<p>Yes, probation is possible. I do not believe that a major research university ever has lost accreditation, and I am not aware of a major research university ever being put on probation. I have to believe that even a warning of loss of accreditation is somewhat unprecedented for a major research university. Loss of accreditation would be a catastrophe. Probation might not be a catastrophe, but it wouldn’t be far off in terms of the reputational damage. Any top potential student or faculty member would have to take seriously the possibility that PSU would lose accreditation if it were put on probation. The Middle States Association would not be doing this if it did not believe that there are serious deficiencies in the governance of PSU, that is what the MSA looks at and is focused on. This will not get nearly the press as the football sanctions, but Penn State people should be apoplectic about this, it is potentially more important by orders of magnitude. The entire board should resign and be replaced, not specifically because of the Sandusky scandal, but because to allow it to get to the point where accreditation is threatened is a complete and total failure on their part. Essentially, the PSU board could not have done worse.</p>
<p>I would guess that it is unlikely.</p>
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<p>[Accreditor</a> Warns Penn State Over Handling of Sex-Abuse Scandal - Government - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“http://chronicle.com/article/Accreditor-Warns-Penn-State/133621/]Accreditor”>http://chronicle.com/article/Accreditor-Warns-Penn-State/133621/)</p>
<p>With Spanier’s indictment coming down today, the ability of PSU to put the scandel behind them has been pushed out at least another year. More indictments are likely and everyone’s running for cover. Not a great environment to spend one’s college years.</p>
<p>LakeClouds - from what I hear from my son and his friends - they just aren’t spending every waking moment thinking about who has been indicted, when trials are beginning, what the board is doing, or who is still complaining about the sanctions. </p>
<p>They are much too busy going to class, studying, taking tests, completing projects, interviewing for summer internships - and when they take a break they are hanging out with friends, enjoying campus activities, supporting the various sports teams, going to parties, and looking forward to Christmas break. </p>
<p>Seems like a pretty typical college experience to me.</p>
<p>Grcxx3-Ditto for my daughter.</p>
<p>It’s the same for my DD. She loves Penn State and is very happy with her choice. I doubt she is even aware of what is going on with the cases. She is much too busy with school work, clubs, THON, and social activities. She, like most college students, is in her own little world.</p>
<p><<with spanier’s="" indictment="" coming="" down="" today,="" the="" ability="" of="" psu="" to="" put="" scandel="" behind="" them="" has="" been="" pushed="" out="" at="" least="" another="" year.="" more="" indictments="" are="" likely="" and="" everyone’s="" running="" for="" cover.="" not="" a="" great="" environment="" spend="" one’s="" college="" years.="">></with></p>
<p>I was just there visiting - and it seemed to me like a typical college atmosphere - and a great place to spend one’s college years. Everyone there is doing just fine.</p>
<p>Although these stories are all anecdotal, I know quite a few kids there, all freshman, who are all very happy with their decision to attend Penn State. They are having great experiences, are very much engaged in university sponsored activities, are working hard, and in general seem like typical college kids. I’m happy for them.</p>
<p>Ditto for my DH who is on the faculty.</p>
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<p>As a Penn State student I can firmly say that this statement is inaccurate. No one on campus is paying attention to it because we are simply to busy with school work, activities, work, etc. As I said before the scandal has no affect on the academics at PSU.</p>
<p>Does Corbett’s lawsuit against the NCAA just open old wounds?</p>
<p>Interesting criticism of Corbett’s federal law suit against the NCAA, in USA Today.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/christinebrennan/2013/01/02/penn-state-football-ncaa-tom-corbett-christine-brennan/1804551/[/url]”>http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/christinebrennan/2013/01/02/penn-state-football-ncaa-tom-corbett-christine-brennan/1804551/</a></p>
<p>The saga continues…</p>
<p><a href=“Investigation to Focus on Governor’s Handling of Penn State Abuse Case - The New York Times”>Investigation to Focus on Governor’s Handling of Penn State Abuse Case - The New York Times;
<p>This whole mess could really be turned into a mini series, at least. Corbett is far down in the polls and will do whatever he can to be re-elected. After a budget proposal that cut PSU’s budget in half when he first took office he has now quit slashing and is attempting to play the white knight in the NCAA debacle. Meanwhile, the new AG ran on a promise to investigate the investigation. I think Corbett’s days are numbered (and I, for one, would not be sorry to see him go).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Bob Costas is back on the scene-
<a href=“http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/04/bob_costas_in_radio_interview.html[/url]”>Bob Costas, in radio interview, promises fresh look at Joe Paterno's culpability - pennlive.com;
<<costas, in=“” an=“” interview=“” on=“” st.=“” louis=“” radio=“” station=“” kqqz=“” monday,=“” said=“” “there=”" is=“” going=“” to=“” be=“” a=“” further=“” examination=“” of=“” this=“” whole=“” issue=“” the=“” next=“” month=“” or=“” two,=“” and=“” i=“” will=“” at=“” center=“” that=“” nbc.“=”">></costas,></p>
<p>The saga will continue for years as various events transpire, e.g. lawsuits, articles on the sanctions, interviews, investigations, elections, etc. Fortunately the students don’t seem to be paying the price for this travesty, and the academic reputation of Penn State and its popularity with corporate recruiters remain strong.</p>
<p><<fortunately the="" students="" don’t="" seem="" to="" be="" paying="" price="" for="" this="" travesty,="" and="" academic="" reputation="" of="" penn="" state="" its="" popularity="" with="" corporate="" recruiters="" remain="" strong.="">></fortunately></p>
<p>As it should be.</p>
<p>It looks like Spanier and his cronies are dragging this scandal out prolonging the agony for PSU. Why doesn’t he just take his medicine so PSU can begin to recover?</p>
<p>[Grand</a> jury judge says former Penn State administrators charged over sex scandal are stalling | Fox News](<a href=“http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/05/07/grand-jury-judge-says-former-penn-state-administrators-charged-over-sex-scandal/]Grand”>Grand jury judge says former Penn State administrators charged over sex scandal are stalling | Fox News)</p>
<p>Scandal impacting Trustees election. Some want to sweep under the rug.</p>
<p>NPR story:</p>
<p>[After</a> Abuse Scandal, Penn State Alums Battle For Board Spots : NPR](<a href=“http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180361649/after-abuse-scandal-penn-state-alums-battle-for-board-spots]After”>http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180361649/after-abuse-scandal-penn-state-alums-battle-for-board-spots)</p>
<p>The election was weeks ago.</p>
<p>Hesitate to revive this thread but–
[State</a> College, PA - U.S. News & World Report: Penn State Ranks 8th Among Public Schools, 37th in Country](<a href=“http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/us-news-world-report-penn-state-ranks-8th-among-public-schools-37th-in-country,1381852/]State”>http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/us-news-world-report-penn-state-ranks-8th-among-public-schools-37th-in-country,1381852/)</p>
<p>No need to get into a debate about the validity of the rankings; there are plenty of other places on the CC forums to do that.</p>