<p>I wonder what comments that parents and Midshipmen may have regarding the just released GAO audit of the Academy. Among other things the report has the following statement; "the most consequential involves apparently charging midshipmen more in fees for their personal expenses than was appropriate. This additional revenue was used to augment the school's operating budget. While not necessarily illegal, many of these charges (including activity, athletic and waterfront fees) were deemed inappropriate by the GAO."</p>
<p>My comment as a parent is that since the fees were used to provide services that were for the midshipmen, I have no issue with them. All it does is point out something we knew - the Academy’s operating budget did not and does not cover the expenses necessary for the Administration to operate and maintain a program which is a) what we all desire so our Nation’s only Federal Maritime Academy can provide and maintain the world’s best, well rounded maritime education; and b) since the words in the actual report state as you say “while not necessarily illegal as the preface …” the underlying confusion and issues surrounding them are entirely understandable.</p>
<p>As long as the resultant changes do not degrade in any way the education of our nation’s future maritime and inter-modal transportation leaders I also have no issue with the report. To the extent the follow-up action result in any increases to the Academy’s paltry, well spent and well managed annual budget appropriation, I would be pleased. The “bang for the buck” that KP provides the nation on a per midshipman basis is very impressive when compared to that of the other Service Academies in a $$$ expended per Commission granted metric.</p>
<p>Finally, if in order to ensure my DS has access to all the services, activities and opportunities that USMMA Graduates have had for the past 50+ years, I am more than happy to pay the fees I understood he would be assessed prior to his entering the Academy in 2008 or even more of them. For parents and midshipmen the costs are and always have been quite reasonable and to my knowledge no United States Citizen who wanted to complete the program and who was admitted to the USMMA, has ever had to leave due to an inability to pay such fees.</p>
<p>Were candidates aware that they were being charged for these fees?</p>
<p>The categories listed in this thread seem like appropriate charges provided there was disclosure. As I recall I paid for a computer and an activities fee that offset MWR events, yearbooks and athletics not covered by Federal funds.</p>
<p>I believe that the other Federal Academies also charge “activities fees”.</p>
<p>V/r
USMMECOM
[url=<a href=“http://www.cafepress.com/USMMAonline]KPStore[/url”>http://www.cafepress.com/USMMAonline]KPStore[/url</a>]</p>
<p>As I recall the fees were spelled out pretty clearly on the invoice and in the course catalog. They seemed pretty reasonable to me so I didn’t mind paying them. Even with these fees, this was still a very small price to pay for a great education and some amazing opportunities.</p>
<p>Nothing seemed out of line.</p>
<p>However, all sorts of problems are being caused by the lockdown/lockup of every fund due to Marad.</p>
<p>From LaHood to Worley… break the logjam… it’s time to RUN your Academy ! Are you serving the kids ?</p>
<p>@ usmmecom: RE - “Were the fees spelled out?” Yes, the issue really isn’t the fees or the amounts it’s the accounting and catagorization of same.</p>
<p>@ zonker: While I agree with your bottom line your comment about the “lockdown/lockup of funds” really shows a lack of understanding re: the relatively arcane nature of Government Funds Management. NAFIs (Non-Appropriated Funds Instruments) are a realatively uncommon item in the Federal Government’s world and the anti-deficiencey act is pretty unforgiving when it comes to certain things like creating positins inside the federal bueracracy, etc. I’d bet a fair penny no one from Ray LaHood on down or the folks at GAO and/or DOT IG are happy with what they now feel they are forced to do to ensure compliance but I doubt things will change anytime soon. The focus of the law and regulations are serving and protecting the taxpayer not, unfortunately, the surrent members of the regiment to their exclusion…</p>
<p>As a parent of a 2013 Plebe I was certainly thrilled when we were told that the fees we had to pay were reduced this year. However I am more than happy to pay whatever fees I need to to insure quality programs for the mids. It is still a huge bargain. When Admiral Worley took over the academy I wonder what the mission was that he was charged with. We need to lobby our congressmen to fully fund the needs of the academy. Extra curricular activities I am happy to pay my share.</p>
<p>I agree dds, and jasper…
No problem with whatever arcane stuff they have to do w/taxpayers money to ensure it’s being spent properly. I’m good with all that.
And I encourage us ALL to champion more full funding for the Academy.</p>
<p>It’s just the extra donations I’ve made to midshipmen’s fund, and directly to sports/club activities that have gotten swept up in the Marad fund vacuum cleaner, and they can’t get them back, despite explicit documentation. The club sports deposited the funds as they were instructed. Now, can’t get the hard-dollar funds they raised independently? That’s neither right nor fair… Makes it tough on them.
I’m sure it will get squared away, but no one seems quite certain which paperwork needs to be done quite which way. Disentangling NAFI stuff from hard-earned dollars from fundraisers is proving… challenging, and slow.</p>
<p>In spite of this issue, I am plenty optimistic about the future of how the academy can improve, and the determination of how this can happen , from LaHood on down.</p>
<p>When KP Mids comission into the various services do said services reimburse the Dept of transportation for educational expenses ? If they don’t that is a place to seek additional revenue!</p>
<p>SEA SCOUT,</p>
<p>There is no reimbursement since graduates simply transfer from one branch of government to another. In fact, DoD already pays part of the budget for KP in support of the USNR-MMR program even though I think we would all agree that there is very little direct retun on overall investment for the Navy.</p>
<p>The fact that the other branches of service pay so little for a Kings Pointer makes us an attractive deal and as a result, we get a lot of support since we are not seen a competition. If they had to pay for us, they would very likely rather direct that money into their own commissioning programs (ROTC, OTS/OCS or their own academies).</p>
<p>USMMECOM
[url=<a href=“http://www.cafepress.com/USMMAonline]KPStore[/url”>http://www.cafepress.com/USMMAonline]KPStore[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Prehaps having licensed ships officers and engineer’s is considered a strategic advantage rather than a direct tactical advantage to the navy. Nice to have real world experience on the shelf if and when you need it.</p>
<p>All the Navy pays towards KP is the cost of the Navy Science Department and the chaplin. All things considered… seeing how that (save for the chaplin) this is what would go to any other school with an ROTC program… they get one hell of a deal. With about 20 kids a year choosing to go Navy, most who are giving up high paying jobs and will not likely be the five and fly type you see from ROTC and Annapolis. Plus a lot of the people doing the USNR-MMR program continue to give returns… I was working TAD at the Pentagon and ran into a graduate from the 80’s who was a Captain and performing his reserve commitment there.
While a lot of people bust on the MMNR program, many people do stay in and do more than the minimum.</p>
<p>Usmmecom: k314 is pretty much dead nuts on. The Navy gets more than a fair return on the DoD’s investment in Kings Point. KP’s funding comes 85+% from the “butter Side” of the federal budget - Department of Transportation not the “Guns” side of the kledger. Further, when called, such as Desert Storm - Kings Pointers have historically responded in large numbers. Finally, all that is quite ironic given Kings Point is the ONLY Federal Academy entitled to have a battle standard.</p>