STATE COLLEGE — Penn State trustees received encouraging news Friday after an accreditation warning was lifted for the school. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education announced Friday the school is in full compliance with the agency’s governance, finance and integrity standards. The commission determined that Penn State is “responding appropriately” to the challenges created by the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal,” university president Rodney Erickson told the Board of Trustees. Middle States had issued a warning in August based on the fallout from the scandal that began a year ago with the arrest of Sandusky, a former assistant football coach. According to Erickson, Middle States said it was impressed by how the Penn State community responded to the scandal in emphasizing “unity and positive change over recrimination.” Middle States sent representatives to campus last month. The commission also evaluated Penn State finances, given that the school has spent $20 million to date on scandal-related costs and still faces potential civil settlements with Sandusky accusers.
