Penn State University has revised its board of trustees’ bylaws, tightening media interaction protocols for its members. This decision was made during the board’s recent meeting, aiming to ensure that individual statements are not mistaken as the board’s official stance.
The newly implemented guidelines stipulate that trustees must consult the board office before discussing board-related topics with the media. Additionally, they are encouraged to adhere to advice from both the board office and the Office of Strategic Communications.
Find the specific changes in the board’s bylaws under “Section 2.04 Role and Responsibilities of Trustees,” on pages 9 and 10 in this PDF document.
Anthony Lubrano, a trustee, was the sole dissenting vote against these new rules. “I don’t think what we’re suggesting here is best practices particularly around the notion that our speech be limited any more than it already has been limited,” he commented.
Expressing concerns about the new regulations, Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, remarked, “It has the potential to discourage public debate about important issues, including the expenditure of millions of dollars of taxpayer money.”
In the fiscal year, Penn State received $242 million in general state support.
The revised policy underscores that while active discussions are encouraged during board meetings, public comments by individual trustees could be inaccurately identified as representing the board’s collective viewpoint. Trustees are urged to prevent such misunderstandings.
Melewsky highlighted the dual responsibility of public officials, noting they serve not only the board but also the broader public. She emphasized that Penn State is considered a public agency in these contexts. “It is routine for reporters to keep asking questions where these policies are in effect and very common for public officials to ignore the policies,” she added.
Coach Compensation Oversight Adjustments
In addition to media policies, the Penn State trustees’ equity and human resources committee has revised its oversight of coach compensation. The new guidelines require HR committee approval if a head coach’s salary exceeds that of the university president. This change follows the recent dismissal of James Franklin as the football coach, whose 10-year contract included a hefty buyout nearing $50 million.
For more details on these updates, refer to page 4 of this PDF document.
Read further coverage from our partners at WPSU.
