Extensive changes are necessary at the US Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), according to a scathing independent report made public on Wednesday.
A team from the National Academy of Public Administration — an independent, non-profit organisation studying issues of government — said the federally funded university lacks vision in addressing key issues such as its curriculum and sexual abuse.
It described a short-handed administration focused on getting students their merchant marine credentials with little oversight from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) or Maritime Administration (MarAd).
"Because of the magnitude and fundamental nature of the challenges USMMA faces, the greatest risk to USMMA's future is doing nothing to significantly addresses challenges and the causes of those challenges," said the report, commissioned by Congress in its fiscal year 2020 defence spending bill.
"Over decades, no matter how vital its mission to American security and prosperity, and no matter the levels of dedication of the USMMA community to its mission, USMMA lost its way."
The USMMA — known as Kings Point after its location on Long Island, New York — is one of five federal service academies and serves as a key training ground for merchant mariners, many of whom go on to work ashore as leaders in the shipping industry.
Unlike the other academies, the USMMA does not train students directly for military service, but instead prepares them to work on board commercial ships.
The school has run into trouble in recent years, with its accreditation put in jeopardy in 2014, and two sexual abuse scandals in five years related to its Sea Year programme, where students are placed on board merchant ships to gain experience.
The report and an accompanying document laying out the path forward identify sexual abuse, Sea Year, academics and facilities as the most pressing issues.
It suggested greater oversight from the federal government, the creation of a task force to change the academy's culture and more funding to help solve some of the issues.
Academics, facilities and abuse
It said the academy's facilities are in poor condition and that the DOT and MarAd need to come up with a plan to raise standards.
It also described a situation in which there is limited outreach to attract women and non-white students, and said the school is far less diverse than the wider college-aged population.
On sexual assault and harassment, the report quoted students who said there is a lack of privacy protection for those who make reports and potential retaliation against those who do.
Other issues include a lack of understanding of the reporting process and the length of time it takes to adjudicate on reports.
Furthermore, the academy's parent agencies provide inadequate support and the steps that the school took to make Sea Year safer after abuse issues in 2016 provided little in the way of actual protection.
The academy suspended Sea Year for several months as it explored ways to make sure students were not assaulted on board.
But the changes provided little in the way of legal protections such as confidentiality or the right to due process.
The academy's other issues
Sea Year was again suspended this month after an anonymous student, known as Midshipman X, wrote an account of being raped on board a Maersk Line vessel when she was 19.
She said she was pressured into drinking until blackout before an older officer forced himself on her.
She said at least five women in her class had been raped during Sea Year.
In announcing the most recent pause, the academy said it hoped to restart Sea Year in December.
In response to the report, acting maritime administrator Lucinda Lessley said her agency acknowledges the problems outlined in the report.
"USMMA students are remarkable leaders committed to serving the nation and supporting positive change," she said.
"They deserve a modern, safe and inclusive learning environment where they have the training and resources that will prepare them to succeed in the US merchant marine and in our armed forces."
The US Merchant Marine Academy has about 1,045 students.
Along with the Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy and Coast Guard Academy, Kings Point is one of five federally funded service academies. Students must obtain a merchant marine officer’s licence before graduation and maintain it for the next six years while serving five years as an officer or in another maritime-related job. Students also join the Navy Reserve.
During Sea Year, students spend parts of their second and third years at the academy on board US-flagged ships.
The academy pitches the programme as key for student development, providing the opportunity to learn in a hands-on environment while developing self-discipline, confidence and human relations skills while sailing the globe.
