Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-8-302: Action against tenured employee - Grounds

"Adequate cause" for termination of faculty with tenure includes the following:

(1) Incompetence or dishonesty in teaching or research;

(2) Willful failure to perform the duties and responsibilities for which the faculty member was employed or refusal or continued failure to comply with the policies of the board, institution or department or to carry out specific assignments, when the policies or assignments are reasonable and nondiscriminatory;

(3) Conviction of a felony or crime involving moral turpitude;

(4) Improper use of narcotics or intoxicants that substantially impairs the faculty member's fulfillment of departmental and institutional duties and responsibilities;

(5) Capricious disregard of accepted standards of professional conduct;

(6) Falsification of information on an employment application or other information concerning qualifications for a position; and

(7) Failure to maintain the level of professional excellence and ability demonstrated by other members of the faculty in the department or division of the institution.