Penn State University’s Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal will continue to provide lessons to other universities — and others — on how not to react to such troublesome issues.

As the case makes its way through the court system, more details will emerge as to when university officials knew what was being alleged, what they did in response, and what mistakes were made once the information was in hand — and after the case became public.

The death of longtime football Coach Joe Paterno shifted much of the attention from Sandusky, the former assistant football coach who now awaits trial. But following Paterno’s funeral on Wednesday and memorial service on Thursday, the university community returned to the grim realities of what the Sandusky case means to Penn State — like the ways in which the university has suffered injury, including the steep financial costs it will incur, and whether others’ ties to the school might eventually have to be severed.

Differences of opinion remain about the board of trustees’ initial response and subsequent actions — such as the controversial firing of Paterno.

However, although the university’s reputation has suffered a setback, it is temporary. Those who say Happy Valley doesn’t exist anymore are wrong.

While the university might now be temporarily more subdued, it hasn’t lost faith in its basic values and its mission of providing quality education.

From the education standpoint, the university’s prime function, Penn State still enjoys the confidence of its students, alumni and many young people who aspire to enroll there.

The university will re-emerge from the Sandusky fallout stronger and more prepared to handle problems that might challenge it in the future.

And, other colleges and universities that have watched and paid attention to what Penn State is enduring will be better prepared to respond to challenges that test them.

Joe Paterno was a big part of Penn State, and his contributions to the university on and off the football field will forever be admired and appreciated. However, the university was and is much more than Joe Paterno.

The university doesn’t really have to restore faith in itself because, despite whatever mistakes were made tied to Sandusky, the school’s core mission and commitment to its students were not fractured.

Great educational opportunities are available there for anyone who wants to pursue them. As for the football program, which was thrust into turmoil and uncertainty by Paterno’s firing, it will be in good hands as it works to build on Paterno’s positive legacy.

The PennStater, the university’s alumni publication, devoted much of its January-February issue to the scandal, commendably allowing numerous alumni to express their opinions, both positive and negative. But, most importantly, it gave the opportunity for a student and alumna who were victims of sexual abuse to tell their stories.

Wrote the student, whose letter also was read at a candlelight vigil on Nov. 11:

“My (high) school got a resource officer, to be the police of our school. I decided I needed to talk to someone (she was abused from the age of 12 until nearly 16), and one day I went to this officer and told him everything. I opened up for the first time in three years — and when I finished talking, I was laughed out of his office. I had just opened up and told a police officer my entire life story, and he laughed at me and told me not to tell lies.”

Wrote the alumna, who said she initially blamed herself for the sexual abuse, thinking she must have done something to bring the horror upon herself:

“We need our children to speak up and out against anyone who harms them. We need adults to believe them and act out against any violation of a child they may see.”

What those victims have written and what Sandusky’s alleged victims say in court testimony will be important to future efforts to address such crimes.

It’s important that others heed the lessons from Penn State’s difficult experience.