The principal of a Durham University college has resigned three months after inaccuracies were spotted in lists of his qualifications.
The Reverend Doctor Duane Wade-Hampton Arnold, who has been on leave of absence from his Pounds 40,000 post at St Chad's College since November, handed in his notice shortly before Christmas. His employment will cease formally at the end of this month.
He has already returned to his native United States with his wife, Janet Arnold, who has resigned as director of the university's development office.
Father Arthur Middleton, rector of the parish of West Boldon, near Durham, will serve as a temporary, part-time principal until the college can fill the post full-time.
The university began investigating Dr Arnold's background after discovering misleading information in his Who's Who entry and 1994 work permit application.
Qualifications listed for Dr Arnold in Who's Who included an MDiv from Philadelphia University, which does not exist, and a DipTheol from Cambridge University instead of the Cambridge examinations syndicate.
University administrators confirmed that he was qualified to be principal but were puzzled about the reasons for the discrepancies, which Dr Arnold claimed were clerical errors. They set up a committee to review the constitutional relationship between St Chad's and the university, which is expected to report later this month.
University spokesman Keith Seacroft said: "The college is entering a period of renewal. The university will do everything it can to help the staff and students to re-establish its normal activities."