25  Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Nondiscrimination

Approved by Board of Trustees
Effective Date: June 8, 2021
Responsible Division: President       
Responsible Office:  Institutional Equity and Compliance
Responsible Officer: Assistant to the President for Institutional Equity and Compliance

I. Statement of Nondiscrimination

It is the intent of Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University) to fully comply with the applicable provisions of federal and state civil rights laws, including, but not limited to, Executive Order 11246, as amended; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended; the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, as amended; Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Pregnancy Discrimination Act; the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; Section 485(f) of the HEA, as amended by Section 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 regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

MTSU will promote equal opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, creed, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age (as applicable), status as a protected veteran, genetic information, and any other legally protected class. In doing so, MTSU affirms that it will not tolerate discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment and will not subject any student to discrimination or harassment under any educational program and no student shall be discriminatorily excluded from participation nor denied the benefits of any educational program on the basis of any of the protected categories listed above.

II. Procedures to Address Claims of Discrimination or Harassment

Because different legal requirements apply to claims of discrimination and harassment, depending on the protected category claimed to have been violated, separate policies describe the different procedures applicable to claims based on particular protected categories.

A.  Allegations of discrimination and harassment based on sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, and sexual misconduct will be addressed pursuant to the procedures set forth in Policies 27 Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Including Pregnancy, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity/Expression and 29 Title IX Compliance.

B.  Allegations of discrimination and harassment based on categories other than sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity/expression (for example, harassment based on race or disability status) will be addressed pursuant to the procedures set forth in Policy 26 Discrimination and Harassment based on Protected Categories other than Sex.

Complaints alleging violations of discrimination and harassment policies may be filed and will be adjudicated pursuant to the procedures set forth in the applicable policy.

Complaints fil