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John Lavine cited unnamed students in two introductory letters he wrote for Medill's alumni magazine last year.
One of the quotes, attributed to a Medill junior, praised a particular advertising class, saying in part: "... I sure felt good about this class. It is one of the best I've taken."
In a column last week for the university newspaper, The Daily Northwestern, student David Spett wrote that he questioned all 29 students in the class, and that all denied saying the quote, even when promised anonymity.
Medill students are instructed to be careful in using anonymous sources. Professors often require students to submit contact information for each person quoted in their articles to guard against quotes being made up.
The university said in a statement Tuesday the school "takes such matters seriously" and the Office of the Provost is reviewing questions "raised recently regarding the use of unnamed sources and the veracity of quotations by John Lavine."
Lavine did not return a call or e-mail Wednesday from The Associated Press.
His decision to overhaul Medill's curriculum -- blending marketing classes with traditional reporting and writing skills
-- has been sharply criticized by some faculty members.
He told the Chicago Tribune last week the quotes "came from real people." But he said he can't remember if they originated during face-to-face conversations or e-mails with students.
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 He also said there was a difference between writing a news story and a letter in an alumni magazine.
"Context is all-important. I wasn't doing a news story. I wasn't covering the news," he said. "When I write news stories, I am as careful and thorough about sources as anyone you will find. ... This is not a news story. This is a personal letter."
In a statement sent to top administrators on Tuesday, several Medill professors and lecturers, and the school's former dean, said the "matter has become a crisis for the school" and called on Lavine to be more forthcoming.
A group of journalism students is circulating a petition calling on Lavine to provide notes or sources for his letters.
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