PENN STATE'S ACCREDITATION "IN JEOPARDY"

The Law Offices of Charles Jerome Ware, a national general practice law firm: Still working. Still committed. Still here to make a difference.

Unfortunately, sometimes when it rains it pours. Metaphorically speaking. Bad news again for Penn State.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an accrediting organization for universities in the Mid-Atlantic region, has issued an "accreditation warning" to Penn State University that its status is "in jeopardy" because of recent and ongoing developments in the disastrous Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.

In its letter, the Commission cited information in Penn State'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.

If the MSCHE were to pull Penn State's accreditation --- which is has not done --- the University would face loss of eligibility for federal student aid programs, guaranteed student loans, federal research, and could lose its eligibility for state aid, among other damaging repercussions.

The Commission also wants the report to address the University's ability to bear financial obligations (i.e., lawsuit settlements, verdicts, et al.) 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."

[www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48655774/ns/us_new-life/08/14/2012; www.cnn.com/2012/08/14/US/penn-state-accreditation; www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/morningedition/"pennstatecouldloseaccreditation"/08-14-2012; www.huffingtonpost.com/penn-state-receives-accreditation-warning/08-14-2012]