Tennessee Code Title 9. Public Finances § 9-1-103

(a) Except to the extent that sovereign immunity is expressly waived by the general assembly, all appropriations of state revenues and departmental revenues previously and hereafter made to the state, its departments, agencies, boards, educational institutions, instrumentalities, and incorporated entities performing the state's governmental functions shall be state funds and shall be protected by the state's sovereign immunity from every court's judgment, decree, attachment, or other legal process; provided, however, that any law authorizing an agency, board, or entity to sue or be sued shall not constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity.

(b) Except to the extent that sovereign immunity is expressly waived by the general assembly, all appropriations of state funds and institutional and program revenues previously and hereafter made to institutions and programs of higher education shall be state funds and shall be protected by the state's sovereign immunity from any court's judgment, decree, attachment, or other legal process; provided, however, that any law authorizing an institution or program of higher education to sue or be sued shall not constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity.