During Academic Years 2003/2004 through 2008/2009 (six academic years), some midshipmen at the United States Merchant Marine Academy were overcharged for Midshipman Fees. This became apparent during an audit of the Academy by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in 2009.
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) retained the services of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), an independent accounting firm, to analyze midshipman fee records for students that attended the Academy during academic years 2003/2004 through 2008/2009. The analysis confirmed there were some midshipman fee overcharges during these academic years. Using the PwC accounting analysis, MARAD formulated a schedule of reimbursements by individual student. Reimbursement eligibility and the size of the reimbursements were based on amount of midshipmen fee collections and expenses paid over the academic years involved and the length of time the student was enrolled at the Academy during this time period.
In order to reimburse eligible students, MARAD has identified three categories. Category I are eligible Class of 2012 midshipman currently at the Academy. Category II are midshipmen eligible for reimbursement who attended the academy during the six academic years noted above and have graduated from the Academy. Category III includes eligible midshipmen that attended the Academy during the six academic years noted above, but left before graduating.
Category I – Eligible Class of 2012 midshipmen will receive an e-mail from the Acting Academy Superintendent on October 21, 2011 informing them that their reimbursement will be paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to their bank account of record at the Academy. If there is no bank account information available, a check will be mailed to the student’s Academy address. The reimbursement will be processed within 3-4 weeks of notification.
Category II – Eligible graduates of the Academy during the six academic years involved will receive an e-mail from the Acting Academy Superintendent on October 27, 2011 at the graduate e-mail address assigned by the Academy and the updated e-mail address in the Maritime Service Compliance System (MSCS). This e-mail will provide the graduate’s most recent mailing address from the MSCS. The eligible Category II recipient will be required to complete an “Address Confirmation or Change of Address” form to receive reimbursement by check. If payment by electronic funds transfer is preferred, an “ACH Payment Enrollment Form” must be completed. Both forms will be included in the email notification. The reimbursement will be processed within 4-6 weeks upon receipt of the applicable form.
Category III – Eligible students who left the Academy without graduating during the six academic years involved will receive a letter by certified mail from the Acting Academy Superintendent at the last known address on record with the Academy Registrar’s office. This letter will be mailed to eligible Category III recipients by November 4, 2011. The recipient will be required to complete an “Address Confirmation or Change of Address” form to receive reimbursement by check. If payment by electronic funds transfer is preferred, an “ACH Payment Enrollment Form” must be completed. Both forms will be included in the letter notification. The reimbursement will be processed within 4-6 weeks upon receipt of the applicable form.
For inquiries about U.S. Merchant Marine Academy midshipman fee reimbursements, please email MNFeeReimbursement@dot.gov or call toll free 888-719-9213 (or local 202-493-0263) Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST.
