"A place like Harvard can compensate for [federal] cut-backs [but] a lot of places do not have the resources to begin with," Jewett says. "Places like Harvard maintain [need-blind admissions] but most can't realistically maintain it."

Integration

Fox says that Jewett's attempt to keep the College diverse and make it accessible to a wide range of people, as well as his integration of the Radcliffe and Harvard admissions processes are products of Jewett's own values.

"He has lived a life that is integrated," says Fitzsimmons. "The University stands for values that are really a part of him and of the core values he believes in."

Jewett says that his job has been to bring in the highest quality of people possible, rather than being constrained by monetary concerns.

"I place high priority in terms of the quality of the people," says Jewett. "Certainly it is one of the key parts of trying to raise [financial aid]."

But Jewett's values and core beliefs are not alone in making him remarkable, his colleagues say.

"The old cliche is that someone in charge cannot ask anyone to work harder than he or she does," says Fitzsimmons, "He has created a generation or more of people who see that example and go far beyond that extra mile."

When Jewett was dean of admissions, each application would be read over roughly five times. Admissions officers would spend as many as two or three hours on a single candidate before making a final decision, Fitzsimmons adds.

"It was hammered home that every single space in the class is precious," he says.

Despite his willingness to spend the University's funds on making financial aid available to as many students as possible, Fitzsimmons jokes that Jewett is known to be extremely frugal with Harvard's resources.

"One of the things that strikes people right away about him is how closely he identifies with Harvard and [its] resources," Fitzsimmons says. "He wouldn't think of wasting a dime of Harvard and Radcliffe's resources because it really is personal to him."

"He's probably the only person I know who has ties older than mine," Fitzsimmons adds jokingly.

Personal Ties

Jewett's dedication and caring for students go beyond policy decisions, Glimp says. Instead, many administrators say it is his ability to work and communicate well with a variety of people that has made the most significant contribution to the College community.