In April, Scott Sada, who graduated from Penn State Behrend with a plastics engineering technology degree, hit his 82nd double against Medaille to become the NCAA Division III all-time leader in career doubles. He would add eight more before the season ended.
Four Penn State teams have earned an NCAA Public Recognition Award for posting elite scores in this year's Academic Progress Rate compilation, including the Nittany Lions' most recent NCAA championship squad.
In a study with NCAA athletes, researchers found that the more closely a player identified as being part of their team, the more likely they were to conform to their teammates' behavior. This was true for both risky and positive behaviors.
The Nittany Lions posted a perfect 9-0 record in session two of the 2018 NCAA Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. Head coach Cael Sanderson's squad is looking to win its seventh NCAA title in the last eight years.
By a unanimous vote, the Penn State Board of Trustees today (Jan. 16) approved the terms of a proposed settlement of the lawsuit relating to the Endowment Act. According to the settlement, the July 2012 Consent Decree between Penn State and the NCAA has been dissolved, and all punitive sanctions eliminated.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett today (Jan. 2) announced the filing of a federal lawsuit by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania against the NCAA over its sanctions against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Penn State is not a party to the lawsuit and has not been involved in its preparation or filing.
University officials said, "The University is committed to full compliance with the Consent Decree, the Athletics Integrity Agreement and, as appropriate, the implementation of the Freeh report recommendations. We look forward to continuing to work with Sen. George Mitchell as the athletic integrity monitor for complete fulfillment of the Athletics Integrity Agreement. We recognize the important role that intercollegiate athletics provides for our student athletes and the wider University community. Penn State continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to excellence and integrity in all aspects of our University and continues to be a world-class educational institution of which our students, faculty, staff and alumni can be justifiably proud."
Today (Dec. 20), at the NCAA's request, Penn State set aside the first $12 million installment of the $60 million fine imposed by the NCAA into a money market account. The deposit into the account will allow sufficient time for the NCAA's Child Sexual Abuse Endowment Task Force to develop policy recommendations that will govern the structure and operational philosophies of the endowment to be created related to the consent decree.
The task force charged by the NCAA to set up policies for the endowment being created from the $60 million NCAA-imposed fine against Penn State met Dec. 3 and reports that an administrator of the fund will be selected by spring.
Sen. George Mitchell, the independent third-party athletics integrity monitor for Penn State, today (Nov. 30) issued his first report regarding the University's performance under the Athletics Integrity Agreement, which was entered into in August by the University, the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference as part of the consent decree imposed by the NCAA.
The University is moving forward quickly to fulfill the requirements of the Athletics Integrity Agreement entered into in August among the NCAA, the Big Ten and the University. Penn State is currently searching for an athletics integrity officer to develop, implement and oversee policies and practices within the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics that ensure compliance and ethical conduct. The appointment of an integrity officer is expected to occur within the next 60 days.
The NCAA today (Sept. 18) announced it has established an independent task force to develop the philosophy and guidelines for the $60 million endowment, created under the consent decree imposed by the NCAA, that will benefit external programs for the prevention of child sexual abuse and victim treatment.
The Penn State Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting via conference call at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12. The sole purpose of the special meeting is for the trustees to consider ratification of the binding consent decree imposed by the NCAA and accepted by the University. The public can listen to the meeting at WPSU.org/live online.
The NCAA on Wednesday (Aug. 1) selected former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell as the independent athletics integrity monitor at Penn State. His five-year appointment begins immediately. As athletics integrity monitor, Mitchell will evaluate Penn State's compliance with NCAA sanctions and the athletics integrity agreement it will execute with the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference. "We look forward to working with former Maine Sen. George Mitchell, who will coordinate with the University, including the Athletics Department, to ensure that the University complies the terms of the athletics integrity agreement," said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. "His extensive experience on the boards of major companies such as Xerox, FedEx, Staples and Disney, and deep understanding of the sports industry, make him uniquely qualified for this position. University representatives hope to meet with Sen. Mitchell soon to discuss how we will work together."
Penn State Abington Chancellor Karen Wiley Sandler announced today (Aug. 1) that the college has achieved full active membership in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III, effective Sept. 1.
The Penn State Board of Trustees met for a discussion Wednesday (July 25) regarding the penalties and corrective actions announced on Monday by the NCAA. A vote was not required and none was taken. After the meeting, they released the following statement:
"The Board finds the punitive sanctions difficult and the process with the NCAA unfortunate. But as we understand it, the alternatives were worse as confirmed by NCAA President Mark Emmert's recent statement that Penn State was likely facing a multi-year death sentence. The University and Board resolve to move forward together to recognize the historical excellence in Penn State's academic and athletic programs. We anticipate and look forward to demonstrating our outstanding performance in complying with the sanctions. We continue to recognize the important role that intercollegiate athletics provides for our student athletes and the wider University community as we strive to appropriately balance academic and athletic accomplishments. Penn State will remain a world-class educational institution of which our students, faculty, staff and alumni can be justifiably proud. The commitment demonstrated by our student athletes in recent days embodies all that is good about Penn State and we look forward to unprecedented support by the Nittany nation when we take the field this fall."
