[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 245 (Thursday, December 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66272-66273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31073]



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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

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 February 5, 
1996 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, 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 

[[Page 66273]]
comments received, the comments must arrive at the address listed above 
not later than (Insert 45 days after date of publication in the Federal 
Register). 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 May 22-24, 1996 
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 May 1996 meeting 
of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations

Petitions for Initial Recognition

    1. American Polygraph Association (requested scope of recognition: 
the accreditation of private, postsecondary, non-degree-granting 
institutions that prepare students to become Polygraph examiners).
    2. National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive 
Health (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of women's 
health nurse practitioner education programs in reproductive health).
    3. Pacific Association of Schools and Colleges (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of smaller specialized degree-granting 
institutions of higher education that specialize in limited and 
identified areas of social sciences and humanities).
    4. Respiratory Care Accreditation Board (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of respiratory care education programs).

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 
(requested scope of recognition: As a coordinating agency for the 
accreditation of institutions and programs under the following allied 
health education committees:
    a. Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee.
    b. Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical 
Sonography.
    c. Joint Review Committee on Education in Electroneurodiagnostic 
Technology.
    d. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for the EMT-
Paramedic
    e. Accredition Committee for Perfusion Education (perfusionist)
    f. Accredition Committee for Education for the Physician Assistant
    g. Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education
    h. Accreditation Review Committee for the Surgical Technologist

    The Commission is also requesting an expansion of scope of 
recognition to include the accredition of institutions and programs 
under the following allied health education committee:
    i. Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular 
Technology.

2. 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, the District 
of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, 
Virgin Islands)
3. National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences 
(requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of programs for the 
histologic technician/technologist)
4. National League for Nursing, Inc. (requested scope of recognition: 
the accredition of programs in practical nursing, and diploma, 
associate, baccalaureate and higher degree nurse education programs)

    Interim Reports (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. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education 
and Admission to the Bar
2. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
3. American Psychological Association, Committee on Education
4. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation
5. Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission
6. National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation 
Council

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition--

1. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Technical Education Institutions and Programs

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

1. Montana 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, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone (202) 708-
7417 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.

    Dated: December 18, 1995.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 95-31073 Filed 12-20-95; 8:45 am]
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