[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 166 (Monday, August 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44480-44481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-21241]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Recognition of Accrediting Agencies

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Request for comments on agencies appealing previous 
recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional 
Quality and Integrity.

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DATES: Commentors should submit their written comments by September 27, 
1995 to the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen W. Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and State Liaison 
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., 
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 is 
required by law to publish a list of accrediting agencies that he 
determines to be reliable authorities regarding the quality of 
education or training offered by institutions or programs they 
accredit. The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (the ``Advisory Committee'') advises the Secretary on 
specific accrediting agencies that seek to be recognized by the 
Secretary.
    The agencies listed in this notice have previously been reviewed by 
the Advisory Committee and have appealed the Advisory Committee's 
recommendations concerning their recognition status, as provided for in 
34 CFR 602.13 of the regulations governing the recognition of 
accrediting agencies. The Secretary has reviewed each agency's appeal 
and has decided to remand the three cases to the Advisory Committee for 
review. The Advisory Committee will consider these cases at its 
November 28-30, 1995 meeting.
    The purpose of this notice is to invite interested third parties to 
present written comments on the three agencies whose appeals will be 
reviewed by the Advisory Committee. 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 September 27, 1995. 
Comments must relate to those of the Secretary's Criteria for the 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies that were identified by the 
Advisory Committee as the bases for the Committee's original 
recommendations, as cited below. 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 these and other agencies 
being reviewed at that meeting. That notice, however, does not 
constitute another call for written comment. This notice is the only 
call for written comment on the three agencies appealing previous 
recommendations of the Advisory Committee.

Appeal of a Recommendation To Withdraw Recognition

    The agencies listed below were recommended for withdrawal of 
recognition by the Advisory Committee 

[[Page 44481]]
at its June 1994 meeting because, in the opinion of the Advisory 
Committee, they did not meet the requirement contained in section 
496(m) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended, and 34 
CFR 602.1(b) of the Secretary's Criteria for Recognition. Under 34 CFR 
602.1(b), ``the Secretary only grants recognition to those accrediting 
agencies that accredit (i) institutions of higher education, provided 
that accreditation by the agency is a required element in enabling 
those institutions to establish eligibility to participate in HEA 
programs; or (ii) institutions of higher education or higher education 
programs, provided that accreditation by the agency is a required 
element in enabling those institutions or programs to establish 
eligibility to participate in other programs administered by the 
Department or by other Federal agencies.''
    1. American Library Association, Committee on Accreditation.
    2. Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs.

Appeal of a Recommendation To Deny an Agency's Requested Expansion of 
Scope

    For the agency listed below, the Advisory Committee recommended 
granting continued recognition for the accreditation and 
preaccreditation of non-degree granting vocational education 
institutions. It also recommended granting the agency's request for an 
expansion of geographical scope of recognition from regional to 
national. The Advisory Committee, however, recommended not granting the 
agency's requested expansion of scope to include prebaccalaurate 
degree-granting institutions that awarded an applied associate's 
degree. In the Committee's view, the agency did not have the requisite 
experience to accredit such institutions, as required by 34 CFR 602.22, 
nor did it have an appropriate emphasis on the ``academic'' component 
of a prebaccalaurate degree, as required by 34 CFR 602.24(b)(1)(iii). 
The agency appealed the latter recommendation of the Advisory 
Committee.
    1. Council on Occupational Education (formerly the Commission on 
Occupational Education Institutions of the Southern Association of 
Colleges and Schools)

Public Inspection of Petitions and Third-Party Comments

    All third-party comments received in response to this call for 
comment, as well as the three agencies' original petitions and 
supporting documentation, the Department staff analyses of those 
petitions, and the agencies' appeals materials, 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. 95-21241 Filed 8-25-95; 8:45 am]
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