Former U.S. Senator George Mitchell will serve as the independent athletics integrity monitor at Penn State for the NCAA.
 
The NCAA announced Mitchell's five-year appointment on Wednesday. He begins immediately. The NCAA says Mitchell will evaluate Penn State's compliance with NCAA sanctions and the integrity agreement with the NCAA and Big Ten. College sports' governing body says Mitchell will have "broad access to campus, personnel and records" and make any recommendations necessary for Penn State to comply with its requirements.
 
The NCAA last week levied strict sanctions against the school for the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, including a four-year postseason ban, significant scholarship reductions and a $60-million fine. Mitchell will prepare quarterly reports for the NCAA, Big Ten and Penn State trustees.