USMMA's Accreditation "May Be In Jeopardy"

Freda'sMom

10-Year Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
299
This is absolutely ridiculous.

USMMA's Accreditation "May Be In Jeopardy"

On Thursday, the United States Merchant Marine Academy released documentation related to its reaccreditation process with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) – including a letter warning that "its accreditation may be in jeopardy because of insufficient evidence that the institution is currently in compliance" with multiple requirements.

The letter's warning is based on a May 2016 report by an external review team. The team – over half of whose members were from federal service academies or state maritime academies – found that while USMMA met nine of 14 required accreditation standards, it had "opportunities for improvement" on several fronts: "lack of institutional authority over human resources, finance, and procurement; linking resource allocation to planning as well as to goal and mission achievement; important administrative positions that remain vacant; and institutional response to sexual assault and harassment."
 
The final report is an interesting read. It's 51 pages long, but gives some pretty good insight. I'm still on page 7, but it looks like one problem is too many cooks in the kitchen. With DOT and MARAD each adjusting resource allocation, it's tough to implement an overall strategic plan. MMA, though, needs to get better coordination on resource management. The good news is they have two years to make changes.

No comment on the other items. I haven't gotten that far in the reading.

https://www.usmma.edu/sites/usmma.edu/files/docs/2016 Final MSCHE Team Report - USMMA.PDF
 
From reading the report i get it says the supe has operational control of the academy yet no actual power?
 
Good news though it says that we're solid academically, which is what matters.
 
USMMA Reaccreditation Update

KINGS POINT, N.Y., June 30, 2016 – Today the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) issued their expected determination regarding accreditation, and while they found the Academy’s academic foundation is sound, and in many ways exemplary, they issued a warning with recommendations regarding two broad areas separate from academics: combatting sexual harassment and assault, particularly during Sea Year; and governance of the USMMA.

The Academy remains accredited while we work with MSCHE to address the requirements and recommendations, and ensure the highest caliber education for the Academy’s Midshipmen. The Academy has two years to reach compliance, and we are confident that we can return to compliance within that span of time.

Superintendent Rear Adm. James A. Helis, USMS, Ph.D. said “the Academy appreciates MSCHE’s candid, thoughtful, and thorough work. We are committed to the process of continued improvement to accomplish the Academy’s mission. I am confident that USMMA will meet the requirements and recommendations.”

The MSCHE Evaluation Team’s assessment also found noteworthy achievements in the following areas: admissions; achievement of the licensing component of the institutional mission; the Advisory Board’s assessment reports; the Sea Year; progress on developing a formal and integrated leader development program; and assistance provided to department and course-level assessment.” In fact the most recent incoming classes at USMMA are the most diverse in its history, and the most qualified. Further, in each of the last three years, Kings Point graduates have had record “pass” rates in the grueling four-day U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer licensing exam.

The documents, which are best read in context to appreciate how the Academy intends to address each of the issues, are available at the following links:

· MSCHE Determination Letter, Statement of Accreditation Status and Public Disclosure Statement
https://www.usmma.edu/academics/msche-determination-letter-–-24-june-2016

· MSCHE Evaluation Team Report
https://www.usmma.edu/academics/msche-evaluation-team-report-–-april-2016

· Institutional Response to the Team Report
https://www.usmma.edu/academics/institutional-response-team-report-may-20-2016

Updated: Thursday, June 30, 2016 USMMA.edu
 
My DS started KP in summer of 2009. As I've watched things over the years it seems like most of KP's problems started when Ray LaHood took over the DOT. Now I know LaHood is gone but it seems like he was the beginning of the cancer. To the folks who were here before me what do you think?

Luv2fly
 
As an older alumni, I can say that KP is not now what it was when I entered, but it during my Plebe year, it certainly not what it was 35 years before that (at a minimum, there WAS a bit of a war on). Not only has the Academy changed, but the industry has, too. Society has change, too.
 
My DS started KP in summer of 2009. As I've watched things over the years it seems like most of KP's problems started when Ray LaHood took over the DOT. Now I know LaHood is gone but it seems like he was the beginning of the cancer. To the folks who were here before me what do you think?

Luv2fly
KP's "problems" predate LaHood by quite a bit. My take is that at some point KP began to lose sight of its maritime mission which precipitated trips down various rabbit holes in directions focused outside of said maritime mission. You will find disagreement on when and on whose watch that was, but less disagreement that it is so.
 
Cmakin and KPEngineer, thanks for the response. I was just curious.
 
From reading the report i get it says the supe has operational control of the academy yet no actual power?
That's pretty much the same thing I took away from reading the evaluation team report, specifically when I read section of the report that stated:

"The Superintendent does not currently have direct control over the institutional functions of personnel hiring, financial planning and management, and procurement. The Superintendent must have the means, authority, and responsibility, assigned or delegated from DOT and/or MARAD as appropriate, over the institutional functions of personnel hiring, financial planning and management, and procurement required to effectively and efficiently accomplish the Academy’s mission"

This is pretty much the theme of the entire report, DOT/MARAD needs to delegate more control to the Academy/Superintendent.

It was also encouraging to see that the comments related to the educational process were pretty positive:

"The team found noteworthy achievements in the following areas: admissions; achievement of the licensing component of the institutional mission; the Advisory Board’s assessment reports; the Sea Year; progress on developing a formal and integrated leader development program; and assistance provided to department and course-level assessment."
 
the wash post article is a one sided plant it seems. All I am going to say is google is your friend. this aspiring actress and model has some interesting credits, especially the one with Kayne and Kardashian.
 
the wash post article is a one sided plant it seems. All I am going to say is google is your friend. this aspiring actress and model has some interesting credits, especially the one with Kayne and Kardashian.
She is also a Naval Officer, Merchant Mariner, USMMA alum and someone's daughter who was sexually assaulted by an authority figure responsible for her well being during a portion of Academy assigned training. While this is not a comfortable topic for the Academy, disparaging her for sharing her story is not acceptable.
 
The fact the the women came forward in the article is a positive one. It is an issue on every college campus and every federal academy. You cannot fault a victim for coming forward.
 
What does this all mean with no Sea Year? I assume they continue at school business as usual. Update.. Ok I see on the other thread what they are doing now...Isn't their time at sea a means for them to earn money which goes towards their cost to attend school? Isnt there important components during sea year which is all part of on the job training? If components of their education are now missing how can they receive their degree? Will current students be able to leave the program and not be penalized?

I think it was a good idea to suspend sea year in order to have gurantees in place for the safety of their students. The story posted above lines up with my thoughts why I discouraged my DD from applying.
 
Last edited:
What does this all mean with no Sea Year? I assume they continue at school business as usual. Update.. Ok I see on the other thread what they are doing now...Isn't their time at sea a means for them to earn money which goes towards their cost to attend school? Isnt there important components during sea year which is all part of on the job training? If components of their education are now missing how can they receive their degree? Will current students be able to leave the program and not be penalized?

I think it was a good idea to suspend sea year in order to have gurantees in place for the safety of their students. The story posted above lines up with my thoughts why I discouraged my DD from applying.

Good question? Are they getting paid on state school ships?

As for the article, I find it completely believable. Unfortunately peer pressure exists at sea, it affects the cadets when they return to school as upperclassmen who in turn affect those going to sea for the first time which makes them further susceptible to the peer pressure at sea ... its a viscous cycle. Its not all as nefarious as sexual harassment and assault but some is and even more unfortunately this can easily trump any "official training". I had some upperclassmen give me sea year "advice" that in hindsight doesn't quite uphold the ideals the Academy wishes it did.
 
I think it was a good idea to suspend sea year in order to have gurantees in place for the safety of their students. The story posted above lines up with my thoughts why I discouraged my DD from applying.

While sexual assault at the Academy (and all colleges) is a serious issue, you will find that the Academy is actually one of the safer places for your DD.

The statistics that are being reported are based upon surveys conducted anonymously in an attempt to get honest reporting. Based upon these surveys, 17% of the female midshipmen reported they had experienced at least one incident of sexual assault.

The Washington Post recently reported on a similar survey conducted at 27 top public and private universities and reported that 23% of female undergraduates were victims of sexual assault. Statistically, the occurrence of sexual assault is significantly lower at the academy than those other universities.

The big issue they are working to resolve however is the lack of reporting of the sexual assault incidents. As described by the young woman who was sexually assaulted in the taxi cab while in port in Saipan, she reacted by writing the Chief Mate a note, telling him she was really hurt by what he did.

The Academy already had in place the concept of the “safe word” but see never used it. We need to educate these young woman (and men) to not put up with this behavior and create an environment in which they feel safe and secure to report these incidents. By not reporting, these sexual predators are being left in these positions where someone else’s daughter can be the next victim.
 
Actually the article talking about 200 dollars given to the young woman allegedly from the person who assaulted her was more along my lines of discussion with her. The Chief Mate allegedly doing what he did after just put multiple layers of complication to an already stressful situation.
 
Good question? Are they getting paid on state school ships?

KPEngineer...to answer your question, are the mids getting paid on the state training ship...no they are not. Unfortunately they are not learning too much either...no real hands on...multiple people watching the same guage/dial/instrument panel...same with deck. Sad
 
Back
Top