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| Inside this edition: Penn State’s accrediting agency seeks documents related to student life, House Democrats want to restore power to regulate abandoned oil and gas wells, and a free virtual event on Pa.’s opioid settlement money spending. |
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Penn State’s accrediting agency is seeking more information from the university about student life, treatment of student-athletes, and use of third-party services for students, with a decision on whether or not to take action slated for July.
During the 2022-23 academic year, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a federally recognized accrediting service for universities, requested Penn State send materials about student success and institutional ethics policies.
“The requests from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education are part of routine follow-up if MSCHE requires any additional information,” Penn State wrote in an email to Spotlight PA. “Penn State is complying with all MSCHE requests for details and is affirming our compliance with the standards identified by the commission.”
Accrediting agencies like Middle States monitor universities to ensure they follow federal and state regulations, as well as standards set by the agency and approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Students must attend an accredited institution to receive federal financial aid.
An accrediting agency can warn a university its accreditation may be at risk or place a university on probation if the institution violates agency guidelines or federal regulations, for example. The agency can withdraw accreditation or deny future accreditation if problems are not resolved.
Middle States warned Penn State in 2012 that the institution’s accreditation was in jeopardy following the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and the subsequent Freeh Report, which documented institutional failings that reportedly led to the scandal. Penn State’s accreditation was later reaffirmed.
The accrediting agency’s policy bars the public release of the commission’s request or Penn State’s answers, though a Middle States spokesperson told Spotlight PA in a March email that it sought documents “in response to two different media reports, one relating to an investigation involving student athletes and another relating to alleged hazing by a student organization.”
Last summer, unsealed search warrants revealed that at least one Penn State student-athlete was reportedly extorted in fall 2021 into sending sexually explicit photos and videos — including videos of naked or partially naked people in the football team’s locker room and videos showing multiple men having sex with a woman — to the alleged extortionist. Charges were not filed in the case. The university said at the time that it did not have evidence that the sexual acts in the videos were not consensual.
In February, the university said an internal investigation in 2021 determined that misconduct occurred in the Lion Ambassadors, a student group responsible for giving campus tours to prospective students. However, the university said its review did not substantiate allegations of hazing that a former Lion Ambassador publicly leveled against the program last summer.
A Middle States spokesperson initially told Spotlight PA that the agency would issue a decision related to the requested materials in March or April.
However, according to the commission’s website, Middle States requested additional materials from Penn State in April, including documents that show:- “A campus climate that fosters respect among all constituencies, including but not limited to intercollegiate athletic programs and student groups.”
- “Student life programs that are regulated by the same principles and procedures that govern all other programs.”
- “Periodic assessment of programs in support of the student experience.”
- “Adequate and appropriate institutional review and approval of student support services designed, delivered, or assessed by third-parties.”
What triggered that request is unclear. However, a ProPublica investigation in February revealed that Penn State’s student health insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare, paid the salary of the university employee who coordinates coverage for students, a potential conflict of interest. The university declined to disclose how many other employees are in similar situations or how the public can identify those employees.
The university’s deadline to provide the most recently requested materials is July 5, according to the agency’s website. Middle States plans issue a decision following their receipt, an agency spokesperson wrote in an email to Spotlight PA.
Penn State remains accredited and in good standing with Middle States at this time.
—Wyatt Massey, Penn State Investigative Reporter |
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“It’s pretty much a no-brainer. It’s a win for everybody.”
—State Sen. John DiSanto (R., Dauphin), who introduced a bill that would allow the Pa. Treasury to proactively return unclaimed funds to taxpayers |
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» How Harrisburg Works: New caucuses, special election season, and the death of a bill
» Pa. State troopers more likely to do optional searches for Black, Hispanic drivers than white ones
» Pa. is sitting on billions in unclaimed property. This bill would get some of it back to its owners.
» Pa. limited a board’s power to regulate abandoned oil and gas wells. Democrats want to restore it.
» How one northeast Pennsylvania county runs drama-free elections with just 2 people on staff
» POLICING VS TREATMENT: Join us tonight at 6 pm ET for a free panel on how Pa. wants to spend a $1B opioid settlement, the policing versus treatment debate, and how Pennsylvania’s spending plans compare to other states’. Register here and submit questions to events@spotlightpa.org.
» ELDER LAW: Join us Thursday, June 1 at 6 pm ET via Zoom for a free Q&A on Pennsylvania’s elder protection laws and how they could be improved. Register for the event here and submit your questions to events@spotlightpa.org.
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Centre Daily Times photographer Abby Drey captured this photo of George Etzweiler, 103, rappelling down Beaver Stadium on May 19 for the Centre County United Way Over the Edge fundraiser.
Want to be featured here? Send your best local pics to talkofthetown@spotlightpa.org. |
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Want us to list your event? Send it to us.
» May 25-29: Memorial Day celebrations in Boalsburg kick off with the fire company carnival.
» May 26: Philipsburg Revitalization Corporation hosts its Wine Walk and Brew Haha.
» May 26: See Mars and the Big Dipper through the telescopes at Cherry Springs State Park.
» May 26-27: The 31st Blossburg State Coal Festival celebrates the area’s coal mining history.
» May 26-28: Folk College — held at Juniata College in Huntingdon — features live music and workshops. |
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An anagram is a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another. For example, “spotlight” also forms “stoplight.”
Decode the anagram and send your answer to talkofthetown@spotlightpa.org. We’ll shout out winners here, and one each week will get some Spotlight PA State College swag.
Q U I T E
Good luck!
Last week’s answer: Flesh
Congrats to Skip B., who will receive Spotlight PA State College swag. Others who answered correctly: Tish M., Amy Z., Don H., Martina M., Donna D., Jeffrey F., and Jay G.
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Do you have events, community shoutouts, questions about our region, or tips on stories that we should pursue? Email our team.
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