Michigan State Fined Record $4.5M by Education Department in Larry Nassar Case

Michigan State University has been fined $4.5 million by the United States Department of Education stemming from the Larry Nassar case.  

Per Ingrid Jacques of the Detroit News, the school agreed to the fine and a complete overhaul of its Title IX compliance procedures as part of an agreement with United States Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. 

"It became increasingly clear that any process that MSU had simply was not working, and, more accurately, broken," DeVos said. "I'm very thankful for the detailed and careful approach that each of these investigations took to what had gone on there."

Jacques noted Michigan State's $4.5 million penalty nearly doubles the previous record fine of $2.3 million paid by Penn State in 2011 as part of the fallout from the Jerry Sandusky scandal.  

Michigan State has to take corrective action that includes employing an independent Clery compliance officer, establish a new Clery compliance committee and a system of "protective measures and expanded reporting to better ensure the safety of its student-athletes in both intercollegiate and recreational athletic programs."

As part of a signed resolution agreement, the school will also make "substantial changes" to its Title IX procedures to ensure officials recuse themselves from Title IX matters and provide a way for anyone Nassar abused to seek out remedies if they haven't already done so.

A 1993 graduate of Michigan State's medical school, Nassar began working at the school as an assistant professor four years later. He also worked as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics from 1986-2015. 

Nassar is currently serving at least 100 years in prison after pleading guilty in three different cases to charges of criminal sexual conduct and child pornography.