Tennessee State University Student Conduct & Academic Misconduct Defense

Tennessee State University is a historically Black university (HBCU) and a land-grant institution governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR). Its conduct rules must conform to applicable TBR system-wide rules and policies; where any conflict exists between TSU policy and TBR rules or applicable law, the TBR rule or law controls.

TSU resulted from a 1979 court-ordered merger with the former University of Tennessee at Nashville, giving it a unique dual institutional heritage and an explicit commitment to educating a non-racially identifiable student body.

All TSU employees, including graduate teaching assistants, are mandatory reporters for Title IX purposes and must report disclosures of sexual violence to the Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX.

TSU maintains a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) that provides coordinated, trauma-informed support to students impacted by sexual violence.

Graduate academic integrity standards expressly provide that any student who submits plagiarized work to satisfy an academic requirement is subject to dismissal from their graduate program and the University.

Who handles academic misconduct cases at Tennessee State?

Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs (OSCJA) has jurisdiction over academic misconduct matters at Tennessee State. The office is administered by a Director. For appeals, an Appeal Committee consisting of one student, one faculty member, and one staff member appointed by the Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs adjudicates cases. Student committee members serve one-year terms; faculty and staff members serve two-year terms. All enrolled TSU students, on and off campus, whose conduct adversely affects the university community and its pursuit of objectives. The Code of Student Conduct governs behavior on campuses under TSU jurisdiction.

What is the evidence standard at Tennessee State?

Tennessee State applies preponderance of the evidence, meaning that based on the information and evidence presented it is more likely than not that the student violated the Student Code of Conduct under Code of Student Conduct (TSU) (UNVERIFIED: needs human research). Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs uses this standard when determining whether a student is responsible for an alleged violation. The evidence standard is critical because it determines how strong the evidence must be before a finding of responsibility can be made.

What rights do I have during a Tennessee State conduct proceeding?

Under Code of Student Conduct (TSU), students facing a Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs proceeding have specific procedural rights, including the right to written notice of allegations; be present at and participate in disciplinary proceedings; be informed of the outcome of the hearing and any sanctions imposed; appeal the decision to the Appeal Committee. Exercising these rights correctly from the first notice can materially affect the outcome of your case.

How is an academic misconduct case initiated at Tennessee State?

Complaints are filed with the Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs. The Director or designee investigates the allegations. The accused student is notified and scheduled for either a Disciplinary Conference or a Judicial Committee Conference. Written materials must be submitted to the Office at least two business days (by 5 p.m.) before the scheduled conference. If the student fails to appear, the Director decides the case and imposes a sanction based on information gathered during the investigation. The Director simultaneously notifies both the complainant and the respondent in writing of the decision within five business days from the close of the investigation.

What sanctions can Tennessee State impose for academic misconduct?

Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs can impose a range of sanctions depending on the violation, including disciplinary reprimand, disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, and more serious outcomes including suspension and expulsion. The specific sanction depends on the facts, the student's prior record, and any mitigating factors presented during the proceeding. Sanction-phase advocacy is often as important as the responsibility phase, since even a first finding can carry long-term consequences on transcripts and graduate school applications.

How do I appeal a decision at Tennessee State, and what is the deadline?

The appeal deadline at Tennessee State is UNVERIFIED: needs human research. A student wishing to appeal a decision may do so to the Appeal Committee, which consists of one student, one faculty member, and one staff member appointed by the Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs. The Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs presents the charges and facts of the case to the Appeal Committee. The decision of the Appeal Committee is final. If the Appeal Committee upholds the decision, the student or respondent has exhausted all university appeal sources and must abide by the sanction(s) imposed. Appeal grounds typically include unverified: needs human research - specific grounds (e.g., procedural error, new evidence, disproportionate sanction) are not explicitly enumerated in the publicly available tsu conduct documents retrieved. Appeals that succeed are usually the ones that ground each argument in the record and the specific policy language, not emotional or general objections.

Do I need a lawyer for a Tennessee State Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs proceeding?

In most cases, no. Tennessee State's proceedings follow university policy under Code of Student Conduct (TSU), not the legal system. What you need is someone who understands Tennessee State's specific procedures, the evidence standard, and how sanctions are assessed. An education advocate typically provides stronger, more targeted guidance than a general-practice attorney because the body of law here is university policy, not criminal or civil procedure. AdvocatED brings deep, specialized expertise in these exact processes at a fraction of a law firm's cost.

How does Tennessee State handle Title IX cases?

Tennessee State handles Title IX matters separately from general academic misconduct, through the Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX. The Title IX Coordinator is Tanya Webster, reachable at (615) 963-7435 or twebster01@tnstate.edu. The office oversees compliance with Title IX, responds to all reports of sexual misconduct or discrimination, and ensures appropriate supportive measures and grievance procedures are in place. All TSU employees, including graduate teaching assistants, are mandatory reporters. Training inquiries may be directed to institutionalcompliance@tnstate.edu. TSU's Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) provides coordinated, trauma-informed support to survivors. Title IX proceedings have their own procedures, evidence standards, and timelines. If you are a respondent in a Title IX case at Tennessee State, you should not conflate the process with general conduct cases, and you should respond carefully to any notice you receive.

What are the most common academic misconduct violations at Tennessee State?

At Tennessee State, the most frequently cited violations include: plagiarism: adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one's own without proper attribution; cheating: using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or aids in any academic exercise or examination; fabrication: unauthorized falsification or invention of information; conduct dangerous to others: any conduct constituting a serious danger to any person's health, safety, or personal well-being. Knowing which violation is alleged is the foundation of an effective defense, because the response strategy differs substantially based on whether the case involves plagiarism, AI use, exam cheating, collaboration, or a procedural technicality.

What are the key deadlines in a Tennessee State conduct case?

At Tennessee State, the most consequential deadlines are: Written materials for a Disciplinary Conference or Judicial Committee Conference must be submitted to the Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs at least two business days (by 5 p.m.) before the scheduled conference; The Director must notify the complainant and respondent of the decision within five business days from the close of the investigation; Grade appeal to the Dean must be filed within 10 calendar days of the department head's decision; the Dean must decide within 10 days of receipt. Missing any of these windows can eliminate procedural options that are otherwise available. If you have received a notice from Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs, document the dates on the notice immediately and calendar every deadline, even ones that do not seem urgent.