Tennessee universities among those that have asserted right to Title IX exemption
By Lonnie Wilkey and Chris Turner
Baptist & Reflector
BRENTWOOD — In a world and culture where sexual orientation and long-held traditions such as marriage are constantly being redefined, Christian colleges are taking steps to protect their institutions. Approximately 30 religiously affiliated colleges and universities nationwide (including Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City and Union University in Jackson) have asked for and received recognition of their exemption from certain sex nondiscrimination regulations of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX generally prohibits institutions of higher education that receive federal funding directly or indirectly from discriminating on the basis of sex. However, when it was enacted, Congress made provision for an exemption to accommodate religious beliefs, and the Department of Education acknowledges the exemption to those colleges and universities that follow the United States Department of Education’s process and assert their rights to the exemption. Carson-Newman and Union both asserted their rights in letters to the Department of Education earlier this year. [Read more…]