Think this is simply him dedicating more of his time to schooling.
Put it this way: can you provide even a single example that proves this to be false?
I know of just one instance actually (guy who is now a professor from Hong Kong, whose incredible experience with farming was counted).
On the other hand, I do know some smart folks without college degrees whose professors fought to get them in and to get them designated in certain higher level positions but they lost that battle.
Most people are surprised to find just how many things universities have a form to do. There's very few rules at a university you can't get waived with the right signatures on the right paperwork.
My own time in academia required a lot of paperwork...