Accreditation warning issued to Penn State

[RandySF]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — An accrediting organization has told Penn State that its 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.

The commission said in an Aug. 8 notice 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."


http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Accreditation-warning-issued-to-Penn-State-3785765.php#ixzz23UYyGZV8

[longship]

1. Jerk their accreditation. Screw them!

They put stoooopid football above their students. Better yet, jerk the accreditation for their grad school. See how they do then.

Sports is the bane of academia. I despise football. It is an inane, stupid sport, only above the other major college sport, basketball, which is a well known insomnia cure.

If you want to learn, go to the university. If you want to play, go to the pro sport farm systems. Quit poisoning our universities with your rubbish.

[dogknob]

2. Ab-So-Fucking-Lutely

Make a lasting example of them. Make them pay for everyone to attend other schools.

An example needs to be made. America's collective priorities are a threat to its national security.

Our culture needs to be on the next episode of Intervention.

[longship]

4. In this horrific case, hell yes.

It went on for years!!! Under the noses of those who not only knew, but turned their heads. If you think this stopped at Paterno, you're delusional.

Fuck Penn State's criminality. They knew they had a paedophile in their midst, but stoooopid football came first. Bashing heads together is more important than keeping students safe from this shit. And they let it happen for fucking years!

Justify it if you want, but I cannot.

[Zalatix]

3. I'd be opposed to yanking their whole accreditation...

Wouldn't that make any degree at Penn State worthless?

I would, however, be open to a COMPLETE TURNOVER of their athletic staff. And any administrators above them. "Wipe them out. All of them."

[dogknob]

6. If I understand the NCAA penalty...

...all credits for the football players who want to bail will transfer.

This should be available to EVERYONE!

And no, of course it should not be applied retroactively. I'm using that word ("retroactively&quot before it joins the list of words that no longer have meaning thanks to the GOP... like "Treason," "Hitler," "Election Fraud..." Y'know.

[Confusious]

9. No, it wouldn't

If they were to loose their accreditation, any credits gained before the loss would count.

example:

If you already graduated from penn state, the degree would still count.

If you were still an undergrad, any classes taken before the loss would count, any taken after the loss would not.

[Zalatix]

10. But my point is, if you do this to Penn State, you would have to leave to another college

Now you have the inconvenience of having to leave, and the extra crowding at other schools.

This really hurts a lot of innocent students, not just the dingbats who ran out and rioted for Sandusky.

[cali]

12. There would be a plan to bring the University into compliance

and the University would have a certain amount of time to do so. In any case, this is a warning and a request for changes.

[Confusious]

15. Sorry misread your post a little

Thought you ment " any degree from" present and past included.

Yea, you're right, people would have to leave, and it does seem a bit drastic, but I think they're just making sure penn can still pay the bills, and aren't taking money from scholastics.

Once they show that, the whole thing will blow over. I really don't see them pulling accreditation. Even if they did, penn would get a warning and have a couple of years to make corrections.

It wouldn't be overnight.

[Freddie]

5. Punishing the students

Who had NOTHING TO DO WITH IT is a real positive solution. Go to hell, seriously.

I'm a bit prejudiced as I'm a Penn State Parent. The students were just as surprised as the rest of the world when the story broke. They don't all worship JoePa (my son certainly does not) and PSU football is not their sole reason for attending the school. My son was happy when they took the statue down and just wants to move on and get his education. He chose PSU not for football but because it's one of the finest academic universities in the country.

[dogknob]

8. I empathize, so what do you suggest?

The current NCAA sanctions are not enough to make a lasting example in U.S. history, which is exactly what is warranted here.

Take this with whatever degree of outrage you find suitable, but our country's culture needs a drastic re-vamp of its priorities or we are finished. The forsake-all-for-sports mindset, which may not be yours and is definitely not mine, needs to go. Gone. Yesterday. And only something really big and unforgettable will start that process.

[Zalatix]

11. So we punish innocent students, too? Really?

Please, consider that issue.

[dogknob]

13. If all credits transfer to the student's school of choice (burden on PSU to make that happen)...

Then yes, raze the place.

Make the names Sandusky, Paterno et al. live forever in infamy. Hold them shamefully responsible for the total destruction of a university and all of the resulting fallout. May their names be as legendary as Mudd in American history.

Our national cover-your-buddy's-ass, it's-not-a-crime-unless-you-get-caught, jocks-rule-all culture must be struck an ultimately fatal blow if we seriously want to have any hope of being #1 in anything besides consumption of world resources and gun crime.

Placing sports above everything is a cornerstone of our diseased culture.

Not like this will actually happen. It's just my opinion. PSU will get some standards they have to meet by a deadline and they will drag their heels and get extensions and passes and hire Chick-Fil-A's PR guys because that's what we do in America.

"The Makeover Capital of the World."

[yoyossarian]

14. America!

Where spelling doesn't count; people's pets do!

KITH ROCKS!

I agree with you. I think they should convert the grounds to a toxic dump.
I do. I don't care for sports all that much. Never did.
Heroes! That's what heroes look like, son!
Give me a break.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

16. if it were only the football program i would agree

but this went to the top of the university indicating systemic problems there... if you think this is just about the football program you either haven't been paying attention or ... well, hell, I can't think how you would think that.

sP

[uponit7771]

7. This is going too far, the students don't deserve this and the board members weren't covering up...

...the horrid bastard actions of a relative few shouldn't hurt that school to that degree