Welcome to the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association's email newsletter on public policy issues important to Tennessee's private colleges and universities.

Representative Mark Pody is sponsoring a bill which dictates student affairs policy on public university campuses related to religious organizations. Last night Rep. Bill Dunn proposed an amendment to have the bill apply to private colleges and universities which receive $24 million or more in direct aid from the State of Tennessee. This amendment is designed to pull Vanderbilt University into bill which would have the State dictate how the university sets policies related to their student organizations.

TICUA testified against the amendment on the grounds that it violates the ability of its member institutions to govern without interference of the State Government. It was made it clear that TICUA was not testifying about the merits of any particular policy at Vanderbilt but rather to their right as an independent university to freely make their own policies. TICUA went on to testify about possible ongoing unintended consequences of the State dictating governance issues on our campus and urged the sponsor to withdraw the amendment, which he did.

Yesterday a compromise was reached on Representative Joey Hensley's bill which allows college adjunct instructors and professors to receive an alternative teacher license for grades 7 through 12 without pedagogical training. Previously TICUA has testified in opposition to the bill in both the House and Senate arguing that it would be disingenuous of colleges and universities who offer pedagogical training to believe that its own faculty should be exempt from receiving such instruction. TICUA also pointed out that there are significant differences between teaching college students versus high school students that can only be understood by attending teaching and learning courses.

TICUA, in consultation with Lipscomb University's Education Dean Candice McQueen, drafted an amendment which includes evidence of effective collegiate level teaching of the candidates, training prior to entering the classroom, and thorough assessment of performance. The amendment language was agreed to by the bill sponsor as well as the Tennessee Board of Regents and the State Board of Education.

The bill is expected to move forward as amended in the House with the Senate conforming to the new version within the next couple weeks.

The firearms and ammunition bills moved out of the House Consumer Affairs Subcommittee without debate this past Tuesday morning. They are now headed to the full House Consumer and Employee Affairs Committee. The full committee meets next week and it is anticipated that the bills will pass and move onto the House Calendar and Rules Committee. This is the final step before going to the House floor for a vote. TICUA's goal, as well as the coalition opposing these bills, is to keep the pressure on members of the General Assembly in order for the bills to never make it to either the House or Senate chambers for a vote.

To review, the bills seek to accomplish the following:

SB3002 (Senator Faulk)/HB3560 (Representative Bass) allows for guns and ammunition to be kept in a vehicle as long as they are secured and out of site by ANYONE on all campus locations. TICUA members may NOT prohibit the possession of these weapons from being on campus, nor may TICUA members create policies contrary to the provisions in the bill.

SB2992 (Senator Faulk)/HB3559 (Representative Bass) does not allow TICUA members to inquire about weapons owned, possessed, transported, or used by employees. This creates a special class of employee that allows them to file discrimination grievances based on violations of this bill. It also allows conceal and carry permit owners to possess guns on private property.

If these bills are passed:

* Campuses must allow weapons and ammunition on campus by students, visitors, and employees as long as they are concealed and secured in a vehicle.

* Campuses may no longer inquire employees about firearms possession, transporting, or use.

* Employees would now be able to file discrimination lawsuits against colleges and universities if the employee feels as if the employer wrongfully terminated them related to any aspects of the new firearms/ammunition provisions.

* Campuses will lose their ability to regulate weapon possession to create a safe campus environment.

* The new provisions will make it difficult, if not impossible, to identify a 'bad guy' on campus during a hostile situation if other individuals are allowed to possess weapons on campus.

Thank you for supporting the cause of independent higher education during this second session of the 107th Tennessee General Assembly. If you have any questions or would like more information about these issues, please feel free to contact me at 615/242-6400 ext. 201.