Penn State to survey students, staff on values

Pennsylvania State University in the fall will administer a university-wide survey to students, faculty and staff on values and principles.

"We want to be open and receptive to ideas from the entire community rather than just push something from the top down," said David Gray, senior vice president for finance and business.

Gray announced the survey at a Thursday afternoon meeting of the board of trustees' committee on legal and compliance issues. The survey is another effort the university is making in the wake of the child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, now in prison. Former FBI Director Louis Freeh and his group recommended the university examine its "culture" in a blistering investigative report on the scandal and establish a set of Penn State values and principles.

Gray said the recommendation on culture is "arguably the most challenging" one to address. The university is receiving assistance from the Ethics Resource Center, a non-profit organization based in Washington D.C. That organization will help with the development and administration of the survey, he said.

Gray said all students, faculty and staff will be surveyed.

"Literally all," he said. "That's our intent to be as broad-based and inclusive as we possibly can be."

The university is working on drafting a list of value statements and will ask: "What's missing? What are the things you hold near and dear?"