This year, in addition to a new dean, eight of the 22 admissions officers in Penn's Undergraduate Admissions department are recent hires.
Some experts say large turnover is common in college admissions offices, and eight new officers in one year is not unheard of. But others say Penn's turnover is higher than normal, and there is value in consistency in an admissions department.
Dean of Admissions Eric Furda said many officers left to pursue graduate studies.
"It may come in cycles so that some years there's little or no turnover, while, the next year there's a lot," said Sally Rubenstone, senior advisor at College Confidential.
Turnovers of up to 50 percent of the staff are "more common than you would expect," said James Fowler, senior consultant at AdmissionsConsultants.com.
But according to educational consultant Steven Goodman, Penn's turnover this year is "higher than usual," which he said is common with new directors of admissions.
Dean of Admissions Eric Furda assumed the position in July, replacing Lee Stetson, who had served as dean for nearly 30 years before abruptly resigning in August 2007.
But administrative shifts don't necessarily lead to staff turnover, Rubenstone said, as some people view working in college admissions as a "stop on the way to law school, business school or some other calling." Fowler also said moving from one admissions office to another can be a career investment.
Since every admissions department is different, moving "makes you a better administrator in the long term," he said.
According to Goodman, the bigger question is not why Penn's admissions officers left, but the effect that the changes will have on students who are considering applying to Penn.
Goodman said consistent admissions practices are important, especially in communities that are less familiar with Penn's history and traditions.
"Change means a little bit more uncertainty on the part of the public about what Penn offers," he said.
According to Furda, hiring and training new admissions officers continues to be a top priority for the department.
And Fowler said he does not think the turnover in admissions officers will negatively impact the admissions process.
"The new people who are coming in are going to be professionals, and so the office will move forward without skipping a beat," he said.
