Ethical Recruitment Policy OF PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS AND MILITARY AFFILIATED INDIVIDUALS: 3:22:00:02

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Responsible Officers: Veterans Affairs Program Manager; Director of  

Admissions and Records, Registrar  

Responsible Executive: Executive Vice President for Student Success 

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent standards for the recruitment of prospective students, including military affiliated students (such as service members, reservists, veterans, spouses, and other eligible family members), in compliance with requirements of federal law and Executive Order 13607, pursuant to the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Policy 2.03.01.03.  

II. SCOPE

All units, employees, and agents of Motlow State Community College (Motlow State).

III. POLICY

  1. Motlow State shall not pay any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment to any person or entity engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities, or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid (including military Tuition Assistance Program funds) for any prospective student, including military-affiliated individuals (as defined above in Section I). For purposes of this policy, a “prospective student” is any individual who has contacted, or been contacted by, Motlow State or its employees/agents for the purpose of communicating about enrolling at Motlow State and/or the availability/types of financial aid.
  2. High-pressure recruitment tactics are prohibited. “High-pressure recruitment tactics” include making multiple unsolicited contacts (three or more), including contacts by phone, email, or in-person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing enrollment of prospective students, including military-affiliated individuals or obtaining access to financial aid or tuition assistance funds.
  3. Motlow State prohibits using or offering inducements for securing enrollments of prospective students or obtaining access to financial aid or tuition assistance funds. Inducements include but are not limited to, any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals, or other item having a monetary value of more than an insignificant amount to any individual or entity or its agents, including third-party lead generators or marketing firms. This policy does not prohibit the payment of regular salaries to Motlow State employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all the applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of prospective students, including military-affiliated individuals, or obtaining access to financial aid or tuition assistance funds.
  4. Motlow State shall not make any misrepresentation(s) to prospective students, including military-affiliated individuals or their family members, regarding the nature of educational programs, financial charges, or employability of graduates. The prohibition shall apply to any direct or indirect contact with prospective students, including, but not limited to, any outreach, recruitment, marketing, advertisement, or admissions operation. Motlow State shall also prohibit the making or use of any false, erroneous, or misleading statements to a prospective student. Misrepresentation(s) includes any statement that has the likelihood or tendency to mislead under the circumstances, regardless of whether it is made visually, in writing, orally, or through other means.
  5. Motlow State is permitted to provide information about educational Motlow State-sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to prospective students, including military-affiliated individuals.
  6. Motlow State shall educate and monitor employees and third-party agents acting on behalf of Motlow State regarding compliance with this policy. Persons found to have violated the terms set forth in this policy will be subject to corrective action and potential disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
  7. This policy shall be stated, at minimum, in the Motlow State catalog and/or student handbook and uniformly applied to all prospective students. 

EXHIBITS

Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding

SOURCES

HISTORY

Revised: October 17, 2024; May 30, 2026 

TBR Office of Student Success: April 21, 2023; June 8, 2026 

TBR Office of General Counsel: May 20, 2023; TBD-Under Review 

Institutional Oversight Committee Approved: April 21, 2023; June 24, 2026 

President’s Cabinet Approved: April 5, 2023; Jully 14, 2026 

Effective Date: May 20, 2023; July 26, 2026