The announcement comes five years after the Education Department announced in 2011 that it was launching the review. | John Shinkle/POLITICO Education Department fines Penn State $2.4M for Sandusky cover-up

The Education Department Thursday announced a $2.4 million fine against Penn State University for its handling of assistant coach and convicted sexual abuser Jerry Sandusky — the largest fine ever assessed under the Clery Act.

The penalty follows 11 "serious" findings of noncompliance related to the handling of Sandusky's crimes and the university's "longstanding failure to comply with federal requirements on campus safety and substance abuse," the department said. The announcement comes five years after the Education Department announced in 2011 that it was launching the review.


"For colleges and universities to be safe spaces for learning and self-development, institutions must ensure student safety — a part of which is being transparent about incidents on their campuses. Disclosing this information is the law,” said Ted Mitchell, the department's undersecretary. “When we determine that an institution is not upholding this obligation, then there must be consequences.”

Under the Clery Act, colleges and universities are required to disclose the number of criminal offenses on campus that are reported each year. In addition, in certain cases, the institution must issue a timely warning if a reported crime represents a threat to the campus community.

Sandusky was convicted in 2012 of sexual abuse of 10 boys and is serving a lengthy state prison sentence. Head Coach Joe Paterno, Sandusky's supervisor, was fired. Paterno died of lung cancer in January 2012.

According to the findings, Penn State “did not issue an emergency notification to its students and employees after Penn State’s senior officials learned of the forthcoming forcible sex offense and child sex abuse charges against Sandusky.”

The letter said that the department’s review team determined that “even prior to the Sandusky indictment, the University had significant evidence that Sandusky posed a danger to the campus community but continued to provide him unfettered access to the campus buildings and facilities.”

Penn State has until Nov. 25 to request an administrative hearing or ask the Education Department to reconsider the fine. The college has not indicated what course of action it will take.

In a statement, Penn State leaders said they are “conducting a thorough review" of the Education Department's findings.

"We will comment further when our thorough evaluation of the department’s 239-page report has been completed,” the school said.

The university said it had given the department “unfettered access” and now has “robust Clery training and collection processes.”

“While regrettably we cannot change the past, today the University has been recognized for significantly strengthening our programs since 2011,” the statement said. “The safety and security of our University community is a top priority and we are dedicated to full compliance with the Clery Act and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act.”

A related Education Department Office for Civil Rights investigation of Penn State remains open.