Students in Tennessee who have been accused of sexual misconduct while on their campus can find themselves in a tight spot because Title IX—the federal law that guarantees equal access to higher education for people of different sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity—pressures their school into a quick and strong resolution. For students accused of sexual assault or harassment, though, this pressure can lead to unfair hearings and unjust results.
Being able to challenge these outcomes on appeal, then, is essential if you want to defend your rights and interests.
You Have a Right to Appeal a Title IX Case
If you have been through the Title IX hearing process at your college or university in Tennessee, and the outcome was unfavorable to you, then you have a right to lodge an appeal that challenges the result, the penalty, or both. Making use of this opportunity to fight the outcome of your case is crucial because of the pressure that Title IX puts on schools, and because the hearing process that many institutions use are inadequate for hearing such serious allegations.
The Four Grounds for Appealing a Title IX Case in Tennessee
However, not all Title IX appeals will be heard. In order to be heard, your Title IX appeal must allege that one of the following four things have happened that warrant a review of your case:
- New evidence has emerged. If new evidence has come to light that deals with your case, and this evidence could not have been discovered in the underlying hearings, then it can be enough to warrant a review.
- Procedural mistakes were made. Tennessee colleges and universities use their own set of rules and procedures to investigate, determine, and penalize allegations of Title IX violations. However, just because they wrote them does not mean that they always follow them. If procedural mistakes are made if your case and they substantially impacted the result, then those mistakes can be the grounds for an appeal.
- Due process was violated. You have a due process right to be heard and to defend against charges as serious as a Title IX violation for sexual misconduct. However, the speed with which schools want to resolve these cases can lead to that right being violated. If this is the case, it can be the grounds for an appeal.
- The penalty far outpaces the severity of the violation. If you only want to challenge the sanction that you received, then you can appeal on the basis that the penalty is too harsh for the violation.
Joseph D. Lento Advises Tennessee Students on Title IX Appeals
Joseph D. Lento is a student discipline defense attorney who protects the rights and interests of students who have been accused of violating Title IX's prohibition of sexual misconduct. This includes the appeals process.
Contact him online or by phone at 888-535-3686 if you have been found in violation of these provisions in Title IX in Tennessee and want his input on how to proceed in a way that protects your rights, interests, and professional future.
- American Baptist College
- Aquinas College
- Argosy University Nashville
- Austin Peay State University
- Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences
- Belmont University
- Bethel University
- Bryan College
- Carson Newman College
- Chattanooga College Medical Dental and Technical Careers
- Chattanooga State Community College
- Christian Brothers University
- Cleveland State Community College
- Columbia State Community College
- Cumberland University
- Daymar Institute Clarksville
- Daymar Institute Murfreesboro
- Daymar Institute Nashville
- DeVry University Tennessee
- Dyersburg State Community College
- East Tennessee State University
- Fisk University
- Fortis Institute
- Fortis Institute Nashville
- Fountainhead College of Technology
- Free Will Baptist Bible College
- Freed Hardeman University
- Hiwassee College
- International Academy of Design and Technology Nashville
- ITT Technical Institute Chattanooga
- ITT Technical Institute Cordova
- ITT Technical Institute Johnson City
- ITT Technical Institute Knoxville
- ITT Technical Institute Nashville
- Jackson State Community College
- John A Gupton College
- Johnson University
- King College
- Lane College
- Le Moyne Owen College
- Lee University
- Lincoln Memorial University
- Lipscomb University
- L'Ecole Culinaire
- Martin Methodist College
- Maryville College
- Memphis College of Art
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Miller Motte Technical College Chattanooga
- Miller Motte Technical College Clarksville
- Miller Motte Technical College Madison
- Milligan College
- Motlow State Community College
- Nashville State Community College
- National College of Business and Technology Nashville
- Northeast State Community College
- Nossi College of Art
- O'More College of Design
- Pellissippi State Community College
- Remington College Memphis Campus
- Remington College Nashville Campus
- Rhodes College
- Roane State Community College
- Sewanee The University of the South
- South College
- Southern Adventist University
- Southwest Tennessee Community College
- Tennessee State University
- Tennessee Technological University
- Tennessee Temple University
- Tennessee Wesleyan College
- The Art Institute of Tennessee Nashville
- The University of Tennessee
- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- The University of Tennessee Martin
- Trevecca Nazarene University
- Tusculum College
- Union University
- University of Memphis
- University of Phoenix Chattanooga Campus
- University of Phoenix Knoxville
- University of Phoenix Memphis Campus
- University of Phoenix Nashville Campus
- Vanderbilt University
- Vatterott Career College Memphis Appling Farms
- Vatterott Career College Memphis Dividend Drive
- Victory University
- Virginia College School of Business and Health
- Visible Music College
- Volunteer State Community College
- Walters State Community College
- Watkins College of Art Design & Film
- William Moore College of Technology
- Williamson Christian College
A Title IX finding of responsibility can change an accused student's life if not properly addressed and appealed, and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor and educational consultant to students facing disciplinary cases in Tennessee and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
