Claremont McKenna Administrator Resigns over Fake SAT Scores
A senior administrator at California’s Claremont McKenna college has resigned, admitting to fabricating student’s SAT scores, increasing them anywhere from 10 to 20 points, for years, school officials announced Monday.
According to the college’s newspaper, The Forum, the biography and contact information for Vice President and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Richard “Dick” Vos was removed Saturday, yet his involvement in this case has not yet been confirmed by the college.
Students and college faculty were notified of the score inflation Monday in an email statement released by college president, Pamela Gann.
“At this time, we have no reason to believe that other individuals were involved. If we learn otherwise, we will take prompt and appropriate action,” said college president Pamela Gann in an email released on The Forum Monday.
“…While I am sorry to report this to you, I remain deeply committed to ensuring that Claremont McKenna will respond to this matter in a manner that is accurate, honest, and that will reflect the longstanding integrity of our great college.”
Gann took further investigative action after receiving a warning that the score report was inaccurate earlier this month.
After investigation was underway, the guilty administrator admitted to inflating the school’s SAT scores since 2005 and resigned his position, effective immediately.
The inflated scores were submitted to publications such as the U.S. News & World Report in order to boost the college’s rankings. While the overall SAT statistics were changed, Gann notes that there is reason to believe that individual student’s scores remained unaltered.
Claremont McKenna is currently ranked as the ninth-best liberal arts college in the country with close to 1,200 students.
Senior Vice President of Publishing for the Princeton Review, Robert Franek, helps to rank colleges and prepare for the SAT. He claims that he has not heard of a college intentionally reporting false data.
“I feel like so many schools have a very clear obligation to college-bound students to report this information honestly,” said Franek.
Students use these statistics to make informed decisions about which college to attend, however, college rankings for the Princeton review are based off of student opinion rather than test data and Franek is uncertain that the inflated scores affect the school’s overall ranking.
Gann noted that a law firm has been hired for further investigation.
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My daughter would have liked to apply to such a "great college",CMC, had its SAT scores were not that intimidatingly high. Instead, she is accepted by anther "8 of the best colleges" this fall. Does the college know what damage it had inflicted on prospective students?
Thank CMC for leaving the public such a great impression.