Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1720-05-01-.07 - INTERIM SUSPENSION

(1) When the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee has reasonable cause to believe that a student's or student organization's continued presence on University-controlled property or at University-affiliated activities poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of others or to property or poses an ongoing threat to the disruption of, or interference with, the normal operations of the University, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee may impose an interim suspension prior to the conclusion of a full hearing on the alleged misconduct.

(2) An interim suspension shall be confirmed by a written statement that explains the basis for the interim suspension and shall remain in effect until the conclusion of a full hearing in accordance with the rules of the University, which shall be held without undue delay. The statement shall be delivered to the student in person, to the address the University has on file for the student, or to the student's University-provided e-mail account. The statement shall be delivered in person or via e-mail to the advisor to the student organization.

(3) Within three (3) business days of the imposition of the suspension, the student or student organization shall be offered an opportunity to appear personally before the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee in order to discuss the following issues only:

(i) the reliability of the information concerning the student's conduct; and

(ii) whether the conduct and surrounding circumstances reasonably indicate that the student's or student organization's continued presence on University-controlled property or at University-affiliated activities poses a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of others or to property or poses an imminent threat of disruption of or interference with the normal operations of the University.

(4) During an interim suspension, the student or student organization shall be denied access to University-controlled property, including residence halls, and all other University-affiliated activities or privileges for which the student or student organization might otherwise be eligible, as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee determines in his/her sole discretion to be appropriate. A student or student organization who receives an interim suspension and violates the terms of the interim suspension shall be subject to further disciplinary action and may be treated as a trespasser. Permission to be on University-controlled property or participate in University-affiliated activities may be granted by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee.

(5) When a student is placed on interim suspension from the University, he/she may be assigned a grade of "W" or "I," whichever is deemed more appropriate by the faculty member involved.

(6) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section .07, in any case in which a Formal Complaint is filed that includes Title IX Allegations, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may impose an interim suspension on a Respondent only after undertaking an individualized safety and risk analysis, and determining that an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any student or other individual arising from the allegations of Sexual Harassment justifies removal of the Respondent. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will provide the Respondent notice and an opportunity for the Respondent to challenge an interim suspension or removal within three (3) business days.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1720-05-01-.07

Original rule filed April 17, 2012; effective September 28, 2012. Emergency rules filed August 13, 2020; effective through February 9, 2021. Emergency rules expired effective February 10, 2021, and the rules reverted to their previous statuses. Amendments filed December 17, 2020; effective 3/17/2021.

Authority: T.C.A. § 49-9-209(e); Public Acts of Tennessee, 1839-1840, Chapter 98, Section 5; and Public Acts of Tennessee, 1807, Chapter 64.