NCAA establishes independent task force for $60 million endowment

The NCAA today announced it has established an independent task force to develop the philosophy and guidelines for the $60 million endowment, created under the Consent Decree, that will benefit external programs for the prevention of child sexual abuse and victim treatment.

“Since July, Penn State has received input from a variety of sources with respect to the structure and operation of the endowment, which we have passed along to the NCAA,” said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. “The NCAA has determined that at least one quarter of the annual disbursements from the endowment will be reserved for Pennsylvania organizations. However, recognizing that child sexual abuse is a national issue, the NCAA has determined that grants from the endowment will be available in other states as well. Penn State appreciates the commitments of the task force on this important endeavor that will help countless victims of child sexual abuse.”

The task force is charged with:

• Developing and recommending the philosophy by which the endowment earnings will be employed;
• Defining the types of programs to benefit from the endowment;
• Establishing criteria used to obtain grants from the endowment;
• Developing investment and spending practices to sustain the endowment;
• Determining the financial and legal structure for holding assets;
• Identifying and recommending an independent third-party to administer and manage the endowment assets; and
• Establishing appropriate reporting and accountability to monitor the performance and uses of the assets.

The NCAA has committed that at least 25 percent of the annual disbursements be used solely to benefit qualifying organizations in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania organizations also will receive the first round of funding released by the endowment. Under the terms of the Consent Decree, no University programs are eligible to receive funding from the endowment.

The 10-member task force will be chaired by University of California-Riverside Chancellor Tim White. Penn State University was permitted to appoint two members and selected Dr. Craig Hillemeier and Dr. Nan C. Crouter to serve on the task force.

As vice dean for clinical affairs at Penn State College of Medicine, Dr. Hillemeier is committed to advancing clinical education, patient care, service and research. He also serves as a professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics and medical director of Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Since joining the faculty 11 years ago, Dr. Hillemeier has been at the forefront of developing new approaches to health care that are efficient, effective and patient-focused.

Dr. Crouter has served as the Raymond E. and Erin Stuart Schultz Dean of the College of Health and Human Development since June 2007. She has a long history at Penn State, joining the faculty in the College of Health and Human Development as assistant professor of human development in 1981. She was promoted to associate professor in 1987 and professor of human development in 1993. During her Penn State career, she served as director of the Center for Work and Family Research (2002-06) and led the Social Science Research Institute and the Consortium for Children, Youth and Families at Penn State (2006-07).

Topics: ncaa, ncaa investigation, consent decree, president erickson, ncaa task force