Former District 28 Metro Councilmember Tanaka Vercher is suing Tennessee State University, alleging the school fired her from her role as director of financial aid for refusing to participate in illegal activities.
According to a complaint filed in Davidson County Chancery Court on Monday, Vercher worked in TSU’s administration for 21 years. In her position, she performed a “reconciliation” process where she confirmed that students who had applied for federal financial aid were eligible for that aid, a necessary step before the government can distribute funds. But she alleges that in August, amid the school’s economic troubles, consultants and school leadership attempted to pressure her into requesting the distribution of federal financial aid before the reconciliation process was complete.
The suit alleges the issue came to a climax on Aug. 27, when Vercher met with then-TSU Chief of Staff Curtis Johnson, Barbara Tharpe, who now works in Vercher’s former role, consultant Beau Briggs and other top administrators, including members of the president’s office.
“During this meeting, Ms. Vercher estimated that more than twenty percent of TSU students had been admitted without proof of a high school diploma or its equivalent,” reads the suit. A high school diploma is required for a student to be eligible for financial aid. “Her refusal to request funds for these students meant a loss of approximately $7,000,000 in available cash to TSU. Mr. Briggs repeated that TSU could not wait until the reconciliation process was complete in October for distribution of these funds.”
On Aug. 28, Vercher received an email from TSU informing her that she had been fired.
“She had previously received highly favorable performance reviews and had just been given a raise in July, one month earlier,” reads the suit. “No reasonable explanation exists for Ms. Vercher’s termination. The only explanation is that TSU was retaliating against her for her refusal to request government funds for TSU, to which she knew TSU was not entitled. The action that TSU was requesting Ms. Vercher take was illegal and a violation of important public policy.”
Vercher, who is represented by Elizabeth Hart of the Franklin-based Swafford Law Firm, is asking for back pay, front pay and damages.
The suit is yet another bump in the road for TSU during ongoing issues. On Nov. 22, the school’s board unanimously voted to fire the school’s top lawyer and cease payments to former president Glenda Glover, who was set to be paid $1.7 million over the next four years.
Update, 2 p.m.: A day later, TSU emailed the following statement:
“Tennessee State University has been made aware of the lawsuit filed yesterday and does not comment on pending litigation. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and will address the matter appropriately as it progresses. All further questions should be directed to the State Attorney General’s Office.”