By Stephanie Samuel

Sentinel Staff Writer

Prince George's County Public Schools officials supported Superintendent John Deasy despite news of an unusually speedy doctorate, but said their legal counsel was following the University of Louisville's investigation.

Deasy's doctorate was called into question after a federal probe into former University of Louisville Dean Robert Felner revealed that Deasy received the degree in one-fourth the time slated by university policy. Felner, the focal point of the federal investigation, was dean at the time.

Despite news of the suspicious degree, PGCPS officials offered unwavering support of their superintendent.

"The Board of Education stands united behind our superintendent in his leadership of Prince George's County Public Schools," said school board chairwoman Verjeana Jacobs in statement for the press. However in the same statement, Jacobs said the board's legal counsel would monitor Louisville's investigation into the degree.

According to the Louisville, Ky. Courier-Journal, which broke the story, Deasy received a doctor of philosophy degree in education from the university after earning nine credit hours, the equivalent of a semester. The Web site description of the Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Organizational Development program says that candidates must complete a minimum of 60 credit hours. Reportedly, two years of those credit hours must be completed in house.

Felner, then Louisville's dean of College of Education and Human Development, had a hand in Deasy's degree. Deasy, then his research assistant, transferred to the university with Felner from the University of Rhode Island. Felner was chairman of Deasy's dissertation committee. Prior to the awarding of a doctoral degree, Deasy steered a $375,000 contract to Felner's research center.

Felner is currently under federal investigation for allegations of misappropriating a $694,000 grant. He left Louisville in June to accept a position in Wisconsin. However he withdrew from the position amid the investigation.

Deasy has been decidedly silent about his degree and his relationship with Felner. He said in a statement, "I am proud of the all the credit I earned to achieve my doctorate." However he also said, "If the university finds that it did not follow its own policies and procedures when conferring my doctorate, that is of course its right to make a decision thereafter."

Since the news of the one-semester doctorate, university president James Ramsey created a six-member commission to investigate the issuance of Deasy's Ph.D. University spokesman John Drees said the commission was formed three weeks ago and has since met twice to discuss the issue.

Despite the appearances, Ramsey has defended the degree. In a letter to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits colleges and universities in Louisville's region, he said Deasy's degree was issued under an exception officially recognized by the university in 2007. The exception says for rare situations such as when a senior faculty member transfers in with a student or students, the university would accept more transfer credits than stipulated in the university's procedures.

In Deasy's case, Ramsey wrote, "It would appear this doctorial degree award in [2004] may be reflective of this rare exception but permissible with the approval of the graduate dean, which was given in this case."

Still, a lot hangs in the balance. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools says awarding the degree was a violation of accreditation rules. It will consider issuing the university a warning or a probationary status in its December meeting.

There have been no repercussions of the investigation on Deasy's position as superintendent. PGCPS spokesman John White said in a e-mail, "When Dr. Deasy was hired, the advertisement for the superintendent's position stated: Master's Degree required, Doctorate preferred." Outside a doctorate degree, Deasy still has a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Rhode Island and prior experience as a superintendent.

Contact Stephanie Samuel at

ssamuel@thesentinel.com