Penn State faculty suggests changes to trustees

(State College) -- A Penn State faculty senate panel says adding academic representation to the school's Board of Trustees would help the governing body understand the mission, values and complexities of overseeing the university.

The faculty report Monday is the latest set of recommendations to trustees looking into changes in governance following the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal.

The faculty committee recommends that more emphasis be placed on selecting trustees based on qualifications to help oversee running a university than on the constituency they represent.

It also recommends that the university president remain on the board, given the direct experience with higher education governance. That contrasts to former state Auditor General Jack Wagner's report last year that recommended removing the president as a voting trustee.