Grievance Process For Formal Complaints—General Provisions

(1) Tennessee Tech will apply its grievance procedures and requirements equally to both parties. (2) During the course of the grievance process, Tennessee Tech will treat complainants and respondents equitably by providing remedies to a complainant where a determination of responsibility for sexual harassment has been made against the respondent, and by following its grievance process before the imposition of any disciplinary sanctions or other actions that are not supportive measures against a respondent. (3) Tennessee Tech will design remedies to restore or preserve equal access to Tennessee Tech’s education program or activity. Such remedies may include supportive measures; however, remedies need not be non-disciplinary or non-punitive and need not avoid burdening the respondent. (4) Tennessee Tech will ensure that the Title IX Coordinator, investigator, hearing officer, or decision-maker does not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or an individual complainant or respondent. The intent of this provision is to provide protections analogous to, and no less protective than, the conflict of interest provisions of T.C.A. § 4-5-303. (5) Tennessee Tech will require an objective evaluation of all relevant evidence – including both inculpatory and exculpatory evidence – and prohibit credibility determinations based on a person’s status as a complainant, respondent, or witness. TITLE IX COMPLIANCE CHAPTER 0240-09-08 (6) Tennessee Tech will presume that the respondent is not responsible for the alleged conduct until a determination regarding responsibility is made at the conclusion of the grievance process. (7) Tennessee Tech will apply a preponderance of the evidence standard for all formal complaints. (8) Tennessee Tech will require the grievance process, including the appeal process, to conclude within a reasonably prompt time frame. (9) Tennessee Tech will provide the range of possible disciplinary sanctions and remedies or list the possible disciplinary sanctions and remedies that Tennessee Tech may implement following any determination of responsibility. (10) Tennessee Tech will describe the range of supportive measures available to complainants and respondents. (11) Tennessee Tech will provide the parties with the same opportunities to have others present during any grievance proceeding, including the opportunity to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by the advisor of their choice, who may be, but is not required to be, an attorney. (12) Tennessee Tech will not limit the choice or presence of advisor for either the complainant or respondent in any grievance proceeding; however, Tennessee Tech may establish restrictions regarding the extent to which the advisor may participate in the proceedings, as long as the restrictions apply equally to both parties. (13) Tennessee Tech will provide to a party whose participation is invited or expected, written notice of the date, time, location, participants, and purpose of all proceedings or hearings, or other meetings with a party, with sufficient time for the party to prepare to participate. (14) Tennessee Tech will appoint a hearing officer that meets the training requirements set forth in T.C.A. § 4-5-324.