Programs and Services

Programs and services of the General Counsel's office include Intellectual Property Issues and Purchasing and Contracting. The General Counsel's office also oversees TBR policies and guidelines.

From time to time, the General Counsel's office provides subject matter information to member institutions from this page. The following information is being provided at this time:

Clery Act Compliance 

The Report of the Special Investigative Counsel Regarding the Actions of The Pennsylvania State University Related to Child Sexual Abuse (The Freeh Report) has recently increased scrutiny of compliance by higher education institution with the Clery Act, including scrutiny in Tennessee.

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities to keep records and report annually on crimes on campus. It also prescribes a number of security related protocols for emergency response procedures, timely notifications for on-campus crimes, etc. The requirements of the Clery Act are complex and require significant policy development, training, and campus coordination. The links below provide information and a checklist to help ensure that institutional Clery Act policies are complete and in place, and that institutional staff are trained in policy compliance.

2011 Clery Act Handbook 

Reporting Child Sexual Abuse 

Below are links to current Tennessee laws regarding the definitions and reporting of child sexual abuse and child abuse and neglect.

To view state statutes about reporting child sexual abuse (37-1-601 et seq.), click HERE.

To vew state statutes about reporting other types of child abuse or neglect (37-1-401 et seq.) click HERE.

To report sexual or physical abuse contact the Department of Childern's Services by calling 877-237-0004, or online at https://reportabuse.state.tn.us.

To contact the Tennessee Children's Advocacy Center to scheduld training, call 615-327-9450, or online at www.tncac.org.

Program Integrity Rules 

The Federal Government has published new rules in the Federal Register that become effective July 1, 2011, that effect all institutions of higher education. The rules will have a significant impact on how the TBR and its institutions conduct online education, represent our programs to the public, monitor academic progress, and process student aid, along with other related issues. The information posted in this section is designed to help expidite the implemention of processes needed to comply with the new rules.

To access the Federal Register Final Rules dated October 29, 2010 click HERE.

 To access the most recent information regarding State approval regulations for distance education click HERE.

For information about registering for the Gainful Employment Webinar on June 28 or June 29, click HERE.

To see the "redline" versions of the new regulations broken into specific issues, click on the listed catagory(s).

 Definition of Credit Hour
Gainful Employment (rules effective July 1, 2011)
Gainful Employment (rules effective July 1, 2012)
State Authorization-Distance Education
Written Arrangements to Provide Educational Programs
Incentive Compensation
Validity of High School Diploma
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Verification & Updating Student Aid Application Information
Prohibition on Misrepresentations
Student Assistance
Origination of a loan by a Direct Loan Program school
Minor Rule Revisions 

Immunization Regulations for Higher Education Students (2009 Updates) 

New regulations regarding vaccination requirements for Varicella (Chicken Pox) and Hepatitis B for health science students can be found HERE.

Higher Education Act Reauthorization (July and August 2010 Implementation) 

** To access information on the Reauthorization Act click HERE.

Background Checks for Educational Programs: T.C.A. § 40-35-110 List of Felonies 

E-Verify Resource Links:

USCIS E-Verify webpage:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=75bce2e261405110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=75bce2e261405110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD 

USCIS – FAQ:  Federal Contractors and E-Verify:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=cb2a535e0869d110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=534bbd181e09d110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD 

Employer Quick Reference Guide:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/Employer%20Quick%20Reference%20Guide%202-04-09-ver2.pdf 

User Manual for Federal Contractors:

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/E-Verify/Federal%20Contractors/FEDK%20Employer%20Manual%209.3.09_FINAL.pdf 

Supplemental Guide for Federal Contractors:

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Controlled%20Vocabulary/Native%20Documents/Supplemental%20Guidance%20for%20Federal%20Contractors%20090109%20FINALa(1).pdf