Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr. told a Senate committee Thursday that the student body at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy needs to be more diverse, but changing the school's admissions process is not the way to do it. Papp was asked about the academy by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation during his nomination hearing to be the next commandant of the Coast Guard. He was also asked to comment on proposed cuts to the Coast Guard's budget, shipbuilding and acquisition reform as well as more provincial topics affecting senators' home states.

Papp was asked about the academy by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation during his nomination hearing to be the next commandant of the Coast Guard. He was also asked to comment on proposed cuts to the Coast Guard's budget, shipbuilding and acquisition reform as well as more provincial topics affecting senators' home states.The competitive admissions process has brought "good candidates into our academy for many, many years with the absence of congressional appointments," Papp said, but "we have had difficulty moving the needle on increasing our diversity at the Coast Guard Academy."

The competitive admissions process has brought "good candidates into our academy for many, many years with the absence of congressional appointments," Papp said, but "we have had difficulty moving the needle on increasing our diversity at the Coast Guard Academy." 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. Members of Congress have proposed bringing the process in line with the other service academies.

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. Members of Congress have proposed bringing the process in line with the other service academies."We appreciate the support and the oversight," Papp said. "I think we need to do the work on our side to get out into those communities where we can get those diverse candidates, so we can drop down any barriers for entry to the Coast Guard Academy and increase the diversity of our service."

"We appreciate the support and the oversight," Papp said. "I think we need to do the work on our side to get out into those communities where we can get those diverse candidates, so we can drop down any barriers for entry to the Coast Guard Academy and increase the diversity of our service." The current senior class at the academy is 23 percent female and 19 percent minority, followed by the junior class at 30 percent female and 16.4 percent minority, the sophomore class at 28.5 percent female and 12 percent minority and the freshman class at 29 percent female and 15.6 percent minority.

The current senior class at the academy is 23 percent female and 19 percent minority, followed by the junior class at 30 percent female and 16.4 percent minority, the sophomore class at 28.5 percent female and 12 percent minority and the freshman class at 29 percent female and 15.6 percent minority.The academy has been trying to attract a diverse group of applicants by recruiting in cities with large minority populations, hosting educators and minority students on campus, sending more students to preparatory school to meet the academy's requirements, hiring a company to remind students to complete their applications and improving the facilities on campus.

The academy has been trying to attract a diverse group of applicants by recruiting in cities with large minority populations, hosting educators and minority students on campus, sending more students to preparatory school to meet the academy's requirements, hiring a company to remind students to complete their applications and improving the facilities on campus."I think we can diversify the academy without having to adopt a nomination process but I wouldn't be completely close-minded to that process if that's what it takes," Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe, academy superintendent, said Thursday.

"I think we can diversify the academy without having to adopt a nomination process but I wouldn't be completely close-minded to that process if that's what it takes," Rear Adm. J. Scott Burhoe, academy superintendent, said Thursday.The biggest hurdle, Burhoe said, is that people "don't know who we are or that we even exist." The academy is spending about $3 million in this fiscal year and last year to recruit underrepresented minorities, he said.

The biggest hurdle, Burhoe said, is that people "don't know who we are or that we even exist." The academy is spending about $3 million in this fiscal year and last year to recruit underrepresented minorities, he said. About 2,100 students applied for the 290 spaces in the Class of 2014, up from 1,700 applications last year. More than 400 of those students are minorities, up from 240 last year. Burhoe said he wants to achieve a "critical mass of underrepresented minorities," between 25 and 30 percent of the student body by 2015.

About 2,100 students applied for the 290 spaces in the Class of 2014, up from 1,700 applications last year. More than 400 of those students are minorities, up from 240 last year. Burhoe said he wants to achieve a "critical mass of underrepresented minorities," between 25 and 30 percent of the student body by 2015.Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, said there is a "paucity of students of color majoring in science and engineering in general," and colleges are being encouraged to "think creatively about ways of attracting more students representing the entire American population."

Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, said there is a "paucity of students of color majoring in science and engineering in general," and colleges are being encouraged to "think creatively about ways of attracting more students representing the entire American population." Effective strategies include offering tutoring and mentoring, building a strong community among students of all races and emphasizing group work, Hrabowski said.

Effective strategies include offering tutoring and mentoring, building a strong community among students of all races and emphasizing group work, Hrabowski said.At the Senate hearing, Papp also discussed the fact that the Coast Guard is plagued with "obsolete equipment," even as it has been given increased responsibilities in a post-9/11 era, Papp said.

At the Senate hearing, Papp also discussed the fact that the Coast Guard is plagued with "obsolete equipment," even as it has been given increased responsibilities in a post-9/11 era, Papp said."We now face potential budget constraints, increased mission demands, and strained resources," he said, adding that there will not be a financial cushion to fall back on if there is an unexpected event or any major problems with ships and aircraft, but the Coast Guard will be able to meet its mission demands and goals this year.

"We now face potential budget constraints, increased mission demands, and strained resources," he said, adding that there will not be a financial cushion to fall back on if there is an unexpected event or any major problems with ships and aircraft, but the Coast Guard will be able to meet its mission demands and goals this year. Papp said he would set a course as commandant that "steadies our service, honors our profession, strengthens our partnerships and respects our shipmates," he said.

Papp said he would set a course as commandant that "steadies our service, honors our profession, strengthens our partnerships and respects our shipmates," he said. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Papp's experience, passion and vision make him the ideal candidate to lead the Coast Guard. Papp currently commands the Coast Guard's Atlantic Area.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Papp's experience, passion and vision make him the ideal candidate to lead the Coast Guard. Papp currently commands the Coast Guard's Atlantic Area. Papp grew up in Norwich and graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1975. If confirmed by the Senate, he would become the commandant of the Coast Guard in May.

Papp grew up in Norwich and graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1975. If confirmed by the Senate, he would become the commandant of the Coast Guard in May. j.grogan@theday.com

j.grogan@theday.com