{"id":42,"date":"2024-07-09T13:57:22","date_gmt":"2024-07-09T13:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/?page_id=42"},"modified":"2026-08-05T15:15:58","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T15:15:58","slug":"p026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/p026\/","title":{"rendered":"026 Discrimination and Harassment Based on Protected Categories Other than Sex"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Approved by\u00a0President I.<\/strong> Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This policy provides for the orderly resolution of complaints of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, disability, age (as applicable), status as a protected veteran, genetic information, and\/or any other legally protected class. Such discrimination and harassment are strictly prohibited by 糖心Vlog官方 (糖心Vlog官方 or University).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Complaints related to sexual misconduct, sexual discrimination, and sexual harassment (including claims based on pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity\/expression) should be addressed under the procedures set forth in Policies 27 Misconduct, Discrimination, and Harassment Based on Sex (Including Pregnancy, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity\/Expression<\/a> and 29 Title IX Compliance<\/a>, and this policy shall not apply to such complaints. Fair and prompt consideration shall be given to all complaints in accordance with the procedures set forth below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n II. Scope<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n III. Mandatory Reporting and Cooperation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the procedures outlined in this policy, faculty and staff must promptly report to the appropriate University contact any complaint or conduct that might constitute discrimination or harassment as defined by this policy, whether the information concerning a complaint is received formally or informally. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All faculty and staff members are required to cooperate with investigations of alleged discrimination or harassment. Failure to cooperate may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Students are also required to cooperate with these investigations and failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IV. Mandatory Training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the courts have imposed strict obligations on employers with regard to discrimination and harassment, 糖心Vlog官方 will offer yearly training for employees regarding conduct that could violate this policy. All employees, including faculty members, are expected to participate in this training. Further, all faculty members, students, and staff are responsible for taking reasonable and necessary action to prevent and discourage all types of discrimination and harassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n V.<\/strong> Definitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n VI. Procedures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n VII. Other Applicable Procedures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If the final decision includes disciplinary action, the procedures for implementing the decision shall be determined by the applicable policies relating to discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An aggrieved individual may also have the ability to file complaints with external agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (deadline 300 days), the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) (deadline 180 days), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and the courts. The deadlines for filing with external agencies or courts may be shorter than the deadline established for filing a complaint under this policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Forms: none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Revisions: June 5, 2017 (original policy); January 18, 2018; December 1, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Reviewed: November 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References: Title VI; Policies 27 Misconduct, Discrimination, and Harassment Based on Sex (Including Pregnancy, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity\/Expression; 29 Title IX Compliance; 540 Student Conduct; 811 Personnel Records; T.C.A. \u00a7\u00a7 10-7-504(a)(4); 49-7-2406; Public Records Act.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Approved by\u00a0PresidentEffective Date:\u00a0December 1, 2020Responsible Division: PresidentResponsible Office:\u00a0 Civil Rights ComplianceResponsible Officer:\u00a0 Assistant to the President for Civil Rights Compliance I. Purpose This policy provides for the orderly resolution of complaints of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, disability, age (as applicable), status as a protected veteran, genetic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-bannernosidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-42","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3866,"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/42\/revisions\/3866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Effective Date:\u00a0December 1, 2020
Responsible Division: President
Responsible Office:\u00a0 Civil Rights Compliance
Responsible Officer:\u00a0 Assistant to the President for Civil Rights Compliance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
All employees, including faculty members, and students shall be knowledgeable of policies and standards concerning discrimination and harassment. All faculty members, students, and staff are subject to this policy. Any faculty member, student, or staff member found to have violated this policy by engaging in behavior constituting discrimination or harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include dismissal, expulsion, termination, or other appropriate sanction.
In addition, contractors, vendors, and other third parties are also subject to this policy and are expected to comply with the requirements set forth herein. Any contractor, vendor, or other third party, who fails to comply with this policy, is subject to all remedies available under any applicable contract and subject to permanent removal from the 糖心Vlog官方 campus or all 糖心Vlog官方 controlled properties.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Complaints against students:
Office of\u00a0Student Care and Conduct<\/a>
208 Keathley University Center
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
(615) 898-2750
studentconduct@mtsu.edu<\/a>
Complaints against faculty, staff, contractors, or third parties:
Office of Civil Rights Compliance<\/a>
116 Cope Administration Building
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
(615) 898-2185
crc@mtsu.edu<\/a>
If the complaint involves personnel in the indicated office, the complaint may be filed in the other office.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
In the event that a complainant decides that he\/she does not want to pursue the complaint or makes the complaint anonymously, the investigator will, in consultation with the Office of the University Counsel, determine whether to continue to pursue the complaint to the extent that it can, consistent with the complainant\u2019s request.
Any such request will be evaluated in the context of 糖心Vlog官方\u2019s responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students, faculty, and staff. At all times, the investigator shall pursue necessary measures to remedy the effects of any harassment, prevent retaliation, and protect other members of the educational community to the extent possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n
The complainant may be informed that if he\/she wants to speak privately and in confidence about discrimination or harassment, he\/she may wish to consult with a licensed social worker, counselor, therapist, or member of the clergy who is permitted, by law, to assure greater confidentiality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
After review by the Office of the University Counsel, the report shall be submitted to the decision maker within sixty (60) calendar days following receipt of the complaint, absent cause for extending the investigation timeline. In situations where more time is needed to complete the investigation, for reasons such as difficulty in locating a necessary witness, or complexity of the complaint, additional time may be taken, but only following notice to the Office of the University Counsel and written notice to both the complainant and the respondent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
The notice provided to the respondent shall include the finding of whether the respondent was found to have violated this policy and any sanctions imposed against him\/her. The notification to the complainant shall include notice of whether the respondent was found to have violated this policy and, if so, notice of only those sanctions imposed against the respondent that directly relate to the complainant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n\n