Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced the start of an audit of The Pennsylvania State University that will review — among other things — the university’s reforms since the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal, governance changes, and efforts to control tuition hikes.
“Nearly five years have passed since the news broke about Sandusky’s sexual abuse of children,” DePasquale said. “Through this audit, we will test the university’s implementation of new policies and procedures intended to prevent sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.”
Specifically, DePasquale said auditors will review the extent to which Penn State has implemented recommendations of a November 2012 Department of the Auditor General’s special report on governance reform in wake of the child sexual abuse scandal. Auditors also will determine if the university complies with all requirements for state and federal background checks for employees and others affiliated with the university.
The audit will also evaluate how the university responded to the report’s recommendations regarding the structure and function of the board of trustees’ governance related to transparency and accountability.
“We also will look at how Penn State complies with the federal and state laws relating to sexual violence prevention and response, sexual assault prevention, dating violence education and the protection of minors,” DePasquale said. “A university campus should be a safe place for all.”
He said auditors will also review any efforts by Penn State to control costs and hold the line on tuition increases.
“Parents and students at Penn State, and all college and universities for that matter, are grappling with how to pay for higher education,” DePasquale said. “Controlling spending is key to keeping tuition costs reigned in, and such expenditure monitoring is especially important for a taxpayer-supported institution such as Penn State.”
The audit will cover Jan. 1, 2013 through the end of audit procedures.