The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this student conduct code:

(1) Advisor of choice. The "advisor of choice" is the person selected by a complainant or respondent to provide informal advice and support at any stage of a disciplinary proceeding under this student code. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the role of the advisor of choice does not include representation of a party.

(2) Complainant. A "complainant" for purposes of this student code means any person who is the alleged victim or target of prohibited student conduct, whether or not such person has made an actual complaint.

(3) Conduct officer. The "conduct officer" or "student conduct officer" is the university official designated by the university to be responsible for initiating disciplinary action for alleged violations of this code.

(4) Conduct review officer. The "conduct review officer" is the university official designated by the university to hear appeals of disciplinary action conducted as brief adjudicative proceedings and to enter final decisions in proceedings heard by the student conduct council.

(5) Consent. The term "consent" for purposes of this code means knowing, voluntary, and clear permission and agreement, by actual words or conduct, to engage (or to continue engaging) in sexual activity. A person may be incapable of giving consent, or of diminished capacity to consent, by reason of age, threat or intimidation, lack of opportunity to consent, physical or mental impairment, drug or alcohol consumption, unconsciousness, or other cause. A person engages in nonconsensual sexual activity if the person knows, or reasonably should know, that the other person is of diminished capacity to consent or has in any way manifested lack of consent. Intoxication is not a defense against allegations of nonconsensual sexual activity.

(6) Day. The term "day," unless otherwise qualified, means "calendar day." The qualified term "instructional day" means any day within an academic term that the university is open for business, excluding weekends and holidays.

(7) Dean of student success. The term "dean" or "dean of student success" means the chief student affairs officer of the university and includes any acting or interim dean designated by the president to perform the functions and duties of the dean under this student code.

(8) Disciplinary action. The term "disciplinary action" means the decision of the designated university official regarding alleged violations of the student code and includes any disciplinary sanction imposed for such violations. Disciplinary action does not include a summary suspension.

(9) Filing and service.

(a) Filing. The term "filing" means the delivery to the designated university official of any document that is required to be filed under this code. A document is filed by hand delivering it or by mailing it to the university official (or the official's assistant) at the official's office address. Filing is complete upon actual receipt during office hours at the office of the designated official.

(b) Service. The term "service" means the delivery to a party of any document that is required to be served under this code. A document is served by hand delivering it to the party or by mailing it to the party's address of record. Service is complete when the document is hand delivered or actually deposited in the mail.

(c) Electronic filing and service. Unless otherwise provided, filing or service may be accomplished by electronic mail.

(10) Party. A "party" to a disciplinary proceeding under this code includes the student conduct officer and the student respondent, as well as any complainant in a proceeding involving allegations of sexual misconduct or discriminatory harassment.

(11) Preponderance of evidence. The term "preponderance of the evidence" is a standard of proof requiring that facts alleged as constituting a violation of this code must be proved on a more likely than not basis.

(12) Respondent. A "respondent" is a student against whom disciplinary action is initiated.

(13) Service. See "Filing and service."

(14) Student. The term "student" includes all persons taking courses at or through the university, whether on a full-time or part-time basis, and whether such courses are credit courses, noncredit courses, online courses, or otherwise. The term includes prospective students who have been accepted for admission or registration, currently enrolled students who withdraw before the end of a term, and students, including former students, who engage in prohibited conduct between terms of actual enrollment or before the awarding of a degree or other certificate of completion.

(15) University premises. "University premises" shall include all campuses and electronic presences of the university, wherever located, and includes all land, buildings, facilities, vehicles, equipment, computer systems, websites, and other property owned, used, or controlled by the university.