SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Former Ivy Tech South Bend chancellor Tia Robinson-Cooper is suing Ivy Tech, claiming she was terminated due to her race and/or gender, which is discrimination and illegal.

She also accuses Ivy Tech of violating the Family Leave Medical Act.

Robinson-Cooper said she received outstanding ratings by the president of Ivy Tech, Sue Ellspermann, in December 2022. Then in January 2023 she told the president that she needed knee surgery.

Ellspermann reportedly pressured Robinson-Cooper to continue working despite her physical limitations and recovery. Then between October 2023 and March 2024, Robinson-Cooper was told she had several 'Ethic Points' against her related to her professional conduct at Ivy Tech. She denies having done anything wrong to receive said Ethic Points.

On March 6, 2024, Robinson-Cooper was fired, allegedly one day prior to her scheduled knee surgery. The reason for her termination was listed as an additional Ethic Point against her.

In her lawsuit, Robinson-Cooper claims "Caucasian individuals engaged in worse conduct and they were not terminated." It also mentions her being denied use of a college vehicle for work purposes, while "a male colleague – the Columbus Chancellor, was permitted to use a college vehicle for personal travel over an extended time." Robinson-Cooper alleges Ellspermann knew she was being treated differently than "similarly situated Caucasian employees."

Robinson-Cooper goes on to say that she later applied to over 200 jobs in the US and at least 20 in Indiana, including Notre Dame. But she alleges that when these colleges/universities asked Ivy Tech to explain her termination, they falsely stated she was terminated for repeated ethics violations.

Robinson-Cooper suggests she was not hired by Notre Dame or these other colleges as a direct result of Ivy Tech "lying."

Because of this, the lawsuit also accuses Ivy Tech of defamation.

The lawsuit accuses Ivy Tech of:

• Title VII Race and Gender Discrimination
• 14th Amendment Equal Protection violation
• Equal Pay Act violation
• Violation of the Family Medical Leave Act
• Negligent Retention
• Blacklisting
• Defamation
• Respondent Superior violation

Robinson-Cooper is asking the court to:

• Award Plaintiff back pay and benefits lost
• Award Plaintiff medical and health insurance expenses
• Award Plaintiff travel and job search expenses
• Award Plaintiff compensatory damages for future pecuniary loss, emotional pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life
• Award Plaintiff punitive damages
• Award Plaintiff her cost in this action and reasonable attorney fees
• Award Plaintiff an Injunction
• Grant Plaintiff any other relief which is allowable under the circumstances of this case.

The lawsuit was filed on July 21.

A spokesperson for Ivy Tech Community College released the following statement regarding the suit:

"We are aware of the lawsuit, but the College has not yet been served.

The College does not base employment decisions on race, gender, or ethnicity or any other protected class. The College follows all federal and state laws.

Beyond that, I cannot comment on pending litigation."