§ 49-7-201. Creation
In order to achieve coordination and unity in the program of public higher education, there is created the Tennessee higher education commission, called the commission in this part.
§ 49-7-202. Duties
It is the duty of the commission on a continuing basis to study the use of public funds for higher education in this state and to analyze programs and needs in the field of higher education. The commission shall establish and ensure that all postsecondary institutions in this state cooperatively provide for an integrated system […]
§ 49-7-203. Schools Within Commission’s Jurisdiction — Contracts With Private Schools
The commission’s studies and recommendations shall encompass the programs and authorities of the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Technological University, Austin Peay State University, Tennessee State University, the University of Memphis, East Tennessee State University, Middle Tennessee State University, the community colleges and the state’s colleges of applied technology. The commission shall consider Tennessee’s private institutions […]
§ 49-7-204. Composition
The commission shall consist of a total of ten (10) appointed voting members. The governor shall appoint six (6) voting members, the speaker of the senate shall appoint one (1) voting member, the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint one (1) voting member, and the speakers shall jointly appoint one (1) voting member. […]
§ 49-7-205. Staff
The commission is empowered to employ an executive director, define the executive director’s duties and, within budgetary limitations, fix the executive director’s compensation. The executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the commission. The executive director shall have the educational preparation and experience that qualifies the executive director, in the commission’s judgment, to understand […]
§ 49-7-206. Rights and Status of Other Bodies Preserved
The University of Tennessee shall retain its identity and status as a legal entity, a body politic and corporate and as one of the state’s federal land-grant institutions. Except as expressly provided in this part, its board of trustees shall retain and exercise all the authority, rights, powers and duties, express or implied, vested in […]
§ 49-7-207. Committee on Postsecondary Educational Institutions
There is created, under the auspices of the Tennessee higher education commission, a committee on postsecondary educational institutions, which shall have responsibility for oversight and regulation of institutions pursuant to part 20 of this chapter. The committee shall be composed of the executive director of the Tennessee higher education commission, who shall serve as chair, […]
§ 49-7-208. Program — Recognition of University Students for Community Involvement
The executive director of the commission shall develop, implement and publicize a program to recognize university students who have a record of outstanding community involvement. The program shall honor students at both public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities who have displayed a high level of community service, including volunteer work, community organization, […]
§ 49-7-209. Program — Recognition of College and University Teachers for Community Involvement
The executive director of the commission shall develop, implement and publicize a program to recognize university teachers who have a record of outstanding community involvement. The program shall honor teachers at both public and private two-year and four-year colleges and universities who have displayed a high level of community service, including volunteer work, community organization, […]
§ 49-7-210. Annual Report
The Tennessee higher education commission shall submit an annual report on the condition of Tennessee higher education to the governor and the general assembly. This report, which shall be known as the Tennessee Postsecondary Education Fact Book, shall use data from the board of regents system, the University of Tennessee system and their governing bodies […]
§ 49-7-211. Financial Disclosure of Student Activity Fees
Each institution of higher education shall report to the Tennessee higher education commission, on an annual basis, an accounting of student activity fees. The Tennessee higher education commission shall publish, as part of the Tennessee Postsecondary Education Fact Book, a financial disclosure statement for student activity fees. The financial disclosure statement shall account for the […]
§ 49-7-212. Code of Ethics — Material Violation — Hearing — Vacancy
The commission shall establish and adopt a code of ethics that shall apply to and govern the conduct of all appointed members of the commission. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of its membership, the commission may remove any appointed member of the commission for a material violation of […]
§ 49-7-213. Development of Institute of Public Health
The Tennessee higher education commission, in consultation with the department of health, the University of Tennessee system, the Tennessee board of regents and private colleges and universities in this state shall develop an institute of public health.
§ 49-7-215. Audit of Efficiencies
An audit of the Tennessee higher education commission, the University of Tennessee board of trustees and the board of regents may be conducted by the comptroller of the treasury. If such audit is conducted, the audit shall specifically focus on overlap in mission, cost inefficiencies, management practices and the restructuring of higher education stipulated by […]
§ 49-7-216. Confidential Data or Records of Students Enrolled in Ticua Institutions
When the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) or any of its member institutions provide to the Tennessee higher education commission, another state agency, or a third party acting on behalf of the state, confidential student data or records concerning students enrolled in TICUA institutions, neither TICUA nor a member institution shall be held […]
§ 49-7-217. Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
The “Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)” or “initiative”, as used in this section, is an organizational unit of the commission, established and administered by the executive director for the purpose of providing oversight to focus on ways to strengthen the capacity of historically black colleges and universities to provide the highest quality […]
§ 49-7-218. Report on Federal and State Appropriations Made for Federal Land-Grant Institutions of Higher Education
By February 15 of each year, the commission shall provide a report to the general assembly detailing, for the immediately preceding academic year, the amount of any federal appropriations made to, and the amount of any matching funds received by, each federal land-grant institution of higher education in this state for each of the agricultural […]