The University of Florida College of Medicine’s dean may have violated national accreditation standards by overruling the college’s selections committee and admitting a student from a politically connected family.

Bruce Kone, who took over as dean in May, said Thursday that he accepted the student about a month ago after disagreeing with the committee’s conclusion.

Kone said the student was “overwhelmingly” qualified for his college.

He said he couldn’t identify the student because of privacy laws. The Gainesville Sun reported Friday that the student is Benjamin Mendelsohn.

Mendelsohn did not return phone or e-mail messages left over the weekend. Kone didn’t return phone or e-mail messages Friday, and his secretary referred all questions to UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes.

“We maintain and Dr. Kone maintained that this student is exceptional,” Sikes said. “And (Kone) certainly stands behind his decision.”