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Accrediting agency sends warning to Penn State

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Accrediting agency sends warning to Penn State

Pennsylvania State University on Monday said it was issued a warning from an accrediting agency over its handling of the child sexual abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Gerald A. Sandusky.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education on Aug. 8 notified Penn State of an accreditation warning based on information in an independent report released by former federal judge and former director of the FBI Louis Freeh, Penn State said in the statement.

The report concluded that top officials at Penn State did nothing to investigate child sexual abuse allegations against Mr. Sandusky.

The accreditation warning also takes into account the unprecedented $73 million in fines and penalties imposed by the NCAA and the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors for the university's failure in handling the scandal.

Penn State's “accreditation is in jeopardy based on information contained in the institutionally commissioned report of the special investigative counsel…and the binding consent decree imposed by the (NCAA) and accepted by (Penn State),” Middle States said in the warning.

The Philadelphia-based Middle States Commission accredits degree-granting colleges in the Middle States region, including Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, among other locations.

Middle States said there is “insufficient evidence” that Penn State is in compliance with its requirements which include governance, integrity and financial issues related to information in Mr. Freeh's report and the school's stability in addressing financial obligations related to the scandal, the commission said.

“We must be clear about what this warning means so there are no misunderstandings," said Blannie Bowen, vice provost for academic affairs and Penn State's accrediting liaison officer, in the statement. "This action has nothing to do with the quality of education our students receive.”

The university must submit a monitoring report to the commission by Sept. 30, which will then decide whether to remove the warning, keep it in effect or take other action, Penn State said.

"The commission wants us to document that steps we have already taken and are planning to take will ensure our full compliance with its requirements,” Rodney Erickson, president of Penn State, said in the statement. “I am confident that we will provide that documentation by the Sept. 30 deadline Middle States has given us.”

Because of its fiscal policies and practices, university officials believe there are “sufficient unrestricted resources along with insurance coverage” to address expected litigation, claims and other costs, Penn State said in the statement.

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