DEI-related policies
| Tracking # |
UTS-224-2022 |
| Submitted | Nov. 11, 2022 |
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Communications
From: Aaron Terr
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Any College of Arts & Sciences policies or guidance related to any mechanism for reporting bias incidents
2. Any College of Nursing policies or guidance related to any system for reporting of DEI complaints or investigation of such complaints
3. Any College of Law bylaws relating to competence in diversity and inclusion
4. Any College of Law policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants submit a diversity or DEI statement
5. Any College of Law policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty report on individual efforts to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, scholarship and/or service as part of faculty performance evaluations
6. Any College of Law policy or guidance for assessing curriculum or individual courses for the inclusion of intercultural perspectives and issues related to social justice, equity, and the elimination of bias in teaching legal doctrine, policy, practice, and theory
7. Any College of Law course evaluation templates used by students to evaluate faculty members’ teaching performance
8 Any College of Communication and Information policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants submit a DEI statement
9. Any College of Communication and Information policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty include a diversity statement on their course syllabi
10. Any College of Communication and Information policy mandating participation in providing DEI and cultural competency content in courses
11. Any College of Social Work policy or process for systematic review of course syllabi to ensure continuity of intercultural perspectives in all programs
12. Any College of Social Work policy or process for reviewing and revising course syllabi to ensure inclusive teaching content
13. Any College of Social Work retention, promotion, or tenure procedures
14. Any College of Architecture + Design policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants submit a statement on diversity, equity and inclusion or assessment of DEI in faculty teaching reviews and evaluations
15. Any College of Architecture + Design course evaluation template that includes a “diversity sector”
16. The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Inclusive Teaching Toolbox
17. Any College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences policy concerning individual syllabus review
18. Any College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences policy policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty develop and demonstrate DEI skill sets and dispositions in curriculum and instruction, or incorporate DEI content into courses
19. Any Any College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences course evaluation template used by students to evaluate faculty members’ teaching performance that includes a domain on DEI perspectives or dispositions
20. Any Tickle College of Engineering policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants include a diversity and inclusion statement with their application
21. Any Tickle College of Engineering policy or guidance relating to consideration of DEI work in annual performance reviews or promotion and tenure recommendations
22. Any College of Veterinary Medicine policy or guidance relating to any requirement that faculty include a DEI statement on their course syllabi or Canvas website
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Kent Hoover, a citizen of Tennessee, in coordination with Aaron Terr.
From:
Thank you for submitting a request for records.
Your request reference number is Request Number: UTS-224-2022.
Please have this reference number available when communicating with our staff regarding your request.
Note: This is an automated email notification. Please do not respond to this email.
From: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Mr. Hoover, this is to acknowledge receipt of your request, UTS-224-2022, for records under the Tennessee Public Records Act.
You did not provide a date range for your request.
In order to proceed, you will need to specify the start date for the records you are requesting.
Sincerely,
Charles Primm
Public Records Request Coordinator
UT System Administration
865-974-5180
From: Aaron Terr
Thank you for your request for clarification.
The request is for policy and guidance documents in effect as of the date of the request, November 11, 2022.
From: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Mr. Hoover, documents that may be responsive to your request have been identified.
The Tennessee Public Records Act allows the University to charge for the labor involved in gathering and producing documents, and to request a prepayment of fifty (50) percent of the estimated labor charge, prior to beginning the process.
The University estimates the labor cost to search for and gather the requested documents is $1,343.93.
The Tennessee Public Records Act stipulates that the first hour of labor be provided at no charge, so the adjusted labor estimate for this request is $1,166.46.
In order to proceed, you will need to pay $583.23, which is fifty percent of the adjusted estimate.
Once payment is received, the University will begin gathering the documents, and will advise you when they are ready.
The actual labor that was expended in the request then will be calculated, and you will be notified of the remaining labor cost.
Payment can be made with a personal check made payable to “The University of Tennessee System.”
Our address is:
UT System Division of Communications and Marketing
505 Summer Place
UT Tower #1248C
Knoxville, TN 37902
Please advise how you wish to proceed.
Sincerely,
Charles Primm
Public Records Request Coordinator
UT System Administration
865-974-5180
From: Aaron Terr
I will proceed with the request and send a check to the listed address.
Thank you.
From: Aaron Terr
Hello,
Can you kindly confirm receipt of the check?
Thank you.
From:
Mr. Hoover, the following is an itemized response to your request Request Number: UTS-224-2022 dated November 11, 2022.
Responsive records are available at the link.
1. Any College of Arts & Sciences policies or guidance related to any mechanism for reporting bias incidents
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
2. Any College of Nursing policies or guidance related to any system for reporting of DEI complaints or investigation of such complaints
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
3. Any College of Law bylaws relating to competence in diversity and inclusion
Response: Please see document numbered UT-1–UT-2, an excerpt from the College of Law’s Bylaws.
4. Any College of Law policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants submit a diversity or DEI statement
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
5. Any College of Law policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty report on individual efforts to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, scholarship and/or service as part of faculty performance evaluations
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
6. Any College of Law policy or guidance for assessing curriculum or individual courses for the inclusion of intercultural perspectives and issues related to social justice, equity, and the elimination of bias in teaching legal doctrine, policy, practice, and theory
Response: Please see Section A.4.b.5 (on page 6) of the College of Law’s Academic Policies, available online at: http://url4102.request.justfoia.com/ls/click?upn=XfJvxk0gd1RbNAoCtqw15uNrBLqfECkJSOcnwG-2BxBj8Du8MRynOx20RpQCbxFgJ-2B8X2-2FF76t6uiZenPL0eN8BSW5qf54aetp70WOLmVSVC7323evB4uPc86357Mr45v3SdIn_oAaha7mVTEnWGw6O-2BZynDPjwruPUcfxkgnaLBJsXmTVvId9tV3ErYKYJqLaiCf7GjcEbiyej-2Bem3I9cwTjOpA04W33BIy9I7iXPigc3lh0sQfci7iT-2B0iCfnjAZeAT-2Ba5aAXNASA35zie1aeswSTHXnhQEk067AVNLdB6wM52SnBbUcOQdKkH-2FpWXt-2BYVOQl04tGyXLBrcPZ6xcFSgGHNQtgBzhHrIXtFgKJx6cBg-2FXst65FNavKrCSXAJ7lduQvAK73O6VNqTqHkMcfS7yQhx1vIWIqDLd9fhOUjCKF-2F5gekeLB3IfVnkQlz9hYScjseDysmnVs1XsrTAfWddg1Ow-3D-3D
Please also see documents numbered UT-3–UT-5, from the American Bar Association accreditation standards.
7. Any College of Law course evaluation templates used by students to evaluate faculty members’ teaching performance
Response: Please see the general UTK course evaluation template, used by the College of Law, available online at: http://url4102.request.justfoia.com/ls/click?upn=XfJvxk0gd1RbNAoCtqw15pkv9lMqkRYZuxmJWwM0OBi2N49q-2F1p0pxDQOq77wMChoanR_oAaha7mVTEnWGw6O-2BZynDPjwruPUcfxkgnaLBJsXmTVvId9tV3ErYKYJqLaiCf7GjcEbiyej-2Bem3I9cwTjOpA04W33BIy9I7iXPigc3lh0sQfci7iT-2B0iCfnjAZeAT-2Ba5aAXNASA35zie1aeswSTHSEbI-2FrxTfMMLw-2BJyzIdXqKHT-2F0FTvCzA4lmJCeAeUeJmt0R6j-2BfyMiJF0quTNRZiiLJqR54hUfAWFntHCNiGscA8zzNLAwg5IIBf-2BXruJUlRyqPmTfY0av8FkBOhv95KCBXWgBg-2Bfvik7awhmfT7V1oP4ljW3DBsLRYAcug7hJnHccgeigZXTo3rRES8KLrDA-3D-3D
8. Any College of Communication and Information policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants submit a DEI statement
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
9. Any College of Communication and Information policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty include a diversity statement on their course syllabi
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
10. Any College of Communication and Information policy mandating participation in providing DEI and cultural competency content in courses
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
11. Any College of Social Work policy or process for systematic review of course syllabi to ensure continuity of intercultural perspectives in all programs
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
12. Any College of Social Work policy or process for reviewing and revising course syllabi to ensure inclusive teaching content
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
13. Any College of Social Work retention, promotion, or tenure procedures
Response: Please see UT-6–UT-53 the College of Social Work’s Policies and Procedures, and Article VII (page 15) of the Bylaws for the Governance of the College of Social Work, available online at: http://url4102.request.justfoia.com/ls/click?upn=XfJvxk0gd1RbNAoCtqw15mOxrZdti-2F5Bx-2BPOjGF4NLCk5ZfZbWsl69VstOGxkaVJh57hv2BYVM4nb0pRYnSKiEg8BEF0m5iHQt32-2BnXEkLyjtqYvBexV-2BPu-2F2Oa8za6y8LCO_oAaha7mVTEnWGw6O-2BZynDPjwruPUcfxkgnaLBJsXmTVvId9tV3ErYKYJqLaiCf7GjcEbiyej-2Bem3I9cwTjOpA04W33BIy9I7iXPigc3lh0sQfci7iT-2B0iCfnjAZeAT-2Ba5aAXNASA35zie1aeswSTHdDV6utVwO-2FtlD5Ls-2FHuUN3inBu67UGCUH0X-2FPS3l8K0b5OJz0YKBMQchHvQzBx9mKOBCZFxOVYZlTP2fIDT9AvmgmLSE9iP8zTHoC8Vwph9lUKvM0oQMzOnZMNF0krXCuY-2BlQn1htFbUUOw9HelwqrfGp0QWiipQltd2MnaSsoJ5RmwLbvNPnJFAjix4yWdLg-3D-3D
Please note – these documents do not contain any procedures regarding consideration of DEI work in connection with retention, promotion, or tenure decisions (please compare request Number 21 below), but are being provided because the request was not so limited.
14. Any College of Architecture + Design policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants submit a statement on diversity, equity and inclusion or assessment of DEI in faculty teaching reviews and evaluations
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
15. Any College of Architecture + Design course evaluation template that includes a “diversity sector”
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
16. The College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Inclusive Teaching Toolbox
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
17. Any College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences policy concerning individual syllabus review
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
18. Any College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty develop and demonstrate DEI skill sets and dispositions in curriculum and instruction, or incorporate DEI content into courses
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
19. Any College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences course evaluation template used by students to evaluate faculty members’ teaching performance that includes a domain on DEI perspectives or dispositions students to evaluate faculty members’ teaching performance
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
20. Any Tickle College of Engineering policy or guidance concerning any requirement that faculty applicants include a diversity and inclusion statement with their application
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
21. Any Tickle College of Engineering policy or guidance relating to consideration of DEI work in annual performance reviews or promotion and tenure recommendations
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
22. Any College of Veterinary Medicine policy or guidance relating to any requirement that faculty include a DEI statement on their course syllabi or Canvas website
Response: This request is denied on the basis there are no such records.
The actual labor cost for your request was $520.36, which is less than your prepayment of $583.23, so the University will issue a refund check in the amount of $62.87.
Sincerely,
Charles Primm
Public Records Request Coordinator
UT System Administration
865-974-5180
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