Sex Discrimination, Harassment, and Assault: MTSU Title IX Coordinators

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It reads: 
"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX)

Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault.

While it is often thought of as a law that applies to athletics programs, Title IX is much broader than Athletics and applies to many programs at Middle Tennessee State University. While compliance with the law is everyone's responsibility at MTSU, listed below are the staff members who have primary responsibility for Title IX compliance.

Sexual Violence Reporting Form

Title IX Coordinator

Christy Sigler, J.D.
Assistant to the President, Institutional Equity and Compliance 
116 Cope Administration Building 
1301 East Main Street 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132 
(615) 898-2185 
titleix@mtsu.edu 

Duties and Responsibilities: Monitoring and oversight of overall implementation of Title IX Compliance at MTSU, including coordination of training, education, communications, and administration of grievance procedures for faculty, staff, students and other members of the MTSU community.

Deputy Title IX Coordinators

For complaints against students, faculty, staff, and visitors:

 
Vincent Smith
Civil Rights Investigator II
 

Breanna Owens 
Civil Rights Investigator I
Breanna.Owens@mtsu.edu

Michelle Halman
Equity Specialist
 

For complaints against students:

Laura Sosh-Lightsy 
Assistant Dean, Office of Student Conduct
208 Keathley University Center 
1301 East Main Street 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132 
(615) 898-2750 
laura.lightsy@mtsu.edu

The Assistant Dean is responsible for compliance in matters involving students, including training, education, communication, investigation, and administration of the grievance procedure for all complaints against MTSU students.

For complaints against faculty, staff and visitors: 

Christy Sigler, J.D.
Assistant to the President, Institutional Equity and Compliance 
116 Cope Administration Building 
1301 East Main Street 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132 
(615) 898-2185 
christy.sigler@mtsu.edu 

If you have a complaint against a MTSU faculty or staff member or visitor for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, or sexual assault, you should contact the Office of Institutional Equity & Compliance.

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for Title IX compliance in matters involving faculty and staff, including training, education, communication, investigation, and administration of the grievance procedure for all complaints against faculty, staff, and visitors, including those complaints filed by students.

For Athletics: 

Diane Turnham 
Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator 
151 Murphy Center 
1301 East Main Street 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132 
(615) 898-2938 
diane.turnham@mtsu.edu

Complaints against MTSU Students and Employees in Athletics: 
If you have a complaint against an MTSU student, coach, or administrator for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, or sexual assault, you may contact one of the offices listed above, or you may contact the Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator, who will facilitate the handling of the complaint with the appropriate office.

Gender Equity in Athletics: 
If you have a complaint about gender equity in MTSU athletics programs, you should contact the Senior Associate Athletics Director/Senior Women's Administrator, who is responsible for Title IX Compliance in matters related to gender equity in MTSU athletics programs.

Additional Resources: 

Sexual Assault: 
To file a complaint of sexual assault, you may contact one of the offices above.  You may also contact:

MTSU University Police
1412 East Main Street 
Murfreesboro, TN 37132 
(615) 898-2424 (non-emergency) 
911 (emergency)