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Penn State finalizes child abuse reporting policy

Posted On: Jun. 8, 2012 12:00 AM CST

Penn State finalizes child abuse reporting policy

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—Pennsylvania State University has finalized a new administrative policy that requires all employees to report suspected child abuse to state officials.

The policy requires all Penn State employees that have reasonable suspicion of child abuse to make a report to the university and state officials, the State College, Pa.-based school said in a Thursday statement.

“The policy provides guidance to university employees regarding mandated reporting requirements according to the university and the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law,” Penn State said in the statement. “These and other new policies and adjustments to existing ones are part of a focused and concerted effort by the university to become an academic and research leader nationwide in the protection of children.”

In conjunction with the new policy, the school said it revised and made clarifications to its policy regarding minors on campus.

The policy additions and revisions come as the embattled university addresses child sexual abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Gerald A. Sandusky.

Mandatory reporting training for employees that directly interact with children on campuses was initiated in April and online training is being developed to be offered this year for all new employees.

As of June 1, 900 Penn State employees have received the training, Penn State said. Penn state has 17,780 full-time employees.

According to the policy, any university employee that willfully fails to report a case of suspected child abuse will be subject to disciplinary action, including potential dismissal.