Penn State Establishes New Office of Investigations for Compliance

Penn State University is in the process of establishing a new Office of Investigations aimed at addressing policy-violation allegations and complaints related to discrimination and harassment involving employees. This initiative was announced through a job posting seeking a chief investigations officer to lead the office.

The new office is expected to employ around eight full-time staff members, along with the possibility of part-time positions. It will take over responsibilities previously managed by the Office of Ethics and Compliance, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, and Labor & Employee Relations.

The Office of Investigations will collaborate closely with the Office of Compliance and Civil Rights throughout the case management process. A university spokesperson confirmed that the reorganization of compliance and investigative functions is in its early stages, with more details anticipated later this fall. The initiative aligns with President Neeli Bendapudi's objective to enhance the university's system for reporting misconduct and bias.