STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Penn State's president says the school has been strengthened by improvements to compliance and governance in the year since former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested on child sex abuse charges.

Rodney Erickson says the past year has been difficult, but that Penn State is a better university. He says the school remains a diverse institution focused on academics, research and service.

Erickson spoke to The Associated Press on Monday, part of a series of interviews with media outlets held a year to the day that Sandusky's arrest ignited the sweeping scandal that led to the ouster of Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno.

A criminal investigation continues. Erickson said he was optimistic about related inquiries by the Department of Education and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.