§ 49-7-1903 — Restrictions applicable to public institutions of higher education

In furtherance of the general assembly's findings in § 49-7-1901 , the following restrictions apply to public institutions of higher education in this state: (1) A student or employee of a public institution of higher education shall not be penalized, discriminated against, or receive any adverse treatment due to the student's or employee's refusal to support, believe, endorse, embrace, confess, act upon, or otherwise assent to one (1) or more divisive concepts; (2) A student or employee of a public institution of higher education shall not be required to endorse a specific ideology or political viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, tenure, promotion, or graduation, and institutions shall not ask the ideological or political viewpoint of a student, job applicant, job candidate, or candidate for promotion or tenure; (3) A public institution of higher education shall not require an applicant for employment or admission to submit a personal diversity statement or to affirm the applicant's agreement with an institutional diversity statement as part of the application or admissions process; and (4) An individual who believes that a violation of this section has occurred may pursue all equitable or legal remedies that may be available to the individual in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 268, s 3, eff. 7/1/2023. Added by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 818, s 4, eff. 4/8/2022.