Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0240-07-06-.01 - DEFINITIONS

(1) Actual knowledge: notice of sexual harassment or allegations of sexual harassment to MTSU's Title IX Coordinator or any MTSU official who has authority to institute corrective measures on behalf of MTSU. This definition is not met when the only MTSU official with actual knowledge is also the respondent.

(2) Complainant: an individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment. Complainant does not mean the Title IX Coordinator when the Title IX Coordinator signs a formal complaint or is not otherwise an alleged victim of sexual harassment. References in this rule to the singular "complainant" include the plural, as applicable.

(3) Deliberately indifferent: a response that is clearly unreasonable in light of the known circumstances.

(4) Consent: an informed decision, freely given, made through mutually understandable words or actions that indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent cannot be given by an individual who is asleep, unconscious, or mentally or physically incapacitated, either through the effect of drugs or alcohol or for any other reason, or is under duress, threat, coercion, or force. Past consent does not imply future consent. Silence or an absence of resistance does not imply consent. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

(5) Education program or activity: locations, events, or circumstances over which MTSU exercised substantial control over both the respondent and the context in which the sexual harassment occurs, and also includes any building owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by MTSU.

(6) Formal complaint: a document filed by a complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual harassment against a respondent and requesting MTSU investigate the allegation of sexual harassment. As used in this definition, the phrase "document filed by a complainant" means a document or electronic submission that contains the complainant's physical or digital signature, or otherwise indicates that the complainant is the person filing the formal complaint.

(7) Hearing officer: the person who is the decision-maker with respect to the determination of responsibility after a live hearing. Hearing officer may also mean a committee that is the decision-maker with respect to the determination of responsibility after a live hearing. A hearing officer cannot be the same person(s) as the Title IX Coordinator or the investigator(s).

(8) Party: either complainant or respondent. References in this rule to the plural "parties" include complainant and respondent.

(9) Respondent: an individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment. References in this rule to the singular "respondent" include the plural, as applicable.

(10) Sexual harassment: conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one (1) or more of the following:

(a) An MTSU employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of MTSU on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;

(b) Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to MTSU's education program or activity; or

(c) Sexual assault as defined by federal law, "dating violence" as defined by federal law, "domestic violence" as defined by federal or state law, or "stalking" as defined by federal law.

(11) Supportive measures: non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge to the complainant or the respondent before or after the filing of a formal complaint or where no formal complaint has been filed. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to MTSU's education program or activity without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or MTSU's educational environment, or deter sexual harassment. Supportive measures may include but are not limited to counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, changes in work or housing locations, leaves of absence, increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the campus, and other similar measures.

(12) Title IX Coordinator: the person designated and authorized by MTSU to coordinate its efforts to comply with its Title IX responsibilities.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0240-07-06-.01

New rules filed November 13, 2020; to have become effective February 11, 2021. However, a 75-day stay of the effective date of the rules was filed December 18, 2020; new effective date to have been April 27, 2021. Withdrawal of the stay filed February 4, 2021; new effective date March 31, 2021. Amendments filed February 8, 2022; effective 5/9/2022.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 49-8-101(a)(2)(A), 49-8-203(a)(1)(D), and 49-8-203(a)(4).