In Wake of Paterno-Sandusky Scandal, Penn State Warned On Its Accreditation Status

Joe Paterno

Three years ago, Joe Paterno ruled Penn State and, by extension, held sway in the Keystone State. Revelations about Jerry Sandusky's sexual abuse of young boys pulled Paterno off his Happy Valley pedestal, though the late coach's name remains on the university's library. Now the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which certifies that schools are in compliance with accreditation standards, has warned Penn State its accreditation is "'in jeopardy'". The story, originally reported by Bloomberg, appeared in today's online edition of the Chicago Tribune.

For a major university, even a whiff of lost accreditation sends shock waves throughout the institution. It's almost inconceivable that a big-time school could be put on academia's version of a "death sentence." And make no mistake about it, loss of accreditation is fatal. Federal funding -- the lifeblood of major universities -- is contingent upon accreditation. Loss of DC dollars would compel a massive restructuring of the institution in question. Of course, money is at the heart of the morally corrupt culture at the heart of so many American universities.

It will be fascinating to see if Middle Schools pulls the plug on Penn State. Happy days are definitely not here again in Happy Valley.