Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any federally funded program or activity. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has interpreted Title VI’s protection from discrimination on the basis of national origin to extend to students who experience discrimination, including harassment, based on their actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics. The University of Tennessee receives federal funding, and as such, the University has a structure in place to ensure Title VI compliance.
Title VI Commitment
The University of Tennessee is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and nondiscriminatory learning, living, and working environment. The University’s Title VI commitment includes five central elements:
- Policy: Campus policies and procedures are in place to prohibit Title VI discrimination and promote campus compliance.
- Training: Routine training communicates expectations for conduct and campus reporting obligations.
- Response: Responses may include intake review, investigation, and/or other steps to assess and eliminate discriminatory conduct or any hostile environment.
- Support: Contact OIR for information about accessing confidential or non-confidential support, requesting interim measures, or learning more about Title VI rights and responsibilities.
- Remediation: The campus is committed to taking action to prevent the recurrence of discriminatory conduct and address its effects on members of the campus community.
Resource: Title VI Notice – UTK
Resource: Title VI Notice – UTK (Spanish)
RELATED CAMPUS POLICY
The University of Tennessee System adopted General Policy 0005 (GE0005), Antidiscrimination Policy Implementing Tennessee Code Annotated § 49-50-1802, to implement state law prohibiting antisemitic harassment and discrimination in University of Tennessee programs and to require University employees to report complaints of antisemitic harassment or discrimination to the campus Title VI Coordinator.
In summary, GE0005:
- protects students and employees from antisemitic harassment or discrimination (in the same manner in which they are protected from other types of discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964);
- defines “antisemitism” in accordance with the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA);
- requires the campus to designate a Title VI Coordinator;
- requires all University employees to report complaints of antisemitic harassment or discrimination to the campus Title VI Coordinator; and
- requires the UT System Title VI Coordinator to issue an annual report to the state Attorney General and Reporter and the General Assembly.
Please see the policy for complete details.
Also See: Fair Employment Practices, Other Discrimination/Harassment Prohibitions, and Free Speech
HR0220: Equal Employment Opportunity
HR0280: Sexual Harassment & Other Discriminatory Harassment
Policy on Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Dating and Domestic Violence, and Stalking
UTK Student Code of Conduct
Free Speech at UTK
| UTK Title VI Coordinator Contact Information |
| Michelle Buck, Office of Investigation & Resolution
(865) 974-0717 |
| Contacte al Coordinadora del Título Sexto |
| Michelle Buck, Office of Investigation & Resolution
(865) 974-0717 |
| Programs Covered by Title VI |
| Approximately 30 federal agencies provide federal financial assistance in the form of funds, training, technical, and other assistance to state and local governments, and nonprofit and private organizations. These recipients of federal assistance, in turn, operate programs and deliver benefits and services to individuals (known as “beneficiaries”) to achieve the goals of the federal legislation that authorizes the programs.
Federally assisted programs address such broad and diverse areas as:
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| ¿Qué Programas Abarca el Título Sexto? |
| Aproximadamente, 30 agencias federales proveen de ayuda financiera federal, en forma de fondos, entrenamiento técnico y otros tipos de asistencia a gobiernos estatales y locales, así como organismos no-lucrativos y privados. Estos recipientes de ayuda federal, a su vez, mantienen programas y proveen beneficios y servicios a los individuos (conocidos como “beneficiarios”) a fin de llevar a cabo y alcanzar las metas propuestas por la ley federal.
Los programas que se benefician de asistencia federal abarcan un amplio y diverso campo, por ejemplo:
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| Examples of Discriminatory Conduct |
| There are many forms of illegal discrimination based on race, color, or national origin that can limit the opportunity of individuals to gain equal access to services and programs.
Among other things, in operating a federally assisted program, a recipient cannot do the following, on the basis of race, color, or national origin, either directly or through contractual means:
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| ¿Qué Formas de Discriminación Prohibe el Título Sexto? |
| Existen diferentes formas de discriminación basadas en criterios de raza, color u origen nacional que pueden limitar as oportunidades de individuos a tener igualdad de acceso a servicios y programas.
Un recipiente de fondos federales no debe, en base a raza, color u origen nacional, directamente o a través de contratos:
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| Prohibition on Retaliation |
| The University of Tennessee prohibits retaliation against an individual based on their opposition to an unlawful policy or practice, including making a report of discriminatory conduct. If you believe that you have experienced retaliation, please contact your campus Title VI Coordinator. |
| ¿Qué Sucedería si el Recipiente Decidiera Tomar Represalias Contra Mí por Ejercer Mi Derecho de Someter una Queja? |
| Ud. debe saber que quien es reportado en la queja incluyendo a La Universidad de Tennessee, tiene prohibido tomar represalias contra usted o cualquier persona porque ésta se oponga a una práctica ilegal, se queje o presente una demanda bajo el amparo del Título Sexto u ofrezca testimonio. Si Ud. cree que se han tomado represalias contra Ud. contacte inmediatamente al coordinador de su centro universitario, a fin de que conduzca una investigación. |
| External Agencies |
| As of July 1, 2025, you may submit a Title VI complaint to the Tennessee Department of Human Resources (DOHR) within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory act. You may also submit a Title VI complaint to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. |
