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TSU Hearing Rescheduled So University President Can Appear

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A hearing into grade-fixing allegations at Tennessee State University has been pushed to next month. TSU president Portia Shields was unable to attend the hastily organized legislative hearing planned for Wednesday.

Administrators are accused of changing hundreds of “incompletes” to letter grades. President Shields has denied altering math scores and says any changes were an effort to follow new state guidelines meant to reduce the number incompletes given out.

However, the leader of TSU’s faculty senate and chapter of the American Association of University Professors have expressed concern.

Senator Jim Summerville of Dickson chairs the Higher Education Subcommittee. He calls the allegations “serious” and says if true they could “cheapen degrees.”

State lawmakers say the legislative hearing could exonerate TSU if it’s all a misunderstanding. They’re taking the issue seriously now that grades play a role in how much funding a school receives from the state.

Filed Under: Education, WPLN News Tagged With:

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Blake Farmer, Host, This Is Nashville

Blake Farmer is the host of “This Is Nashville,” the flagship weekday show of Nashville Public Radio. Previously, Blake spent 16 years at WPLN News, serving as host, editor and news director. Before a two-year radio hiatus with a Nashville-based healthcare company, Blake was one of the country’s most prolific healthcare audio journalists. He produced stories for both local and national programs, extending the reach of his reporting through a partnership with KFF Health News. Outside of work, Blake can be found running or biking on roads that other Nashvillians consider too busy for such activities. So far, he has always made it home to his wife of 20 years and two children.

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