mediator if mutually agreed upon by the parties in conflict.

     (13) "Preponderance of the evidence" means the greater weight of evidence or evidence more convincing to the mind than not.

     (14) "Reviewing officer" means an individual designated by the president to provide a review of the trier of fact's findings, conclusions, and sanctions, if any.

     (15) "Student" means a person enrolled for any amount of credit at the college. On-leave students, i.e., those admitted but not currently enrolled, may have their enrollment eligibility withdrawn if they do not abide by the student conduct code while on campus and are accountable to civil and criminal authorities.

     (16) "Trier of fact" means the hearing board, administrative law judge, or any other individual(s) designated by the vice-president for student affairs and responsible for hearing appeals of the campus grievance officer's findings and proposed corrective action.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.40.120(12). 96-13-086, § 174-120-025, filed 6/18/96, effective 7/19/96.]