Updated: Penn dean resigns as university investigates qualifications

Did Doug E. Lynch get a doctoral degree from Columbia University in 2007? Or is he still working toward it?

The University of Pennsylvania is investigating Lynch’s claim that he has the degree, which is part of Lynch’s apparent qualifications to be the vice dean of Penn’s Graduate School of Education.

Lynch has been placed on administrative leave, the Inquirer reports, while the university tries to get to the bottom of what degrees Lynch has, doesn’t have or is working toward.

Update, 3:40 p.m. Lynch has resigned from his post, which he’s held since 2004.

Before deciding to place him on leave, Penn officials previously said they’d been made aware of Lynch’s error and had taken (an undisclosed) action on the matter.

As vice dean, Lynch in charge of marketing, financial aid, outreach, program development and other administrative responsibilities.