Ex-Dean appears at conference as questions loom

Former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson attended an annual admissions conference in Texas last weekend as questions swirled in the admissions community about his sudden departure.

Penn officials continue to remain tight-lipped, and those at the National Association for College Admission Counseling's annual conference said the circumstances surrounding Stetson's resignation remain a much-discussed topic.

"People in the community want some sort of explanation," said Jeannie Borin, president of the college consulting firm College Connections.

"It would really behoove [Stetson] to make a statement of some sort as to why he's leaving, and why right at the start of the application season he's decided to leave," she said.

Before Stetson's August departure - which the University has refused to discuss - he was one of the most visible figures in the higher education sector.

"In a profession where people tend to quickly come and go, Lee Stetson was one of those fixtures who had not only been there for so many years, but at a place so prominent as the University of Pennsylvania," said Mark Sklarow, the head of a trade association representing admissions consultants.

Losing such a fixture so suddenly and in such a bizarre and reticent manner has left admissions consultants asking a host of questions.

"He's always been an outspoken [admissions dean], and it's weird that he went out not with a bang but with a whisper," said Michelle Hernandez, the head of Hernandez College Consulting.

Most admissions consultants said Stetson has always been well-liked in the community, making his quick exit even more unexpected.

"People are in the waiting game" to see what happened before they react, said Marcy Roberts, a high-school guidance counselor in Boca Raton, Florida.

Stetson was at the conference to participate in a panel on Advanced Placement courses with Harvard Dean of Admissions Bill Fitzsimmons and two high-school guidance counselors.

Representing Penn at the NACAC conference were Interim Dean of Admissions Eric Kaplan and a delegation of regional directors, according to the Admissions Office.

Those at the conference said Penn's admissions officers fielded questions from curious attendees as to what had happened to Stetson but still refused to comment.

The University has instructed representatives of the Admissions Office not to speak about Stetson's departure, and Penn President Amy Gutmann has only said that the resignation was in the "best interests" of Stetson and the University.

Comments (23)

Why the secrecy unless there's something to hide? Is Karl Rove advising Penn's board? They need to offer answers, that's what management does when important institutional changes occur. At this point, Stetson's perpetuated obscurity is dragging Gutman down, and elucidating the departures of others like Diver.

[QUOTE id="b348366d-930b-4c04-a31f-816981379b01"]I�?ll say one thing, this situation would never have happened if Shark was still at Penn. Shark would have utilized his �?no-holds barred�? approach to reporting for Stetson-gate. He would have camped outside Amy Gutmann�?s house if that�?s what it took to find out the truth. Long live the SHARK.[/QUOTE] Now camping outside Gutman's house would be an interesting scene. She's been know to scream at delivery persons who ring her front door bell. I wonder how she'd react to SHARK camping outside her door.

Bravo to the DP for continuing to cover this one. This Stetson situation STINKS -- something big happened here and it almost definitely has to do with misconduct. Keep the articles coming and, eventually, the truth will come out.

Comparing the Stetson Affair to that of Vartan Gregorian's non-appointment as President of Penn is quite a stretch. The Gregorian Moment was completely political and he went on to bigger and better things in New York City. Stetson went home...apparently not of his own volition. The truth of what happened will eventually leak out, and, will probably be another unpleasant episode in Penn's long history of administrative snafus. Sunlight is, so they say, the best disinfectant. Let it shine Amy, let it shine!

I have a question for the general Penn community. What do you suppose the search process for a replacement for Dean Stetson is going to be like, given what those members of the admissions community must be thinking about the way Penn treats people? What does that say about the individual who ultimately replaces Stetson? Would anybody be surprised if Amy Gutmann drew a replacement from Princeton out of her hat? The sad thing is that this incident is only one of a long series where staff have been mishandled or brutalized in one way or another. This one is not even the most notorious. You should ask someone who has beene at Penn for over 25 years about how a past provost, Vartian Gregorian, was manhandled and abused by the eminent Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, during the process that led to the appointment of Sheldon Hackney as president.

[QUOTE id="212a4aac-930d-48c7-b9b0-8ff341275f31"]"He's always been an outspoken [admissions dean], and it's weird that he went out not with a bang but with a whisper," said Michelle Hernandez, the head of Hernandez College Consulting. T.S. Eliot rolls over in his grave. But yeah, there is something weird going on here. Will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.[/QUOTE] "He's always been an outspoken [admissions dean], and it's weird that he went out not with a bang but with a whisper," said Michelle Hernandez, the head of Hernandez College Consulting. T.S. Eliot rolls over in his grave. ---- Maybe it's precisely because he went out with a bang that everyone is whispering.... T.S. Elliot might actually approve of that (the bang that is).

Huh? We do not know the circumstances of the abrupt departure. So for all you know, Penn may have treated Mr. Stetson graciously by saying nothing. In fact, inasmuch as Mr. Stetson has not made public the reason for his departure and is not complaining publicly, that could well be the case. [QUOTE id="5d412c63-d0b0-4b81-b436-14a869389ece"]I have a question for the general Penn community. What do you suppose the search process for a replacement for Dean Stetson is going to be like, given what those members of the admissions community must be thinking about the way Penn treats people? What does that say about the individual who ultimately replaces Stetson? ... [/QUOTE]

I�?ll say one thing, this situation would never have happened if Shark was still at Penn. Shark would have utilized his �?no-holds barred�? approach to reporting for Stetson-gate. He would have camped outside Amy Gutmann�?s house if that�?s what it took to find out the truth. Long live the SHARK.

If SHARK camped outside Amy Gutman's office he might also find out about the upcoming Gutman resignation story. Only if he were hallucinating.

[QUOTE id="5ff8aef7-2d58-4af9-9c09-883afceafc85"]I�?ll say one thing, this situation would never have happened if Shark was still at Penn. Shark would have utilized his �?no-holds barred�? approach to reporting to Stetson-gate. He would have camped outside Amy Gutmann�?s house if that�?s what it took to find out the truth. Long live the SHARK.[/QUOTE] If SHARK camped outside Amy Gutman's office he might also find out about the upcoming Gutman resignation story. He'd be a LEGEND for sure!

I�?ll say one thing, this situation would never have happened if Shark was still at Penn. Shark would have utilized his �?no-holds barred�? approach to reporting to Stetson-gate. He would have camped outside Amy Gutmann�?s house if that�?s what it took to find out the truth. Long live the SHARK.

[QUOTE id="b15bbf40-8c3d-4318-8890-f10ad3bf85d6"]Here's the real story. I can't give any details because it will likely compromise my source. Amy Gutmann will resign before the the event regarding the new Post Office Complex later this month. Apparently, the Trustees' communicated the decision to Ms. Gutman several months ago and have already begun and unofficial search. She was very displeased with the decision and undoubtedly has spent the last several months pursuing new opportunities. This is the truth.[/QUOTE] I posted this quote yesterday! Are you affirming my statement?

It saddens me that THIS topic consistently gets more comments than other truly more important ones in the DP. And while I am one of those, I only do it to say....Don't you people have a life????? Did your National Inquirer not come today? It took Duke a year to get to the bottom of its botched up "supposed" scandal. The truth will come out. Let time take its course and stop throwing out National Inquirer-type reasons. Wild speculation only does damage.

To Source: Dude, you tried this shtick yesterday, and it still fails to pass the smell test. How 'bout coming up with something fresh?

Stetson obviously was involved in some kind of misconduct. Otherwise, there would have been at least some kind words from the administration upon his departure. Something happened that put Penn and Stetson in a bad light. That is why both are silent. Sure would like to know what happened. It is amazing that nothing has leaked out.

I don't know where everyone's manners suddenly went, but last I heard rushing to judgment about something which could simply be a personal decision is very impolite. I hate a media focus which assumes that something is wrong if no one is protesting their innocence. It's a reflection of how intolerant and abusive this society has become.

Here's the real story. I can't give any details because it will likely compromise my source. Amy Gutmann will resign before the the event regarding the new Post Office Complex later this month. Apparently, the Trustees' communicated the decision to Ms. Gutman several months ago and have already begun and unofficial search. She was very displeased with the decision and undoubtedly has spent the last several months pursuing new opportunities. This is the truth.

Does anyone remember the farce of UPPD chief Rambo resigning to " pursue other employment opportunities? " He went on to become the security head of famous Susquehana University. When transparency and honesty are replaced by secrecy and brutality in places where truth is supposedly the main business, we are in trouble.

An adult? Gee-golly, please enlighten us kids bout da workins of da world. I mean, only in a children's fantasy would the sudden resignation of one of Penn's (and academia's) most respected figures, under complete silence, without fanfare, a statement of congratulations, or any other sign that he is still respected, be suspicious. No Mr. Big Man, you are right. The suspicious ones are kidding themselves.

I'm amazed that people are assuming there is some sort of scandal. People near retirement very often move their departure date up if something anticipated happens too soon, especially if the original date was set with that anticipated event in mind. The most obvious such event is that an already seriously ill loved-one suddenly took a turn for the worse and the already scheduled departure was simply advanced. My father did this when his second wife's cancer suddenly advanced and I know several other's who did the same in similar (though not necessarily life-threatening) situations. In any case, it is obviously no-one's business but the family's and I wouldn't expect to hear anything until the situation is resolved one way or another.

He's always been an outspoken [admissions dean], and it's weird that he went out not with a bang but with a whisper, said Michelle Hernandez, the head of Hernandez College Consulting. T.S. Eliot rolls over in his grave. But yeah, there is something weird going on here. Will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.

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