HUGE Problem for CGA

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Congressional nominations offers no greater geographical diversity than not having it. We can assume there are FAR more nominations than spots. It does limit competition.
 
So after doing some reading around on this forum and reading some of these articles it seems that if you are an African-American your pretty much getting in? Does that sound somewhat accurate?
 
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eagleerok said:
So after doing some reading around on this forum and reading some of these articles it seems that if you are an African-American your pretty much getting in? Does that sound somewhat accurate?
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There is speculation that the current US law that prohibits the USCGA from considering race as an admissions factor was eliminated by the new Authorization Bill. Now the USCGA can use race as a factor in deciding appointments just like the other academies do. Not sure how this is going to do anything but discriminate in favor on one group over another. Discrimination is discrimination regardless of who is discriminated against.



New law could give CGA leeway to better promote campus diversity

By Jennifer McDermott
Publication: The Day
Published 10/01/2010 12:00 AMUpdated 10/01/2010 02:58 AM

Admissions policy would no longer be 'race-neutral'

New London - Buried in the annual Coast Guard authorization act passed this week by Congress is wording that would strike from the U.S. Code the statement that all appointments to the Coast Guard Academy "shall be made without regard to the sex, race, color or religious beliefs of an applicant."

Under current federal law the academy is "race neutral," but the change would put it on the same footing as other colleges and universities in balancing its enrollment by admitting students from specific groups.

The other military service academies admit students by congressional nomination, while the Coast Guard Academy has traditionally admitted students on the basis of academic merit, like civilian colleges and universities.
Lawmakers, often critical of the lack of diversity at the academy, were attempting to increase the diversity of the student body by bringing the school's admissions process in line with those of the other service academies. But they backed off that proposal, and it was not included in the compromise version of the act.

Now it appears they are giving the academy some latitude to diversify its student body and meet their expectations.

"This legislative change ensures that the federal protections enshrined in the Civil Rights Act prohibiting discrimination by entities receiving federal funding apply uniformly at all federal service academies, including the Coast Guard Academy," said U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., a leading member of the Congressional Black Caucus who led the effort to make the academy's admissions process the same as those of the other service academies.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that race can be used in university admission decisions, but limited how much of a factor it could play. Selective universities looking to diversify could consider race, but the Coast Guard Academy never could.

http://www.theday.com/article/20101001/NWS09/310019860/1018
 
Out of all the ideas proposed by Congress to increase diversity, the one that really could make a difference is left off the table: outreach funding. As an Admission Partner I can tell you "name recognition" is a problem with all high school students but especially minority community schools. Everyone knows West Point, few know about USCGA. Because of funding issues, USCGA relies on volunteer Admissions Partners to inform high school students about New London. If Congress would increase admissions outreach funding targeted to under represented groups I think we would see more qualified applicants apply from minority groups. There is a limited pool of minority applicants and a need to highlight how USCGA differs from the Big Three. I think Kings Point faces the same issues. My 2 cents (now down to 1 cent do to the economic down turn).
 
What's worse is LIVING in CT and mentioning the Coast Guard Academy to a CT resident and them not even knowing the school is in their own state!!
 
Bruce, I think your right. I mentioned it earlier but how much money is needed? Someone in admissions might want or they may have already developed a plan to get a type of outreach program but has failed to get $ support. Bill0510 on the other forum talks about how the Navy does some of its outreaches(I know alot more money but use their idea). This is why it is important to have the discussion.
 
Luigi59 said:
How about them? :confused:

They're probably not happy with such low numbers, but I'm sure USMMA has implemented recruitment programs to further their URM applicant pool, I'm sure that these issues are being addressed by KP's internal (and external) admissions staff, just as they are at USCGA.

The US Merchant Marine Academy has a harder time than any of the academies, as they are the least known of all. But clearly it is not a matter of nominations vs no nominations, as their minority numbers (using a nomination system) are lower than USCGA.

You should probably take your questions over to the KP section for KP-specific answers.
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No, you quoted the statistics for 2014. To take only one snapshot is incorrect-it doesn't show the history! You need to quote previous statistics from previous years, otherwise its Deception.
 
Something tells me Congress is more concerned about the recent history....they couldn't care less about classes with Loyalty, Courage, Wisdom, and Brawn, or what happened in 1960. They care about the recent history, the 2000s. The certainly care about the most recent class, and establishing a pattern or trend.
 
cga82 said:
No, you quoted the statistics for 2014. To take only one snapshot is incorrect-it doesn't show the history! You need to quote previous statistics from previous years, otherwise its Deception.
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Deception? How many years should be quoted to avoid the dreaded "Deception" label?
 
cga82 said:
Good Point. No deception, the 1 yr tells the whole story...
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The 1 year tells the latest/current story. Again, "How many years should be quoted to avoid the dreaded "Deception" label"?
 
BruceRTalbot said:
Out of all the ideas proposed by Congress to increase diversity, the one that really could make a difference is left off the table: outreach funding. As an Admission Partner I can tell you "name recognition" is a problem with all high school students but especially minority community schools. Everyone knows West Point, few know about USCGA. Because of funding issues, USCGA relies on volunteer Admissions Partners to inform high school students about New London. If Congress would increase admissions outreach funding targeted to under represented groups I think we would see more qualified applicants apply from minority groups. There is a limited pool of minority applicants and a need to highlight how USCGA differs from the Big Three. I think Kings Point faces the same issues. My 2 cents (now down to 1 cent do to the economic down turn).
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I think they are hesitant to designate funds when the program is already in effect at the other SAs to ensure the name recognition which you desire. I have been a BGO to over 30 high schools for the past 9 year in a part of the rural south where awareness of the military is very high but of the service academies very low. I also represent the majority of two congressional districts. I have seen where one district promotes both the CGA and MMA and the other one doesn't. I have seen the results many times over of my visits to each of the schools. I can tell you without any doubt whatsoever that by far the best method of awareness is for a successful student to return to his high school and present his SA to the student body. I can tell you without any doubt that a MOC making WP, USNA, and AFA candiates aware of the MMA is very effective. So effective that I have a problem with it. Therefore, at absolutely no cost to the government, no expenditure of taxpayer dollars, the awareness of CGA will increase drastically when MOCs begin nominating candidates from previously underrepresented areas and these successful candidates return to their high schools and do the real recruiting.

And the overall best benefit is the increased viability of the officer corps due to the increase size of the base from which they select.
 
That "free" publicity comes from a willingness of the media to cover it, not from the fact that a MOC is nominating. There is little benefit to overhaul the system just so "Coast Guard Academy" can be added to the MOC's check list. CGA is already included in all-academy meetings. The nomination process makes candidates less competative, not more, by creating geographic quotas. Want more diversity, let the entire country compete on even footing, not one that favors smaller nomination pools.

Underrepresented areas are underrepresented across the board. They aren't waiting to hear that their senator is nominating for service academies. The nomination process constricts the candidate pool.
 
MOC meetings

LineInTheSand said:
That "free" publicity comes from a willingness of the media to cover it, not from the fact that a MOC is nominating. There is little benefit to overhaul the system just so "Coast Guard Academy" can be added to the MOC's check list. CGA is already included in all-academy meetings. The nomination process makes candidates less competative, not more, by creating geographic quotas. Want more diversity, let the entire country compete on even footing, not one that favors smaller nomination pools.

Underrepresented areas are underrepresented across the board. They aren't waiting to hear that their senator is nominating for service academies. The nomination process constricts the candidate pool.
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I don't want to start (or continue) an online argument..:smile:..but from my experience as an Academy Admissions partner from a midwest state that is somewhat under-represented.......CGA is NOT always included in all-academy meetings. In general, I have to scan the papers, find out when a MOC is holding a meeting and seek an invitation myself. Even from MOC's who have military experience and/or sit on military related committees!

Whether the nominating process would or would not help diversity is an issue I don't want to debate, but I can say that it would assist the CGA's visibility/notoriety with MOCs if there was a nominating process.
 
I do believe that this is a thread that needs to be put to bed. Thanks for the input everyone. :thumb:
 
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