Michigan State University says its chief academic officer has resigned after the school was fined $4.5 million in a federal investigation into how it handled sexual harassment and assault complaints.
President Samuel Stanley Jr. said in a statement Thursday that MSU "must have a culture of accountability." He says Provost June Youatt has stepped down.
Stanley says Youatt and former President Lou Anna Simon failed to appropriately respond to allegations against William Strampel, a medical school dean. Strampel was recently sentenced to a year in jail.
Strampel was accused of sexually harassing students and failing to monitor Larry Nassar, a former sports doctor who molested women and girls.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos says MSU created a "sexually hostile environment" by inadequately responding to students' complaints against Nassar and Strampel.
The university has agreed to a $4.5 million fine from the Department of Education. That’s the biggest fine ever under the Clery Act requiring the prompt reporting of certain crimes.
President Stanley has established an oversight committee to oversee changes required by the agreement.
