General Policy
It is the intent of Volunteer State Community College that no individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age (as applicable), status as a covered veteran, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal or state civil rights law. In promulgating this policy statement it is the College’s intent to fully comply with Executive Order 11246, as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, §485(f) of the HEA, as amended by §304 of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, the regulations implementing these Acts found at 34 CFR §668.41, §668.46, and Appendix A to Subpart D of Part 668; and Sections 799A and 845 of the Public Health Service Act and Regulations issued pursuant thereto found at 45 CFR Parts 83 and 86, as well as all applicable state statutes and all regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
The purpose of this policy is to supplement TBR Policies 2:02:10:01, 5:01:02:00, 6:01:00:00, 6:02:00:00, 6:03:00:00 and TBR Guideline P-080.
All students and employees are subject to this policy. Any faculty member, student, or staff found to have violated this policy by engaging in behavior constituting discrimination or harassment will be subject to disciplinary action which may include expulsion, termination, or other appropriate sanction.
All students and employees are to be knowledgeable of policies and guidelines concerning discrimination and harassment. All students and employees must promptly report to the Title IX/EEO Coordinator, any complaint or conduct which might constitute harassment, whether the information concerning a complaint is received formally or informally. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion, termination, or other appropriate sanction.
All students and employees are required to cooperate with investigations of alleged discrimination or harassment unless otherwise provided by law. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion, termination, or other appropriate sanction.
Because Volunteer State Community College takes its responsibilities in this area seriously, it provides periodic training and education to employees and students regarding conduct that could violate this policy. All employees and students are expected to participate in such education and training. Further, all employees and students are encouraged to engage in reasonable, necessary, and safe bystander intervention to prevent and discourage all types of discrimination and harassment.
Applicable Policies and Procedures
Complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment by or against students, faculty, or staff shall be governed by Volunteer State Community College Policies VIII:02:00, VIII:03:00, and VIII:04:00. Complaints of sexual misconduct shall be governed by Volunteer State Community College Policies VIII:02:00, VIII:03:00, and VIII:05:00. All other complaints of discrimination shall be governed by Volunteer State Community College Policies VIII:01:00, VIII:03:00, and VIII:04:00.
TBR Source: TBR Board Meeting 9/26/14
VSCC Source: President’s Cabinet, 09/25/2014; President’s Cabinet, 04/3/2017.
