M.I.T. Dean Forced to Resign: Appropriate?

She falsified her credentials and lied about it for 29 years. Yikes. In the case of a Dean of Admissions falsifying a resume are university officials wrong to ask for their resignation? Certainly not. But in Jones’ case - as Dean of Admissions the last few years and holding an exemplary service record for the last 29 years, as a positive change agent for the school and it’s students, as a mentor and respected member of the education community - her long history of accomplishments should have given M.I.T. a moment of pause when considering appropriate next-steps.

She knowingly made a choice. Was it the wrong choice? Maybe but wrong for who – M.I.T. was elevated quite a bit during her tenure, the faculty and students love her and what she's done for the university, her role in changing the face of the education community has been and continues to be highly respected among same-seat colleagues. Had she come clean about it 15 or 25 years ago for certain she would not have received accolades for her honesty - she would have been booted and booted quickly. And the state of the university, it’s future entrants and alum would have suffered. Would any of this justify her actions - no but what she should have been asked to do was give a public apology and offer her resignation if it's the will of the school and it's students. At that point, M.I.T. should have stood behind her.

My mom sent me an article from Time Magazine and I wholly agree with Kinsley’s recommendation. Instead of asking for her resignation, M.I.T. should consider giving Jones an honorary degree. Heck, Ray Romano got an honorary masters or something and he’s just a sportswriter! And a fictional character on T.V. but that’s beside the point.

M.I.T. owes a great deal to Marilee Jones and the school should have used this opportunity to show unwavering support for it's Dean while shedding light on a muddy subject – what to do when you don’t have the right credentials and the right education. M.I.T. could have turned it into a learning lesson, something most of us could take advantage of btw, and how apropo it would be coming from an institution of higher learning. The end result very well could have bolstered the university’s image for future alums, and it would have held-up the pride of current alums and the present student body. Rather than hide behind resentment and a different kind of pride and taint a long career of accomplishment and purpose, M.I.T. could have led by example – one that reached for a positive end; the right end for the school and it’s students.

She gives a public apology, accepts her honorary degree and we all move on. The school benefits, the students benefit, and the people see once again that in the end real merit is measured by accomplishment and 'action' and not their artificial substitutes: test scores, degrees and academic accreditations.