Penn State = Open sewer

[Armando Ramos]

MSCHE steps up? We shall see...

Penn State receives accreditation warning
By RON TODT (Associated Press) | The Associated Press – 1 hour 23 minutes ago..

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Penn State has been put on notice by an accrediting organization that says the university's status is ''in jeopardy'' based on recent developments in the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which accredits universities in the Mid-Atlantic region, cited information in the school's internal investigation led by former FBI director Louis Freeh and the severe penalties imposed by the NCAA over the school's handling of molestation allegations against the former assistant football coach, who was convicted in June of 45 child sexual abuse counts.

In an Aug. 8 notice, the commission said that Penn State remains accredited while ''on warning'' but it wants a monitoring report submitted by the end of next month detailing steps taken to ensure full compliance with governmental requirements, that the university's mission is being carried out, that the commission will be fully informed and that Penn State is complying with standards on leadership and governance as well as integrity.

The commission also wants the report to address the university's ability to bear financial obligations stemming from ''the investigation and related settlements, etc.'' It said ''a small team visit'' will be made, a standard practice ''to verify institutional status and progress.''

Penn State officials on Monday expressed confidence that they would be able to address all concerns expressed by the commission.

University president Rodney Erickson said that 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.'' He said he was also confident that officials would be able to ''fully demonstrate our financial stability.''

''This action has nothing to do with the quality of education our students receive,'' said Blannie Bowen, vice provost for academic affairs in a statement posted on the university's website. ''Middle States is focusing on governance, integrity, and financial issues related to information in the Freeh report and other items related to our current situation.''

Bowen said the body doesn't issue a warning unless it believes that an institution can make improvements and remain in compliance, and ''this is certainly true for Penn State.

''We're confident that our monitoring report and the site visit will confirm this to the commission,'' Bowen said.

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Most Recent Commission Action:
August 6, 2012:

To warn the institution that its accreditation is in jeopardy based on information contained in the institutionally commissioned Report of the Special Investigative Counsel (Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP, July 12, 2012) and the Binding Consent Decree Imposed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and Accepted by the Pennsylvania State University (July 23, 2013) and insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance with the Requirements of Affiliation 5 (compliance with all applicable government policies, regulations, and requirements) and 9 (institution's governing body responsibility for the quality and integrity of the institution, for ensuring that the institution's mission is being carried out, and for making freely available to the Commission accurate, fair, and complete information on all aspects of the institution and its operations) and with Standard 4 (Leadership and Governance) and Standard 6 (Integrity). To note that the institution remains accredited while on warning. To request a monitoring report due by September 30, 2012 documenting steps that have been taken and are planned to ensure the institution's full compliance with Requirements of Affiliation 5 and 9 as well as Accreditation Standards 4 and 6. In addition, to request that the monitoring report also address Accreditation Standard 3 (Institutional Resources) with regard to the institution's capacity and plans for addressing financial obligations that will or may result from the investigation and related settlements, etc. A small team visit will follow submission of the monitoring report. To remind the institution that the Commission must continue to be informed of any further significant related developments, including the provision of copies of any and all relevant external reports. The due date for the next evaluation visit will be established when accreditation is reaffirmed.

https://www.msche.org/documents/sas/351/...Status.htm