Penn State re-launches information website
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State President Rodney Erickson today announced the re-launch of the "Openness" website at http://progress.psu.edu.
The new version of the website is the next step in the University’s work to ensure broader communications with key Penn State stakeholders, including current and prospective students and their families, alumni, faculty and staff, local communities, and state and national media. The “Progress” website includes new functionality and features that make it easier to find, receive and share information.
“This is the next iteration of our information resource that is designed to anchor communications discussing difficult issues from the last year, including ongoing legal matters, in addition to providing updates on the initiatives we've put in place to address the serious issue of child abuse,” said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. “This step is a natural progression of our original website and will help keep the Penn State community informed on the important work and progress taking place.”
Openness was the first iteration of the University’s official online response and communications channel designed to address the difficult issues from last year and ongoing legal matters. As the University continues to make progress on the initiatives it created and put into action in the last several months, shifting to “Progress” is a natural evolution that allows us to build on the initial concept that the “Openness” website conveyed with new focused content, functionality and technology.
The “Progress” website houses sections with information about the ongoing legal matters; the independent investigative review led by Louis Freeh, former FBI director and federal judge, that is currently underway into all aspects of the University’s actions with regard to the allegations of child abuse involving a former Penn State employee; and University initiatives put into action in the last several months. The information in these sections also reflects a recent decision by the Board of Trustees to make the Freeh Report available to the University community, the Board of Trustees, the media and the general public simultaneously.
The website also contains new content highlighting the University’s role as a world-class academic and research institution. The website features a resource library that includes a range of relevant documents and materials, in addition to contact information for University spokesperson David La Torre.
In response to feedback from various groups throughout the Penn State community, media and other “Openness” website readers, the new website includes a number of technology and functionality updates. Social sharing features, an email subscription function, RSS capability and feature stories have been added to help make the new website content sharable and better aligned with other Penn State web properties. Content will also be searchable by topic, keyword and tags to increase ease of navigation throughout the website.
The previous “Openness” website has been archived and will remain accessible for reference via the new “Progress” URL in multiple locations throughout the website. All old “Openness” URLs will be automatically redirected to “Progress” going forward since the archived website will no longer be updated.
FAQ:
Q1: Why did you change from Openness to Progress?
Openness was the first iteration of the University’s official online response and communications channel designed to address the difficult issues from last year and ongoing legal matters. As the University continues to make progress on the initiatives it created and put into action in the last several months, shifting to “Progress” is a natural evolution that allows us to build on the initial concept that the “Openness” website conveyed with new focused content, functionality and technology.
Q2: Why are you keeping the old website?
To enable those comfortable with the previous layout of the “Openness” website, we decided it best to maintain access to the archived content and material. Over time, we may decide to fully merge all of the material into Progress and remove the old “Openness” website, but our plan is to keep it live in an archived format for the immediate future.
Q3: Does this mean you are abandoning the openness concept and no longer being fully transparent as you promised?
We see this as a continuation of our pledge to provide more and better information to the Penn State community and beyond. It's an ongoing process and we will continue to evolve the way we communicate online and through other communications channels.
Q4: Will you continue to post documents, salaries, contracts, and other materials that you posted on the Openness website?
The “Progress” website includes a Resource Library and a section for feature stories and updates. As needed, we will continue to post topic-relevant materials to this website that may be helpful and appropriate to share with the Penn State community. It is important to note that this will remain a priority unless it is off topic or barred by law, contract or privacy rights.
Q5: Are you losing anything with this new website?
By archiving the old “Openness” website we are ensuring that nothing is permanently deleted and it remains available online.
Q6: If you’ve incorporated more modern technology and functionality, why don’t you allow reader comments?
Due to the sensitive nature of the topics covered on the “Progress” website, we believe the new format is most appropriate without public reader commenting enabled. We continue to encourage you to provide feedback in a variety of different channels, both online and offline, including the “Contact Us” feature on the homepage. The University will try its best to respond to all topic-relevant questions and post them on this website unless it is off topic or barred by law, contract, or privacy rights.
Q7: How often will you update the website?
The University may update this website as often as needed, but it will likely depend on new developments associated to legal matters and related to the ensuing initiatives put into place in the last year.
Q8: Who is maintaining the website?
The University maintains this website through a committee of various representatives, including the University’s public information officers, the Office of University Relations, the Office of the President, the Board of Trustees and the communications partners we are working with at Edelman and La Torre Communications.
Q9: From where are the funds coming to pay for costs associated with this website?
The costs surrounding legal defense and public relations efforts for the University associated with the Sandusky matter are not funded by student tuition, taxpayer funds or donations. The University maintains General Liability and Directors & Officers insurance policies which are expected to cover the defense of claims brought against the University and its officers, employees and trustees. Legal and other expenses not covered by insurance are expected to be funded from interest revenues related to loans made by the University to its self-supporting units. As a common business practice, the central University -- which has the ability to finance bonds backed by its credit rating -- is able to loan its self-supporting units money for special projects. These units do not have their own borrowing authority, but they are all part of the University's credit profile. As an example, in the case of the most recent $100 million Beaver Stadium expansion, the University bore the risk to finance a bond at a variable rate during a favorable financial period. The University then loaned funds at a fixed interest rate to Intercollegiate Athletics, which then repaid the loan with interest from its ticket sales, club seats leases, sponsorships and other income generated. The interest from this loan is then placed into a fund that can be used for more projects in the future or in emergency situations. Therefore, uninsured expenses can be covered by this interest and will not be funded by student tuition, taxpayer funds or donations. Compensation paid to all such attorneys, consultants and firms will be regularly updated and all expenses are audited.
Q10: Whose decision was it to make the Freeh Report available to everyone at the same time? Isn’t this a change from an earlier position where the Board of Trustees would receive the report first, and then release it more broadly?
The Board of Trustees made the decision to make the Freeh Report available to the University community, the Board of Trustees, the media and the general public simultaneously. The report is expected to be released late this summer. In January, Judge Freeh’s initial recommendations were announced for improving organizational structures and protocol, and the University has made significant progress toward addressing these recommendations.