Section 1720-05-01-.12 - INSPECTION AND SEARCH POLICIES(1) Entry by University authorities into occupied rooms in residence halls will be divided into three (3) categories; inspection, search, and emergency. Inspection is defined as the entry into an occupied room by University authorities in order to ascertain the health and safety conditions in the room, to check the physical condition of the room, to make repairs on facilities, or to perform cleaning and janitorial operations. Search is defined as the entry into an occupied room by on-campus authorities for the purpose of investigating suspected violations of campus regulations. An emergency situation exists when the delay necessary to obtain a search authorization constitutes an apparent danger to person, property, or the building itself.(2) Inspection: Scheduled inspections by on-campus authorities with the exception of daily janitorial operations shall be preceded, if possible, by twenty-four (24) hours' notice to the residents. During the inspection there will be no search of drawers, closets, or personal belongings. This policy is applicable for residence halls and fraternity houses.(3) Search: On-campus authorities will not enter a room for purposes of search without the permission of the resident unless they have a campus authorization to search, authorized by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee, which specifies the reasons for the search and the objects or information sought, or unless they enter in compliance with federal or state law. If possible, the student should be present during the search. Normally these searches will not be made unless the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee is present.(4) If the search reveals objects the possession of which violates a law or a University rule, the University may take appropriate disciplinary action even though the objects were not listed on the search authorization.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1720-05-01-.12
Original rule filed April 17, 2012; effective September 28, 2012.Authority: T.C.A. § 49-9-209(e) and Public Acts of Tennessee, 1839-1840, Chapter 98, Section 5, and Public Acts of Tennessee, 1807, Chapter 64.