ÿWPC* …# VUNa %¯ 0 (µ4Ýñ 0 l 0Dl ° 0J¸ 0T 0^V 0h´ 0r 0|Ž 0† w@ 0Ð 1u` U ,Õ 0d BeU,‚ D3®U >áU* 0@IB)‰DC² AMõU*B#l½´L~Ó~AQ0’Â%C1hv~™!vÓ# AOê(Æ9) 0Dÿ) D/C* Br*˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 (ÖÃ9 Z ‹6Times New Roman RegularX($¡¡Gav 3|xp((3üÝ$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô \]E^_E`aDbDcdÓ€n2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco'''''ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman< Œ 9p`(Times("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò% Line 7 d....7Border 1dd€-/Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÔ€1ÔÔ€1ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€1XÔÌÌApirl€29,€1996ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó ³Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝOne€of€the€remaining€allegations,€added€by€the€affirmative€action€officer€and€alleged€toÌà àbe€racial€harassment,€was€found€to€constitute€offensive€and€unprofessional€conduct€byÌà àthe€hearing€committee,€but€not€to€constitute€a€violation€of€board€policy.Ì ªÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€Initial€Order€found€evidence€to€substantiate€the€EKG€incident;€found€that€Ms.€WhiteÌà àhad€been€subject€to€unreasonable€and€demeaning€demands€for€personal€service;€found€thatÌà àDr.€McClellan€had€made€comments€to€a€black€student€attributing€knee€injuries€to€"pickingÌà àcotton€in€Lincoln€County;"€and€found€that€Dr.€McClellan€used€the€black€student€for€à àvariousÏclass€demonstrations€by€making€chalk€marks€on€his€body.€€The€two€remainingÌà àallegations€were€deemed€unfounded.Ì tÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€Order€concluded€that€Dr.€McClellan's€conduct€toward€Ms.€White€constituted€aÌà àviolation€of€TBR€Guideline€P„080€as€promulgated€by€Middle€Tennessee€State€University,Ìà àPolicy€No.€I:01:22.Ì ÉÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  Ý"Agency"€as€defined€in€the€Uniform€Administrative€Procedure€Act€includes€any€"board,Ìà àcommission,€committee,€department,€officer,€or€any€other€unit€of€state€governmentÏà àauthorized€.€.€.€to€determine€contested€cases."€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„102(2)(1991Ïà àRepl.).Ì 7Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€notice€did€not€contain€the€students'€names€but€clearly€alleged€both€incidentsÌà àpertaining€to€Ms.€White€and€to€the€minority€student.Ì &Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€first€page€of€the€Notice€says:€€"TBR€policy€.€.€.€states€that€incompetence,€indolence,Ìà àintellectual€dishonesty,€serious€moral€dereliction,€arbitrary€and€capricious€disregard€ofÌà àstandards€of€professional€conduct,€among€others,€will€be€grounds€for€dismissal€or€otherÌà àdisciplinary€matters."€€A€copy€of€the€policy€is€attached€to€the€Notice€as€exhibit€4.Ì wÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝA€party€who€alleges€that€procedural€irregularities€occurred€that€are€not€shown€on€the€Ìà àrecord€may€request€that€the€Chancery€Court€take€proof.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„322(g)Ìà à(1995€Supp.).Ì Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝNotably,€Dr.€McClellan€did€not€request€that€the€Chancery€Court€take€proof€on€the€allegedÌà àirregularities.€€Ì 'Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ ÔÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAlthough€not€the€basis€for€any€of€the€violations€found€against€Dr.€McClellan,€the€recordÌà àis€replete€with€other€examples€of€Dr.€McClellan's€harassing€conduct€toward€the€femaleÌà àstudents.€€On€one€occasion€as€he€tried€to€enter€the€EKG€room€being€held€shut€byÌà àMs.€White,€he€described€himself€as€"like€a€madman€from€a€monster€movie"€trying€to€getÌà àin.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ ÔÓ&€))X„d&ÓÑ#€))Xd#ÑÔ€+ÔÝ  ÝÒ € ÒÒ ° ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€}XXdìdÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÔ€+¼ÔØ ØÓ&€,,X°d&Ó›à@ àIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLEÌÌÌÌÌDR.€POWELL€D.€McCLELLAN,à à€€€)à àò òòòFOR€PUBLICATIONó óÌà àà àà àà àà àà àóó€€€)òòÌà àóóPlaintiff/Appellant,à àà à€€€)à àòòò òFiled:€April€29,€1996ó óóóÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)Ìv.à àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)à àDavidson€CountyÌà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)ÌTHE€BOARD€OF€REGENTS€OF€à à€€€)à àHon.€Robert€S.€œBrandt,›€JudgeÌTHE€STATE€UNIVERSITY€and€€€€€€à à€€€)ÌCOMMUNITY€COLLEGE€SYSTEM€€€€)à àNo.€œ01S01„9503„CH„00045›ÌÙ€€ÙœßL€02/;+'h|lÿw` ç `€€Lß›OF€TENNESSEE€AND€MIDDLEà à€€€)ÌTENNESSEE€STATE€à àà àà à€€€)ÌUNIVERSITY,à àà àà àà à€€€)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà à€€€)Ìà àDefendant/Appellee.à àà à€€€)à àÌÌÌÌÌòòFor€Appellantóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€Appelleeóó:ÌÌCharles€Hampton€Whiteà àà àà àCharles€W.€BursonÌCORNELIUS€&€COLLINSà àà àAttorney€General€and€ReporterÌNashville,€TNà àÌà àà àà àà àà àà àJames€C.€œFloydÌà àà àà àà àà àà àAssistant€Attorney€General›Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àNashville,€TN€€ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌœ›Ìò òà@ àO€P€€I€€N€€I€€O€€NÌÌÌÌÌó óCOURT€OF€APPEALS€AFFIRMEDÌIN€PART€AND€REVERSED€IN€PART;ÌCASE€REMANDEDà àà àà àà àà àà àWHITE,€J.ÌÌÓÓà àThis€case€poses€substantive€and€procedural€questions€pertaining€toÏan€appeal€under€the€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act.€€The€firstÏissue€is€whether€substantial€and€material€evidence€supports€the€finding€ofÏa€violation€of€the€sexual€harassment€policy€of€the€Tennessee€State€BoardÏof€Regents€and€of€Middle€Tennessee€State€University.€€The€second€issue€isÏwhether€the€procedures€followed€in€conducting€the€administrative€hearingÏwere€appropriate.€€For€the€reasons€set€forth,€we€affirm€the€part€of€theÏdecision€of€the€Court€of€Appeals€which€upheld€the€finding€of€sexualÏharassment.€€We€reverse€the€part€of€that€court's€decision€which€vacatedÏone€finding€and€the€sanction€order.€€We€remand€the€case€for€theÏimposition€of€the€sanctions€set€forth€in€the€final€order€of€theÏadministrative€œtribunal.ÌÌà@ àò òI.ó ó›Ìà àDr.€Powell€McClellan€is€a€twenty„two€year€veteran€of€the€MiddleÏTennessee€State€University€faculty.€€There,€he€teaches€in€the€DepartmentÍof€Health,€Physical€Education,€and€Recreation.€€He€holds€Ed.D.€andÏM.E.D.€degrees€from€the€University€of€Arkansas.€€In€the€summer€ofÏ1991,€Dr.€McClellan€taught€a€course€in€the€physiology€of€exercise,€aÏportion€of€which€involved€teaching€the€students€to€administerÏelectrocardiograms.€€ÌÌà àDuring€the€1991€summer€session,€Ms.€Lea€White,€an€undergraduateÏstudent,€worked€as€Dr.€McClellan's€assistant.€€On€July€25th,€three€femaleÏstudents€were€performing€an€EKG€on€Ms.€White€when€they€beganÏexperiencing€difficulty€with€the€equipment.€€Ms.€White€removed€her€braÏin€order€to€try€to€improve€the€electrode€connections.€€The€students€turnedÏthe€equipment€off€and€back€on€to€try€and€restart€it.€€When€it€still€wouldÏnot€function€properly,€one€of€the€students€went,€at€Ms.€White's€direction,Ïto€seek€verbal€instructions€from€Dr.€McClellan.€€Dr.€McClellan€was€askedÏfor€instructions€and€asked€not€to€enter€the€room€as€Ms.€White€was€notÏwearing€a€shirt.€€He€entered,€nonetheless,€removed€a€tee€shirt€which€hadÏbeen€given€Ms.€White€to€cover€with,€and€remarked€that€Ms.€White€wasÏ"no€Dolly€Parton."ÌÌà àThe€next€day€Dr.€McClellan€asked€Ms.€White€if€she€believed€inÏ"equal€rights."€€When€she€said€she€did,€he€inquired€why€women€shouldÍnot€€remove€their€shirts€for€EKG€procedures€as€men€did.€€He€alsoÏcommented€€that€since€she€had€several€brothers,€being€nude€around€malesÏshould€not€affect€her.ÌÌà àTen€days€later€Ms.€White€made€a€formal€complaint€against€Dr.ÏMcClellan€to€Dr.€Whaley,€the€department€head.€€Dr.€Whaley€referred€Ms.ÏWhite€to€the€University's€affirmative€action€officer€who€investigated€theÏcomplaint€and,€eventually,€instituted€charges.€€Dr.€McClellan€was€chargedÏwith€five€violations€of€Tennessee€State€Board€of€Regents'€policies.€€TwoÏof€the€five€pertained€to€Ms.€White.€€In€addition€to€the€incident€regardingÏthe€EKG,€the€charges€included€Ms.€White's€allegation€that€Dr.€McClellanÏhad€required€her€to€"get€coffee€.€.€.€[and]€run€errands€for€him€which€sheÏdid€out€of€fear€of€retaliation."€€The€remaining€three€allegations€did€notÏpertain€to€Ms.€White,€did€not€form€the€basis€for€the€sanctions€against€Dr.ÏMcClellan,€and€will€not€be€discussed€in€this€opinion.× ƒ3 ××  ×€€ÌÌà àThe€Notice€of€Hearing€and€Charges€sent€to€Dr.€McClellan€includedÏthe€following€statement:€€"The€hearing€will€be€conducted€in€accordanceÏwith€the€Tennessee€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act,€T.C.A.€ðð€4„5„101,€òòetóó€òòseqóó."€Upon€request,€a€hearing€was€conducted.€€A€hearingÏofficer,€John€David€Hayes,€presided€over€the€hearing.€€A€hearingÏcommittee€consisting€of€two€professors,€a€graduate€student,€and€anÏundergraduate€student€served€as€the€triers€of€fact.ÌÌà àBefore€the€proceeding€began,€the€hearing€officer€described€his€roleÏas€being€responsible€for€ruling€on€evidentiary€matters€and€matters€of€law.€€ÏHe€introduced€the€committee€and€described€their€role€as€factfinders.€ÏNeither€side€questioned€or€objected€to€the€procedure.€€At€the€close€of€theÏhearing,€the€hearing€officer€announced€that€the€"Committee€will€notÏrender€a€decision€today."€€After€inquiring€about€when€counsel€might€fileÏproposed€findings€of€fact€and€conclusions€of€law,€the€hearing€officerÏconcluded:ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àThe€committee€will€go€ahead€and€take€this€underÏadvisement,€and€we'll€advise€you€at€another€timeÏas€to€what€we€need€to€do€with€the€findings€ofÏfact€and€conclusions€of€law.ÌÌÓÓÌà àOn€December€16,€1991,€an€Initial€Order€was€issued.€€The€OrderÏcontained€factual€findingsœ× ƒ4 ××  ×›€and€legal€conclusions€and€was€signed€by€theÍhearing€officer€and€the€members€of€the€hearing€committee.× ƒ5 ××  ×€€ItÏunanimously€ordered€that:€€(1)€Dr.€McClellan€submit€to€sensitivityÏcounseling€"to€assist€him€in€conducting€more€appropriate€and€professionalÏinteractions€with€students;"€(2)€Dr.€McClellan€not€be€allowed€to€teach€theÏonly€section€of€a€required€course€offered€for€three€years€and€that€courseÏsubstitutions€be€allowed€for€students;€(3)€Dr.€McClellan€be€required€toÏadminister€the€EKG€procedure€pursuant€to€formally€developed€andÏapproved€guidelines;€(4)€students€be€informed€that€the€EKG€procedure€isÏvoluntary;€and€(5)€Dr.€McClellan€not€be€allowed€to€teach€the€next€summerÏsession€for€which€he€was€scheduled€to€teach.€€Additionally,€the€OrderÏspecified€the€review€procedures.€€Specifically,€it€detailed€the€procedureÏfor€filing€a€Petition€for€Appeal€to€the€university€president€and€theÏprocedure€for€filing€a€Petition€for€Reconsideration€of€the€Initial€Order.€ÏòòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðððð€4„5„315,€„317€(1991€Repl.).€€ÌÌà àDr.€McClellan€appealed€the€Initial€Order.€€He€challenged€theÏsufficiency€of€the€evidence,€the€competency€of€the€committee,€and€theÍseverity€of€the€sanctions.€€Although€he€did€not€cite€proceduralÏirregularities€as€a€basis€for€his€appeal,€Dr.€McClellan€characterized€theÏOrder€as€reflecting€"an€intemperate,€emotional€response€to€evidence€by€aÏcommittee€consisting€of€laymen,€untrained€in€interpretation€of€TBRÏpolicies€or€policies€of€MTSU,€and€.€.€.€grossly€improper,€and€excessive€.€.Ï.€."€€He€requested€an€opportunity€to€present€briefs€and€oral€argumentÏbefore€the€Agency.× ƒ6 ××  ×ÌÌà àFollowing€the€filing€of€briefs,€University€President€James€E.ÏWalker€filed€a€Final€Order€on€May€26,€1992,€which€upheld€the€InitialÏOrder€in€its€entirety.€€Pursuant€to€Tennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€4„5„322,€Dr.€McClellan€petitioned€the€Davidson€County€Chancery€Court€forÏreview,€reversal,€and€vacation€of€the€Final€Order.€€The€petition€allegedÏthat:€€€(1)€irrelevant,€prejudicial€evidence€was€admitted€against€Dr.ÏMcClellan;€(2)€the€hearing€officer€did€not€instruct€the€hearing€committeeÏon€legal€principles,€including€the€standard€of€proof€and€did€not€allow€anÏopportunity€to€file€proposed€findings€and€conclusions;€(3)€Dr.€McClellan'sÏconduct€was€not€a€violation€of€the€Board€of€Regents€policy;€(4)€theÍsanctions€imposed€were€unconstitutional€in€that€they€unlawfully€restrictÏthe€terms€and€conditions€of€employment;€(5)€the€hearing€procedure€usedÏviolated€the€law;€and€(6)€the€President's€findings€were€arbitrary,Ïcapricious,€and€constituted€an€abuse€of€discretion.ÌÌà àThe€Chancellor€affirmed€the€Final€Order€following€a€review€underÏTennessee€Code€Annotated€Section€4„5„322.€€Specifically,€the€ChancellorÏfound€that€substantial€and€material€evidence€supported€the€conclusion€thatÏDr.€McClellan€had€violated€the€policy€and€guidelines€of€the€TennesseeÏState€Board€of€Regents.€€Additionally,€the€Chancellor€upheld€the€sanctionsÏsince€"judicial€review€is€limited€to€considering€whether€the€remedy€isÏillegal€or€an€abuse€of€discretion"€and€the€remedy€imposed€did€notÏconstitute€either€an€illegality€or€an€abuse€of€discretion.€€The€ChancellorÏdeclined€to€address€the€alleged€procedural€irregularities€since€theÏ"procedural€issues€cannot€be€raised€for€the€first€time€on€judicial€review."ÌÌà àOn€his€appeal€as€of€right€to€the€Court€of€Appeals,€Dr.€McClellanÏraised€the€same€two€issues€he€presents€to€this€Court€regarding€theÏsufficiency€of€the€evidence€and€the€procedures€employed.€€The€Court€ofÏAppeals€affirmed€the€finding€of€sexual€harassment€based€on€the€EKGÏincident,€upheld€the€procedures€used€to€conduct€the€hearing,€but€dismissedÍthe€allegations€pertaining€to€Dr.€McClellan's€demeaning€demands€holdingÏthat€the€initial€charge€did€not€give€notice€of€the€allegations.€€Consequently,Ïthe€Court€of€Appeals€modified€the€sanctions€imposed€to€exclude€thoseÏrelated€to€that€incident€and€remanded€to€the€tribunal.€€ÌÌà@ àœò òII.ó ó›Ìà àWe€begin€our€review€with€an€in„depth€analysis€of€the€statutes€thatÏoutline€the€procedure€to€be€used€under€the€Uniform€AdministrativeÏProcedures€Act€for€hearings€of€this€kind.ÌÌà àThe€Uniform€Administrative€Procedure€Act€sprawls€throughÏdozens€of€sections€of€Title€4,€chapter€5€of€Tennessee€Code€Annotated.ÏWhile€it€focuses€on€both€an€agency's€power€to€make€rules€and€its€power€toÏdetermine€contested€cases€under€its€rules,€it€is€only€the€latter€subject€thatÏconcerns€us€here.€€The€entire€chapter,€however,€is€entitled€to€a€"liberalÏconstruction€[with]€any€doubt€as€to€the€existence€or€the€extent€of€a€powerÏconferred€.€.€.€resolved€in€favor€of€the€existence€of€the€power."€€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€4„5„103(a)(1991€Repl.).ÌÌà àPart€3€of€the€Act€sets€forth€the€various€procedures€for€hearing€andÏdetermining€contested€cases€at€the€agency€level€and€on€appeal.€€In€anyÍcontested€case,€the€parties€are€first€entitled€to€notice,€which€must€includeÏ"[a]€statement€of€the€.€.€.€nature€of€the€hearing,€.€.€.€€[a]€statement€of€theÏlegal€authority€and€jurisdiction€under€which€the€hearing€is€to€be€held,€.€.€.Ïand€[a]€short€and€plain€statement€of€the€matters€asserted."€€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€4„5„307(b)(1)(2)&(3)(1991€Repl.).€€Here,€Dr.€McClellan€wasÏadvised€that€he€could€appear€before€a€hearing€committee€for€a€hearingÏconducted€in€accordance€with€the€Uniform€Administrative€ProceduresÏAct.€€The€Notice€set€forth€the€Act€as€the€legal€authority€for€the€hearing.€ÏIt€also€contained€allegations€of€fact€which€plainly€stated€the€accusations.× ƒ7 ××  ×ÌÌà àUnlike€the€Court€of€Appeals,€we€do€not€find€that€the€Notice€failedÏto€satisfy€"basic€due€process."€€The€specific€notice€requirements€in€thisÏcontext€are€set€forth€in€the€statute,€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„307(b)(3)(1991ÏRepl.)€("short€and€plain€statement€of€the€matters€asserted"),€and€in€theÏBoard€of€Regents€policy,€TBR€Policy€No.€1:06:00:05€ðð€8€(identicalÏlanguage).€€Neither€provision€requires€the€citation€to€the€specifiedÏregulations€as€suggested€by€the€Court€of€Appeals.ÌÌà àBasic€due€process€requires€"notice€reasonably€calculated€under€allÍthe€circumstances,€to€apprise€interested€parties"€of€the€claims€of€theÏopposing€parties.€€òòMullane€v.€Central€Hanover€Trust€Co.óó,€339€U.S.€306,Ï314€(1950).€€The€purpose€œof›€due€process€requirements€is€to€notify€theÏindividual€in€advance€in€order€to€allow€adequate€preparation€and€reduceÏsurprise.€€òòMemphis€Light,€Gas,€and€Water€Division€v.€Craftóó,€436€U.S.€1,Ï14€(1978).€€Here,€the€Notice€set€forth€specifically€the€facts€which€wereÏalleged.€€The€evidence€at€trial€mirrored€the€allegations.€€The€Notice€œmore›Ïthan€œadequately€satisfied€constitutional€due€process€as€well€as€the€noticeÏrequirements€of€the€statute›€and€the€regulation.€€ÌÌà àThe€Court€of€Appeals€set€aside€the€Agency's€factual€findingÏregarding€Dr.€McClellan's€demeaning€demands€on€Ms.€White€not€becauseÏthe€evidence€did€not€support€the€finding,€but€because€the€notice€"cited€noÏstatute€or€regulation€prohibiting€intimidation€.€.€.€except€in€connectionÏwith€sexual€[harassment]."€€First,€as€we€have€noted,€agencies€are€notÏrequired€to€cite€the€offended€regulation€in€the€notice€of€hearing.€€TheyÏare€only€required€to€include€a€"short€and€plain€statement€of€the€mattersÏasserted."€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„307(b)(3)(1991€Repl.).ÌÌà àMore€importantly,€however,€in€this€Notice€the€Agency€did€citeÏspecific€regulations€deemed€to€have€been€violated.€€The€Court€of€AppealsÍmistakenly€concluded€that€the€cited€regulations€pertained€only€toÏintimidation€on€the€basis€of€sexual€harassment€and€not€to€"unprofessional,Ïimproper,€and€immoral"€intimidation.€€We€respectfully€disagree.€€InÏaddition€to€the€board€policies€pertinent€to€sexual€harassment,€TBR€PolicyÏNo.€2:02:10:01;€5:01:02:00;€&€Guideline€P„080,€the€Agency€cited€andÏattached€Board€Policy€5:02:0300,€Academic€Freedom,€Responsibility,€andÏTenure.€€Section€15€of€that€policy€provides€that€a€faculty€member€"mayÏbe€terminated€for€adequate€cause,€which€includes€the€following:€€.€.€.€(e)Ïcapricious€disregard€of€accepted€standards€of€professional€conduct."× ƒ8 ××  ×ÌÌà àThus,€it€is€clear€that€Dr.€McClellan€had€adequate€prehearing€noticeÏof€the€facts€which€would€be€presented€against€him€and€of€the€policiesÏwhich€his€conduct€might€be€deemed€to€violate.€€This€more€than€satisfiesÏthe€constitutional€due€process€requirements€and€the€specific€statutory€andÏregulatory€notice€requirements.ÌÌà àHaving€found€that€the€Notice€complied€with€the€law,€we€turn€nextÏto€the€hearing€procedure€itself.€€The€Notice€advised€Dr.€McClellan€thatÍhis€hearing€would€be€conducted€by€a€hearing€committee€"in€accordanceÏwith€Tennessee€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act.€.€.€."€€The€ActÏprovides€for€hearings€in€contested€cases€to€be€conducted€by€hearing€panelsÏ"in€the€presence€of€an€administrative€law€judge€or€hearing€officer,"€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€4„5„301(a)(1)(1991€Repl.),€or€by€the€judge€or€hearingÏofficer€alone.€€òòIdóó.€at€(2).€€When€the€first€method€is€selected,€the€judge€orÏhearing€officer€presides,€determines€the€admissibility€of€evidence,€andÏadvises€the€panel€as€to€the€law.€€òòIdóó.€at€(b).€€The€judge€or€hearing€officerÏmay€not€participate€in€the€determination€of€factual€questions€unless€theÏjudge€or€hearing€officer€is€an€agency€member.€€òòIdóó.ÌÌà àDr.€McClellan€challenges€the€procedure€based€on€his€contention€thatÏthe€hearing€panel€must€be€comprised€of€"members€of€the€Board€ofÏRegents€or€MTSU."€€He€further€insists€that€the€Uniform€AdministrativeÏProcedures€Act€does€not€"provide€for€the€utilization€of€a€facultyÏcommittee€or€a€hearing€committee€.€.€.€."€€ÌÌà àWe€disagree.€€The€Act€expressly€provides€for€the€use€of€hearingÏcommittees.€€The€committees€are€required€to€have€"the€requisite€numberÏof€members€of€the€agency€as€prescribed€by€law."€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„301(a)(1)(1991€Repl.).€€While€the€Act€does€not€define€"member,"€itsÍdefinition€of€"agency"€renders€Dr.€McClellan's€argument€meaningless.€Ï"Agency"€includes€boards,€commissions,€departments,€officers,€and€unitsÏof€state€government.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„102(2)(1991€Repl.).€€WhileÏthe€argument€is€soluble€with€reference€to€boards,€commissions,€andÏdepartments,€it€loses€its€reasoning€when€applied€to€officers€and€units€ofÏstate€government.€€We€are€required€to€construe€terms€reasonably€and€notÏin€a€fashion€which€will€lead€to€an€absurd€result.€€òòLoftin€v.€Langstonóó,€813ÏS.W.2d€475€(Tenn.€App.),€òòpermóó.€òòtoóó€òòappealóóòòdeniedóó,€(Tenn.€1991).€€Thus,Ïwe€do€not€impose€the€very€limited€definition€of€"member"€suggested€byÏDr.€McClellan.ÌÌà àUnder€the€statute€a€hearing€committee€must€be€constituted€asÏrequired€by€law.€€The€Tennessee€State€Board€of€Regents'€Guidelines,Ïwhich€were€promulgated€in€accordance€with€the€Act's€rulemakingÏprovisions,€establish€uniform€hearing€procedures€for€contested€casesÏunder€the€Uniform€Administrative€Procedures€Act.€€The€guidelinesÏprovide€thatÌÓÓà8 àà8 àà à[a]€hearing€committee€may€be€appointedÏby€the€president€.€.€.€from€the€administrative,Ïprofessional€staff€and/or€appropriate€employeesÏor€students€at€the€institution€or€school.ÌÌÓÓTBR€Policy€No.€1:06:00:05€ðð€5(c).€€This€hearing€committee€met€thoseÍrequirements.ÌÌà àWhile€we€find€nothing€prejudicial€about€the€hearing€procedureÏemployed,€particularly€in€light€of€the€specific€guideline,€we€rest€ourÏdecision€€to€affirm€the€procedure€on€three€other€equally€important€points.€ÏFirst,€we€focus€on€the€procedural€and€substantive€safeguards€whichÏfollowed€the€hearing.€€In€this€case,€the€hearing€officer€and€the€committeeÏissued€an€Initial€Order.€€Such€an€order€is€required€only€in€cases€in€whichÏthe€hearing€officer€sits€alone.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„314(b)(1991ÏRepl.).€€The€Initial€Order€contained€specific€findings€of€fact€andÏconclusions€of€law€and€comported€with€all€statutory€requirements.€€òòIdóó.€atÏ(c).ÌÌà àDr.€McClellan€appealed€the€Initial€Order€to€the€UniversityÏPresident,€the€person€designated€by€agency€rule.€€òòIdóó.€at€„315(b).€€He€didÏnot€request€a€rehearing€based€on€procedural€irregularities.€€òòIdóó.€at€„317(a).€ÏHe€did€not€raise€the€issues€he€now€presents€in€his€Petition€for€Appeal,Ïthough€required€by€statute€to€state€the€basis€for€the€appeal.€€òòIdóó.€at€„315(c).ÌÌà àOn€appeal,€the€President,€as€the€person€reviewing€the€Initial€Order,€Ïwas€required€to€exercise€the€same€authority€that€the€Agency€would€haveÍhad€to€render€a€decision€had€the€Agency€presided.€€òòIdóó.€at€(d).€€In€effect,Ïthe€review€conducted€by€the€President€is€de€novo€on€the€record.€€TheÏreviewing€agency€or€designated€person€can€require€a€transcript,€mustÏallow€briefs,€and€can€allow€oral€argument.€€The€œreviewer›€may€affirm,Ïreverse,€or€require€further€proceedings.€€òòIdóó.€at€(d)„(h).€€Nothing€suggestsÏthat€the€review€procedure€which€preceded€the€issuance€of€the€Final€OrderÏwas€anything€but€complete.€€Consequently,€in€effect,€the€actions€of€theÏhearing€officer€and€committee€became€irrelevant€after€the€review€andÏentry€of€the€Final€Order.ÌÌà àA€second€reason€for€our€ruling€affirming€the€procedures€used€isÏimplicit€in€the€first€discussion.€€Dr.€McClellan€did€not€object€to€theÏhearing€procedures€before€the€hearing,€at€any€time€during€the€hearing,Ïafter€the€hearing,€or€in€his€Petition€for€Appeal.€€His€first€complaint€was€inÏhis€Petition€for€Judicial€Review.€€One€appearing€before€an€administrativeÏtribunal€must€make€timely€objections€to€procedural€errors€and€must€raiseÏthe€errors€at€the€administrative€level€in€order€to€preserve€them€forÏconsideration€in€a€petition€for€judicial€review.€€òòIn€re€Billing€&€CollectionÏTariffs€of€So.€Cent.€Bellóó,€779€S.W.2d€375,€380€(Tenn.€App.),€òòpermóó.Ïòòtoóóòòappealóóòòdeniedóó,€(Tenn.€1989).ÌÌà àJudicial€review€of€an€agency€decision€is€confined€to€theÏadministrative€record,€except€in€limited€circumstances.× ƒ9 ××  ×€€òòMetropolitanÏGov't€v.€Shacklettóó,€554€S.W.2d€601€(Tenn.€1977).€€It€follows€that€it€is€noÏless€incumbent€for€a€party€to€an€administrative€proceeding€to€raise€issuesÏof€procedural€irregularity€than€it€is€for€a€party€in€a€judicial€proceeding.€ÏThe€administrative€tribunal,€like€the€trial€court,€must€be€given€theÏopportunity€to€correct€procedural€errors.€€Allowing€parties€to€acquiesceÏœin€the›€procedures,€but€to€challenge€those€same€procedures€on€appeal€isÏinefficient€and€unreasonable.€€Had€Dr.€McClellan€complained€of€theÏprocedure€initially,€or€even€in€his€Petition€for€Appeal€of€the€Initial€Order,Ïthe€procedures€could€have€been€clarified€or€even€modified.€€He€did€notÏraise€the€issue€until€long€after€it€could€have€been€explored€and,€ifÏnecessary,€rectified.€€He€cannot€be€heard€to€complain€at€this€late€date.× ƒ: ××  ×ÌÌà àOur€final€reason€for€affording€Dr.€McClellan€no€relief€on€hisÏprocedural€challenges€is€the€Act€itself.€€We€have€already€noted€the€liberalÏconstruction€which€we€must€give€the€Act€resolving€issues€in€favor€of€anÍagency's€power.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€4„5„103(a)(1991€Repl.).€€We€haveÏalluded€to€the€deference€required€of€agency€actions.€€In€addition,€the€ActÏrequires€that€"[n]o€agency€decision€pursuant€to€a€hearing€in€a€contestedÏcase€shall€be€reversed,€remanded€or€modified€.€.€.€unless€for€errors€whichÏaffect€the€merits€of€the€decision."€€òòIdóó.€at€„322(I)(1995€Supp.).€€TheÏDavidson€County€Chancery€Court€and€the€Court€of€Appeals€(with€theÏexception€already€discussed)€found€no€error€affecting€the€merits.€€WhileÏwe€realize€that€this€statutory€"harmless€error"€rule€specifically€applies€toÏthe€"reviewing€court,"€we€find€that€none€of€the€complaints€raised€by€Dr.ÏMcClellan€affected€the€decision€which€was€clearly€supported€by€theÏevidence€and€subjected€to€multiple€reviews.€€Dr.€McClellan€was€providedÏa€fair€hearing€and€meaningful€review€in€accordance€with€the€UniformÏAdministrative€Procedures€Act.€€We€deny€relief€on€the€basis€of€theÏclaimed€procedural€irregularities.ÌÌà@ àœò òIII.ó ó›Ìà àThe€second€issue€for€our€consideration€is€whether€substantial€andÏmaterial€evidence€supports€the€findings€that€Dr.€McClellan€violated€theÏapplicable€policies€pertaining€to€harassment.€€Dr.€McClellan€challengesÏthe€factual€findings€as€being€insufficient.€€We€must€determine€whetherÏ"such€relevant€evidence€as€a€reasonable€mind€might€accept€to€support€aÍrational€conclusion€and€.€.€.€to€furnish€a€reasonably€sound€basis€for€theÏaction"€exists€on€this€record.€€òòPace€v.€Garbage€Disposal€of€Wash.€Co.óó,€390ÏS.W.2d€461,€463€(Tenn.€1965).€€ÌÌà àThe€State€Board€of€Regents€Policy€in€applicable€part€states:ÌÓÓà àII.à àGeneral€StatementÌÌà8 àà8 àSexual€harassment€and€racial€harassment€haveÏbeen€held€to€constitute€a€form€of€discriminationÏprohibited€by€Title€VII€of€the€Civil€Rights€ActÏof€1964,€as€amended€and€Title€IX€of€theÏEducational€Amendments€of€1972.€€Other€typesÏof€harassment€are€prohibited€by€applicable€law.€ÏAn€institution€or€school€may€be€held€liableÏpursuant€to€Title€VII€and/or€lose€federal€fundsÏpursuant€to€Title€IX€for€failure€to€properlyÏinvestigate€and€remedy€claims€of€sexual€or€racialÏharassment.ÌÌà àA.à8 àGenerally,€sexual€harassment€may€be€defined€asÏunwelcome€sexual€advances,€requests€for€sexualÏfavors,€and€other€verbal€or€physical€conduct€of€aÏsexual€nature€when€one€of€the€following€criteriaÏis€met:ÌÌà àà àà à.€.€.ÌÌà àà à3.à àsuch€conduct€has€the€purpose€or€effect€of€Ìà àà àà àunreasonably€interfering€with€an€individual's€Ìà àà àà àwork€performance€or€educational€experience€Ìà àà àà àor€creating€an€intimidating,€hostile€or€Ìà àà àà àoffensive€work€or€educational€environment.€€Ìà àà àà àWhether€the€alleged€conduct€constitutes€à àÌà àà àà àsexual€harassment€depends€upon€the€record€asÌà àà àà àa€whole€and€the€totality€of€the€circumstances,€Ìà àà àà àsuch€as€the€nature€of€sexual€advances€in€the€Ìà àà àà àcontext€within€which€the€alleged€incident€Ìà àà àà àoccurred.ÌÌÌÌÓÓà àThus,€sexual€harassment€may€occur€when€conduct€of€a€sexualÏnature€€affects€an€individual's€work€or€educational€experience€or€createsÏan€intimidating,€hostile,€or€offensive€work€or€educational€environment.€ÏThe€policy€correctly€does€not€differentiate€between€sexual€harassment€inÏthe€workplace€and€sexual€harassment€in€an€academic€setting.€€There€is€noÏmeaningful€difference.€€ÌÌà àIn€analyzing€the€evidence€in€this€case€we€turn,€as€we€often€have€inÏcases€under€our€state's€Human€Rights€Act,€to€Title€VII,€the€federalÏemployment€discrimination€statute.€€Recently€we€noted€in€òòCampbell€v.ÏFlorida€Steel€Corp.óó€_____€S.W.2d€_____€(Tenn.€1996)€that€the€UnitedÏStates€Supreme€Court€first€recognized€hostile€environment€harassmentÏunder€Title€VII€in€the€case€of€òòMeritor€Saving€Bank€FSB€v.€Vinsonóó,€477ÏU.S.€57€(1986).€€In€òòMeritoróó,€the€Court€recognized€that€"Title€VII€affordsÏemployees€the€right€to€work€in€an€environment€free€from€discriminatoryÏintimidation,€ridicule,€and€insult.€€477€U.S.€at€65€(citing€òòRogers€v.ÏE.E.O.Cóó,€454€F.2d€234€(5th€Cir.€1971)).€€When€the€harassing€conduct€hasÏ"the€purpose€or€effect€of€unreasonably€interfering€with€an€individual'sÍwork€performance€or€creating€an€intimidating,€hostile,€or€offensive€workÏenvironment,"€it€is€actionable.€€òòIdóó.€at€65.ÌÌà àAlthough€òòMeritoróó€and€òòRogersóó€were€employment€discriminationÏcases,€their€rationales€are€applicable€in€the€academic€environment€as€well.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòDay€v.€Taylor€Indep.€School€Distr.óó,€975€F.2d€137,€149€(5th€Cir.Ï1992).€€"Women€need€not€endure€sexual€harassment€by€state€actors€underÏany€circumstances,€the€school€setting€included."€€975€F.2d€at€149.ÌÌà àHere,€the€State€Board€of€Regents€policy€specifically€defined€sexualÏharassment.€€That€definition€includes:€€"Unwelcome€sexual€advances€.€.€.Ïand€other€verbal€or€physical€conduct€of€a€sexual€nature€when€.€.€.€suchÏconduct€has€the€purpose€or€effect€of€unreasonably€interfering€with€anÏindividual's€work€performance€or€educational€experience€or€creating€anÏintimidating,€hostile€or€offensive€work€or€educational€environment."€ÏGuideline€P„080,€II,€A.€3.€€Thus,€it€is€apparent€that€the€Board€policyÏmirrors€the€present€United€States€Supreme€Court€holdings€defining€sexualÏharassment.€€Our€inquiry€is€whether€material€and€substantial€evidence€inÏthis€case€establishes€that€Dr.€McClellan's€conduct€constituted€sexualÏharassment€of€Ms.€White.ÌÌà àLike€most€disputes€that€are€resolved€in€our€courts€or€administrativeÏtribunals,€the€evidence€in€this€case€is€controverted.€€Ms.€White€and€threeÏeyewitnesses€detailed€the€conduct€of€Dr.€McClellan€during€theÏadministration€of€Ms.€White's€EKG.€€Their€testimony€is€consistent.€ÏFurther,€their€testimony€establishes,€at€the€very€least,€verbal€conduct€of€aÏsexual€nature€which€interfered€with€Ms.€White's€educational€experience.€ÏMs.€White's€testimony,€more€explicit€than€the€others,€establishesÏinappropriate€physical€conduct,€including€physical€contact€as€well.ÌÌà àConversely,€Dr.€McClellan's€testimony€casts€an€innocent€light€onÏthe€episode.€€His€witnesses,€while€corroborative€of€portions€of€hisÏtestimony,€were€not€physically€present€in€the€EKG€room.€€TheirÏtestimony€is€therefore€less€probative€on€what€occurred€inside€than€is€theÏtestimony€of€the€persons€actually€present.€€Based€on€these€facts,€aÏreasonable€person€could€conclude€that€Dr.€McClellan's€conduct€was€of€aÏsexual€nature€and€created€an€offensive€educational€environment€for€Ms.ÏWhite.€€Specifically,€Ms.€White€detailed€the€effect€that€the€conduct€had€onÏher.€€While€Dr.€McClellan€emphasizes€that€she€functioned€well€enough€toÏget€an€"A"€in€the€class,€that€does€not€foreclose€a€finding€that€theÏenvironment€€was€offensive€or€even€intimidating.€€History€is€replete€withÏexamples€of€determined€persons€who€fared€well€despite€adversity.€€ÌÌà àDr.€McClellan€argues€that€his€absence€of€prurient€intent€bars€aÏfinding€of€sexual€harassment.€€We€disagree.€€The€definition€of€sexualÏharassment€set€forth€in€the€guidelines,€which€is€the€equivalent€of€that€inÏthe€statutes,€demonstrates€that€the€focus€is€on€the€effect€of€the€conduct€onÏthe€victim€rather€than€the€intent€of€the€actor.€€Ms.€White€described€herselfÏas€shy€and€private.€€Her€demeanor€on€the€stand,€gleaned€from€herÏtestimony,€supports€this€description.€€The€incidents€caused€her€to€seekÏpsychological€counseling€and€treatment€for€depression.€€ÌÌà àDr.€McClellan€repeatedly€described€his€remark€as€"flippant"€andÏ"facetious"€arguing€that€it€"strains€credulity€to€believe€that€a€reasonableÏperson"€could€be€affected.€€This€argument,€while€wholly€consistent€withÏDr.€McClellan's€crude€manner,€disregards€the€objective€standard€appliedÏin€the€Sixth€Circuit€and€in€Tennessee€€òòYates€v.€Arcoóó,€819€F.2d€630,€637Ï(6th€Cir.€1987).€€Applying€that€standard,€rather€than€the€approach€takenÏby€Dr.€McClellan,€we€conclude€with€little€difficulty€that€the€incidentÏviolated€the€Board€Policy€on€sexual€harassment.× ƒ; ××  ×€€ÌÌà àDr.€McClellan€also€argues€that€his€conduct€cannot€rise€to€the€levelÏof€sexual€harassment€because€it€was€an€isolated€incident.€€While€acts€mustÏbe€"sufficiently€severe€or€pervasive"€to€constitute€sexual€harassment,€thatÏrequirement€does€not,€by€definition,€exclude€cases€in€which€a€singleÏincident€occurs.€€If€a€single€incident€is€severe,€it€may€be€actionable€asÏsexual€harassment€despite€the€fact€that€the€conduct€was€not€repeated.€€InÏother€words,€conduct€may€be€actionable€because€of€frequency€or€gravity.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòe.g.óó,€òòEllison€v.€Bradyóó,€924€F.2d€872,€878€(9th€Cir.€1991);€òòAndrews€v.ÏCity€of€Philadelphiaóó,€895€F.2d€1469,€1484€(3d€Cir.€1990);€òòCarrero€v.ÏNew€York€City€Housing€Authorityóó,€890€F.2d€569,€578€(2d€Cir.€1989).€€AÏsingle€incident,€of€sufficient€gravity,€may€constitute€sexual€harassment.€ÏòòSeeóó€òòCampbell€v.€Kansas€State€Universityóó,€780€F.Supp.€755€(Kan.€1991).€€ÌÌà àIn€this€case€conflicting€testimony€was€presented.€€Issues€ofÏcredibility€and€weight€were€resolved€against€Dr.€McClellan€at€every€level.€ÏOur€review€is€limited€to€determining€whether€the€findings€are€supportedÏby€substantial€and€material€evidence.€€òòSouthern€Ry.€Co.€v.€State€Bd.€ofÏEqualizationóó,€682€S.W.2d€196€(Tenn.€1984).€€We€are€not€at€liberty€toÏreevaluate€the€evidence€or€substitute€our€judgment€for€that€of€theÏfactfinder.€€òòHumana€of€Tenn.€v.€Tennessee€Health€Facilities€Comm'nóó,€551ÍS.W.2d€664€(Tenn.€1977).€€The€evidence€is€sufficient€to€establish€aÏviolation€of€the€Board€policies€prohibiting€sexual€harassment€andÏunprofessional€conduct.ÌÌà àAs€noted€by€the€learned€Chancellor:€€"[t]he€appropriate€remedy€isÏpecularily€within€the€discretion€of€the€[agency].€.€.€."€€Having€foundÏgrounds€to€affirm€the€procedures€employed,€facts€found,€and€conclusionsÏreached,€we€will€not€interfere€with€the€sanctions€imposed€upon€Dr.ÏMcClellan.€€We€remand€for€the€appropriate€imposition€of€those€sanctionsÏand€tax€the€costs€of€this€appeal€to€Dr.€McClellan.€€ÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà à__________________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àPenny€J.€White,€JusticeÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌAnderson,€C.J.ÌDrowota,€Reid,€Birch,€J.J.Ì