U. VP never got a college degree

Vice President for Budget and Management Analysis Michael Masch may have a lengthy list of accomplishments on his resume, but a college degree is not one of them.

Earlier this week, Masch publicly acknowledged that he lacks both undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Masch, a former member of the Philadelphia Board of Education, was named earlier this month as one of Mayor John Street's appointees to the School Reform Commission -- the body that has replaced the school board following an agreement between Street and Gov. Mark Schweiker.

A press release from Street's office issued shortly after Masch's appointment incorrectly stated that Masch earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University in 1973 and a master's degree from Penn in 1981.

While Masch did attend Temple University as an undergraduate, majoring in urban studies, he earned only 109 out of the 123 credit hours required for graduation.

Later, he went on to pursue graduate work in public policy analysis at Penn, but he failed to complete his degree.

Masch cited personal and family-related reasons for not completing his undergraduate and graduate education.

"In both instances, I dropped out of school because of family problems," Masch said. "I have been very lucky that even though I didn't have the opportunity to complete my university studies, I have had a very meaningful and satisfying life."

A member of University President Judith Rodin's executive cabinet, Masch was appointed in 1996 to manage the University's budget, design long-term resource plans and analyze the fiscal performance of Penn's schools and administrative units.

Rodin would not comment on the issue.

And for four years prior to working at Penn, Masch served as the director of the office of budget and program evaluation for the City of Philadelphia during Mayor Ed Rendell's administration.

Nonetheless, despite the confusion about his academic past, the Penn administrator said that he has never intentionally tried to conceal his incomplete educational endeavors.

"I have been very careful never to misrepresent myself to an employer or to anyone who has appointed me to a public body," Masch said.

Many of Masch's closest colleagues say that they've been aware of his incomplete degrees all along.

"I've always known that Michael didn't have degrees," said Artificial Intelligence Professor Mitchell Marcus, the Faculty Senate chairman-elect , who has known Masch for the last 16 years. "Michael is very public about this and has always been very public about this."

And according to many faculty and staff members at the University, it was not Masch's educational background that mattered when he was hired in the first place.

"Mike was recruited and hired by Penn based on his distinguished track record as the city of Philadelphia's budget director and on his demonstrated abilities," University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzman said in a statement. "He continues to be a high-performance and valuable member of the Penn team, and he has been an outstanding leader in budget and planning."

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston added that he believes Masch's lack of a degree has not impeded his work, which includes teaching a course at the Fels Center of Government.

"We have many people with Ph.Ds in the program teaching, but we also have people who have proven their merits as professionals," Preston said. "There is no question that Michael is imparting his skills on to students."

Even outside of the University community, many people feel the same way about Masch's abilities.

Street spokesman Frank Keel said that the recent publicity about Masch will have no impact on his appointment to the School Reform Commission.

"This administration really believes that Masch's resume and credits are of no matter," Keel said. "What matters is his impeccable credentials and work history. He was appointed to the reform committee, and the city is standing behind him."

Masch did express concern about the possible effects that coverage of his lack of a degree might have on potential public servants.

"My only concern is that decisions by the media to engage in this kind of story will not discourage private citizens from volunteering to do public service," Masch said. "There are many important roles that need to be filled by citizen volunteers who, like me, are unpaid and agreeing to work in the public's interest."

Masch also noted that he advises many people not to follow directly in his footsteps.

"I say to my kids, 'Don't try this at home.'"

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