Sen. George Mitchell on Friday released the second quarterly report assessing Penn State's progress under the Athletics Integrity Agreement.
Mitchell serves as an independent third-party athletics officer, a position implemented by the the AIA, which was reached as part of the NCAA consent decree that imposed sanctions on Penn State.
“We still have more to do, but we’re gratified that Sen. Mitchell and his team recognize all that we have done and that we are committed to continuing these efforts, in full compliance with the consent decree and the Athletics Integrity Agreement," University President Rodney Erickson said in a press release.
Among other key events, Mitchell said in his report his team has met with Penn State head coaches and athletics administrators to oversee their roles as "Team Monitors." He further outlined that his team has met with individuals from the Board of Trustees, Faculty Senate, and the administration on the topics of the AIA and the Freeh Report.
Mitchell noted that Penn State made the deadline for several requirements "with some limited exceptions" mandated under the AIA such as the adoption of a code of conduct for intercollegiate athletics, the establishment of an athletics integrity council and the appointment of athletics integrity officer, among others.
Mitchell said Penn State's request to be relieved of five Freeh Recommendations has been granted and 16 additional recommendations have been fulfilled since his last report. 40 recommendations remain in progress, he added.
The next quarterly report is set to be issued at the end of May.
"We will continue to reach out to, and make ourselves available to, Penn State’s many any constituencies to help us better understand the institution and the context for any recommendations we may make with respect to the AIA," Mitchell said in the report.
The full text of the report can be found on the website of Mitchell's law firm, DLA Piper.
