Tennessee Code Title 49. Education § 49-8-106

(a) The governing board of each institution subject to this chapter is authorized and empowered to establish reserve officers training corps units in any public college or university under its jurisdiction, to execute and deliver bond, with or without surety, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required by the United States, for the care and safekeeping of the transportation animals, arms, ammunition, supplies, tentage, and equipment that may be necessary or desirable for the operation, conduct, and training of any reserve officers training corps units of the armed forces of the United States authorized by law at any time, to be conducted in conjunction with any public college or university under its jurisdiction.

(b) The authority delegated to a governing board in subsection (a) may, at the board's discretion, be delegated to the presidents of the several universities, colleges, and institutions, now or hereafter under its control.

(c) Nothing in § 49-3-1106 shall limit the authority conferred in this section.

(d) Under authority of this section, suits may be brought by the United States against the individual state universities or the community college system of this state.