[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32144-32145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-15021]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for Approval 
of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, and State Agencies for 
Approval of Nurse Education

June 15, 1995.
AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Request for comments on agencies applying to the Secretary for 
initial recognition or renewal of recognition.

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DATES: Commentors should submit their written comments by August 4, 
1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen W. Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and State Liaison 
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Room 3915 ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone: (202) 708-7417. 
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 
a.m. and 7 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUBMISSION OF THIRD-PARTY COMMENTS: The Secretary of Education 
recognizes, as reliable authorities as to the quality of education 
offered by institutions or programs within their scope, accrediting 
agencies and State approval agencies for public postsecondary 
vocational education and nurse education that meet certain criteria for 
recognition. The purpose of this notice is to invite interested third 
parties to present written comments on the agencies listed in this 
notice that have applied for initial or continued recognition. All 
comments received in response to this notice will be reviewed by 
Department staff as part of its evaluation of the agencies' compliance 
with the criteria for recognition. In order for Department staff to 
give full consideration to the comments received, the comments must 
arrive at the address listed above not later than August 4, 1995. 
Comments must relate to the Secretary's Criteria for the Recognition of 
Accrediting Agencies.
    The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (the ``Advisory Committee'') advises the Secretary of 
Education on the recognition of accrediting agencies and State approval 
agencies. The Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet November 28-30, 
1995 in Washington, D.C. All written comments received by the 
Department in response to this notice will be considered by both the 
Advisory Committee and the Secretary. A subsequent Federal Register 
notice will announce the meeting and invite individuals and/or groups 
to submit requests for oral presentation before the Advisory Committee 
on the agencies being reviewed. That notice, however, does not 
constitute another call for written comment. This notice is the only 
call for written comment.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the November 1995 
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations

Petition for Initial Recognition

    1. National Association of Private, Nontraditional Schools and 
Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Higher Education (requested scope 
of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation of private, 
nontraditional colleges and universities)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (requested scope 
of recognition: the accreditation of private, postsecondary 
institutions and programs offering allied health education)
    2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of 
Technology (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
private, postsecondary degree and non-degree-granting institutions that 
are predominantly organized to educate students, for trade, 
occupational, or technical careers)
    3. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools 
(requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of private 
postsecondary schools, junior colleges, and senior colleges that are 
predominantly organized to educate students for business careers, 
including master's degree programs in senior colleges of business)
    4. American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation 
(requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of basic certificate 
and master's degree nurse-midwifery educational programs)
    5. American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of professional degree programs)
    6. American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation 
(requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of programs leading 
to the DDS or DMD degree, advanced general dentistry and specialty 
programs, general practice residency programs, and programs in dental 
hygiene, dental assisting and dental technology)
    7. American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., Accreditation 
Council for Occupational Therapy Education (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of occupational therapist education and 
occupational therapy assistant education)
    8. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiology Technology 
[formerly recognized in cooperation with the Committee on Allied Health 
Education and Accreditation of the American Medical Association but now 
requesting recognition on its own] (requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation of educational programs for the radiographer and the 
radiation therapist)
    9. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear 
Medicine Technology (formerly recognized in cooperation with the 
Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation of the American 
Medical Association but now requesting recognition on its own) 
(requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary 
educational programs in nuclear medicine technology throughout the 
Untied States)
    10. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission 
on Secondary Schools (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation 
and preaccreditation of public vocational and technical schools 
offering non-degree postsecondary education in Delaware, District of 
Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, 
Virgin Islands)
    11. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and 
Sciences (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences)
    12. National League for Nursing, Inc. (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of programs in practical nursing and 
diploma, associate, [[Page 32145]] baccalaureate and higher degree 
nurse education programs)
    13. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of degree-
granting colleges and universities located in Alabama, Florida, 
Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia)
    14. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of senior colleges and universities 
located in California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands)

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

1. Minnesota State Board of Technical Colleges
    Interim Report (An interim report is a follow-up report on an 
accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for recognition 
that was requested by the Secretary when the Secretary granted 
recognition to the agency)--
1. Arkansas State Board of Vocational Education

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

1. Colorado State Board of Nursing

Public Inspection of Petitions and Third-party Comments

    All petitions and interim reports, and those third-party comments 
received in advance of the meeting, will be available for public 
inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, ROB-3, Room 3915, 7th 
and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone (202) 708-7417 
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 95-15021 Filed 6-19-95; 8:45 am]
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