George Mitchell

STATE COLLEGE — Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell of Maine will oversee Penn State’s compliance with NCAA sanctions as the independent athletics integrity monitor at the university, college sports’ governing body announced Wednesday.

The NCAA said Mitchell had a five-year appointment that began immediately. He will receive “broad access” to campus, personnel and records and make any recommendations necessary for Penn State to comply with its requirements and “enhance adherence to NCAA and Big Ten (Conference) principles, values, ethics and rules,” the NCAA said in a statement.

The NCAA last week levied strict sanctions against the school for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, including a four-year postseason ban, significant scholarship reductions and a $60 million fine.

Mitchell will also evaluate Penn State’s compliance with an athletics integrity agreement with the NCAA and Big Ten. Penn State is expected to sign the agreement in mid-August, after it is reviewed by Mitchell.

“I enter this engagement mindful of the fact that this tragedy has deeply affected many lives, starting, of course, with the victims and their families,” Mitchell said. “I will do my best to fulfill my independent oversight responsibilities to help ensure that Penn State University moves promptly and decisively to achieve the very high level of trust and integrity needed to fulfill its important mission to those it serves.”

Mitchell has had a distinguished career as a statesman, including Independent Chairman of the Northern Ireland Peace Talks in the late 1990s.