UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As part of National Corporate Compliance Week, the Penn State Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) is highlighting the work of its various units. Three elements within OEC — the Athletics Compliance Office, the University’s Athletics Integrity Officer and the Office of Commonwealth Campus Athletics — help Penn State’s athletic programs reflect the University’s values.
Athletics Compliance Office
The mission of the Athletics Compliance Office is to help ensure that the 31 varsity programs on the University Park campus operate in full compliance with NCAA and Big Ten conference rules. The primary functions of the office include educating student athletes, coaches, staff and external constituents; compliance monitoring; investigating and reporting rules violations; and working with the NCAA and Big Ten on waivers, legislation and rule interpretations.
In addition, the compliance staff serve as the primary liaison between the athletics department and key University offices, including University Housing, Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Student Aid. In coordination with the Athletics Integrity Officer, the Athletics Compliance Office also assists with the implementation of Penn State’s Athletics Integrity Program. This initiative provides foundational education on NCAA, Big Ten, and institutional standards to more than 1,300 individuals annually through structured training sessions.
The Athletics Compliance Office, under the leadership of Athletic Compliance Manager Matthew Jakoubek, is composed of seven professionals whose diverse backgrounds encompass extensive experience in compliance and athletic administration. A primary focus of the staff is to support the Penn State community by providing interpretive guidance and educational resources. Individuals with questions are encouraged to contact the office via email at compliance@athletics.psu.edu.
Commonwealth Campus Athletics
In addition to the NCAA Division I program at University Park, Penn State is home to 19 intercollegiate athletic programs on campuses across Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth Campus Athletics Office currently oversees and supports nearly 200 teams and more than 2,500 student-athletes competing in NCAA Division III and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). Within this office, Penn State also operates its own intercollegiate athletic conference — the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC), made up of 13 campuses that also compete nationally in the USCAA. The conference offers 10 championship events and an awards platform for student athletes to be recognized for achievements in the classroom and on the field. The remaining Commonwealth Campuses compete in one of two Division III conferences in the region. The conference office oversees eligibility and compliance for PSUAC members and assists Division III campuses with navigating their own set of rules. The office also has created additional opportunities for Commonwealth Campuses by helping centralize various vendor and apparel agreements, as well as live streaming and recruiting software.
In addition to conference oversight, the Faculty Senate maintains a subcommittee — the Committee on Campus Athletics (CCA) — which reports to the Senate Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. The CCA’s responsibilities include approving campus athletic schedules, reviewing student-athlete eligibility reports, ensuring compliance with Policy 67-00, monitoring GPA requirements for both Division III and PSUAC student-athletes, overseeing academic progress and graduation rates, and providing consultation to campuses considering changes in athletic conference affiliation.
Athletics Integrity Officer
Recognizing that many serious issues related to intercollegiate athletics fall outside of NCAA or Big Ten rules, Penn State was one of the first institutions nationally to have established the role of an Athletics Integrity Officer. Tamla Lewis, associate general counsel for Penn State, has served as the University’s Athletic Integrity Officer since March 2022.
The Athletic Integrity Officer provides neutral investigatory expertise; assists with policy development, education and implementation of best practice standards within intercollegiate athletics; and serves as a liaison with other partners across the University, including the Office of Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Response, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access, the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, University Police and Public Safety, the Office of General Counsel and Human Resources.
The Athletics Integrity Officer reports both to President Neeli Bendapudi and the Penn State Board of Trustees Committee on Legal and Compliance.
In highlighting the work of the Athletics Compliance Office, the Athletics Integrity Officer, and the Office of Commonwealth Campus Athletics, Penn State underscores its commitment to integrity, accountability, and student-athlete success. These units work collaboratively to ensure that all athletic programs not only meet regulatory standards but also reflect the University’s core values. Through proactive education, policy development, and cross-campus collaboration, Penn State continues to lead by example in fostering a culture of compliance and ethical conduct in collegiate athletics.
Stay tuned to Penn State Today for daily articles about each functional area and visit the Office of Ethics and Compliance for more information.
Trivia Contest
Think you know your stuff? Test your knowledge during Ethics & Compliance Week with our Trivia Contest! Each day, we’ll be sharing a new trivia question related to ethics and compliance. Submit your answer, and if it's correct, you'll be entered into that day's prize drawing.
How to participate:
- Look out for the daily trivia question.
- Submit your correct response by 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7.
- Test your knowledge every day — all correct entries will be entered into a grand prize drawing to be given at the end of the week.
Trivia question #4
Approximately 800 student-athletes participate in the Division I athletic department. How many total student-athletes currently compete at the Commonwealth Campuses?
- 1,500
- 2,500
- 1,855
- 9,000