WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Academy Loses Tuition Funds If Cadet Drops Out (New London-WTNH) _ A recent report reveals the US Navy is owed millions of dollars by former cadets who dropped-out of the naval academy. The US Coast Guard Academy in New London is a much smaller institution, but it's in a similar position. Cadets who leave before graduating don't pay back any of their educational expenses. The question is who's footing the bill? News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern newsroom at The Day. Cadets at the Coast Guard Academy get a 'free' education. In exchange they promise to serve in the guard for five years. What happens if they leave early? Not much. Rob Wyman, Coast Guard Academy: "We've never required cadets to sign any statements obligating them to pay back education costs, we don't even have a system to enforce that." So essentially any cadet that drops out or that's kicked-out does so with almost no strings attached. Brenda Wolter, Academy Recruiting: "Correct, their first two years there's absolutely no obligation. All students that go to any academy know they have the first 2 years to kind of test it out." Many test it out and decide it's not for them. Even if they depart in their third or fourth year there's still no financial obligations. When you consider the numbers it certainly adds-up. The attrition rate or dropout rate here at the Coast Guard Academy is 36%. In essence there's about 100 cadets who leave here each year. Tuition alone costs the government $22,000 per cadet per year. Some say dropouts should pay Uncle Sam back. Wendall Turpin, Waterford "If they get out early they should be penalized, they should be penalized and have to pay it back, that's one of the penalties for dropping out." Janice Balkan, New London "If it's a real discipline problem, they cheat or whatever, I suppose they should pay it back." But academy officials say that wouldn't make sense. They've studied the issue of 'recoupment' for years and say making dropouts pay would not save anyone any money! Wyman: "The cost of administering the program, and the costs of litigation could potentially far exceed the tuition costs." Over the years the Navy has tried to recoup money from ousted midshipmen but has had a hard time. In some cases they've wound up in court. So even though the Coast Guard Academy is allowed to try and get tuition back from ex-cadets, officials don't believe it's worth the effort. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Academy Loses Tuition Funds If Cadet Drops Out
(New London-WTNH) _ A recent report reveals the US Navy is owed millions of dollars by former cadets who dropped-out of the naval academy. The US Coast Guard Academy in New London is a much smaller institution, but it's in a similar position. Cadets who leave before graduating don't pay back any of their educational expenses. The question is who's footing the bill?
News Channel 8's Peter Standring reports from our Southeastern newsroom at The Day.

Cadets at the Coast Guard Academy get a 'free' education. In exchange they promise to serve in the guard for five years. What happens if they leave early? Not much.

Rob Wyman, Coast Guard Academy: "We've never required cadets to sign any statements obligating them to pay back education costs, we don't even have a system to enforce that."

So essentially any cadet that drops out or that's kicked-out does so with almost no strings attached.

Brenda Wolter, Academy Recruiting: "Correct, their first two years there's absolutely no obligation. All students that go to any academy know they have the first 2 years to kind of test it out."

Many test it out and decide it's not for them. Even if they depart in their third or fourth year there's still no financial obligations. When you consider the numbers it certainly adds-up. The attrition rate or dropout rate here at the Coast Guard Academy is 36%. In essence there's about 100 cadets who leave here each year. Tuition alone costs the government $22,000 per cadet per year. Some say dropouts should pay Uncle Sam back.

Wendall Turpin, Waterford "If they get out early they should be penalized, they should be penalized and have to pay it back, that's one of the penalties for dropping out."

Janice Balkan, New London "If it's a real discipline problem, they cheat or whatever, I suppose they should pay it back."

But academy officials say that wouldn't make sense. They've studied the issue of 'recoupment' for years and say making dropouts pay would not save anyone any money!

Wyman: "The cost of administering the program, and the costs of litigation could potentially far exceed the tuition costs."

Over the years the Navy has tried to recoup money from ousted midshipmen but has had a hard time. In some cases they've wound up in court. So even though the Coast Guard Academy is allowed to try and get tuition back from ex-cadets, officials don't believe it's worth the effort.

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