"I have certain short term goals that I wanted to attempt, but this put things out of reach," he said. "You sort of have to think twice about your situation if you don't have a degree."

MIT's actions are an unprecedented attempt by a university to discipline a graduate for a non-academic infraction that took place while the alumnus was in college.

Gary M. Pavela, director of judicial programs and student ethical development at the University of Maryland at College Park, noted that colleges usually revoke diplomas for cases involving academic fraud. In his opinion, MIT's actions are not that different from past cases.

"I don't see this as some radical, new innovation," said Pavela.

Pavela said that colleges have the right to suspend diplomas for non-academic violations that take place while the alumnus was in college. He said a diploma is as much about students' good conduct as it is about their grades.

"It has some reflection on their values and their character," he said.

However, Harvey A. Silverglate, a lawyer with the Boston firm Silverglate & Good, who has researched discipline procedures at over 400 schools, said MIT's diploma suspension represents an abuse of power.

"This is a case which really demonstrates the university's increasing hold over a student, in terms of student life, has now reached beyond graduation" Silverglate said.