Jenny Wright, former director of student judicial affairs, has been cleared of any misconduct following a 13-month investigation.

In May 2013, Wright was accused of having inappropriate relationships with student athletes. She was placed on leave pending an investigation based on a claim the university received about alleged inappropriate behavior, UT Media Relations Director Karen Simsen said.

Despite receiving positive reviews from peers and superiors during her five years as associate director and then director of Student Judicial Affairs, UT officials fired Wright. According to an August 2013 report from the Knoxville News Sentinel, Wright claimed she was pressured and harassed by UT administrators before being fired for failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The Daily Beacon contacted Wright this week for a statement, but did not answer emails, responding instead through her attorney Robert Kurtz. Her attorney released a statement stating Wright is relieved that the investigation has concluded.

“Ms. Wright has consistently maintained that she never engaged in any type of inappropriate conduct with or against students,” according to the statement. “Ms. Wright’s performance evaluations reflect that she always acted with the utmost propriety and professionalism, even when faced with difficult decisions and arduous conflict within the University.”

The university’s Office of Communications and Marketing released a statement last week reporting that the investigation conducted by an external source has concluded that Wright did not violate any university policies, and that a national search for a new director has begun.

“The entire judicial process has been reviewed by an external team,” Simsen said, adding that “judicial procedures are being changed based on the external review of the office.”

Simsen said an internal program review of Student Judicial Affairs has also been completed. Similar program reviews in academic departments and student service units are standard procedure in academia, Simsen said. The reviews bring forth best practices and recommendations for improvements. Several recommendations were identified within Student Judicial Affairs and those changes are being implemented now and over the next year, she said.

When asked if the university was concerned about a potential lawsuit from Wright, since she was fired from the university before the investigation revealed the allegations against her were false, Simsen said the university had no comment.

Results of the external review called on university officials to develop a policy prohibiting romantic relationships between University students and employees, and to develop a policy prohibiting relationships between students and University employees who have responsibilities related to student disciplinary actions and compliance matters.

It was also recommended that all employees of the Athletics Department and the Division of Student Life acknowledge in writing that engaging in a prohibited relationship will be grounds for disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

In addition, the report recommended specific steps the Chancellor should take regarding issues of compliance.

It calls for Athletic Department employees to be better informed about the consequences of threats against employees. It also calls for greater cooperation in instances of student disciplinary actions.

Any effort to obstruct an investigation or discipline of students would be a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and grounds for disciplinary action, including termination.

The final report was delivered to Chancellor Jimmy Cheek on June 4. According to the university’s press release Cheek takes the recommendations in the report seriously, and will review them and take appropriate action in a timely manner.