[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51926-51927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25426]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity; Meeting

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, Education.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the proposed agenda of the National 
Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. Notice of 
this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general public 
of its opportunity to attend this public meeting.

DATES AND TIMES: November 20-22, 1996, 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Dupont Plaza Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carol Sperry, Executive Director, National Advisory Committee on 
Institutional Quality and Integrity, U.S. Department of Education, 600 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 3905 ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-7592, 
telephone: (202) 260-3636. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Advisory Committee on 
Institutional Quality and Integrity is established under Section 1205 
of the Higher Education Act (HEA), as amended by Public Law 102-325 (20 
U.S.C. 1145). The Committee advises the Secretary of Education with 
respect to the establishment and enforcement of the criteria for 
recognition of accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2 of 
part H of Title IV, HEA, the recognition of specific accrediting 
agencies or associations, the preparation and publication of the list 
of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations, and the 
eligibility and certification process for institutions of higher 
education under Title IV, HEA. The Committee also develops and 
recommends to the Secretary standards and criteria for specific 
categories of vocational training institutions and institutions of 
higher education for which there are no recognized accrediting 
agencies, associations, or State agencies, in order to establish 
eligibility for such institutions on an interim basis for participation 
in federally funded programs.

Agenda

    The meeting on November 20-22, 1996 is open to the public. The 
Advisory Committee will review petitions of accrediting and State 
approval agencies relative to initial and continued recognition by the 
Secretary of Education. It also will review a petition by a Federal 
agency for bachelor's degree-granting authority. In all cases before 
the Committee, the Committee will hear presentations by any 
representatives who are present from the agency and any third parties 
who have requested to be heard. The following petitions are scheduled 
for review:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
    1. Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of Bible colleges and institutes 
offering undergraduate programs)
    2. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of generic nurse anesthesia educational 
programs/schools)
    3. Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass 
Communications (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
units within institutions offering professional undergraduate and 
graduate (master's) degree programs)
    4. The American Dietetic Association (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of coordinated undergraduate programs in 
dietetics and post-baccalaureate dietetics internships). The agency is 
also requesting an expansion of scope for (1) Coordinated Programs at 
the graduate level; (2) Dietetic Technician Programs (associate degree 
level); and (3) preaccreditation status for all programs.
    5. American Physical Therapy Association (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of professional programs for the 
physical therapist and programs for the physical therapy assistant)
    6. Distance Education and Training Council (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of home study schools, including 
associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree-granting home study 
schools)
    7. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of programs leading to the M.D. degree)
    8. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Higher Education (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
higher education institutions in Delaware, District of Columbia, 
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the 
Virgin Islands)
    9. National Environmental Health Science and Protection 
Accreditation Council (requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation of baccalaureate programs in environmental health, 
science, and protection)
    10. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools 
(requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of Christian 
postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas and 
associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees)
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.


[[Page 51927]]


1. American Academy for Liberal Education
2. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
3. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education 
and Admission to the Bar
4. American Osteopathic Association, Bureau of Professional Education
5. American Podiatric Medical Association
6. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
7. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
8. National Accreditation Commission for Schools and Colleges of 
Acpuncture and Oriental Medicine
9. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
10. National Association of Schools of Dance
11. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
12. New York State Board of Regents

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition
    1. Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Interim Report
    1. New York State Board of Regents (Vocational Education Unit).

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Interim Report
    1. New York State Board of Regents (Nursing Education Unit).
    In accordance with the Federal policy governing the granting of 
academic degrees by Federal agencies (approved by a letter from the 
Director, Bureau of the Budget, to the Secretary, Health, Education, 
and Welfare, dated December 23, 1954), the Secretary is required to 
establish a review committee to advise the Secretary concerning any 
legislation that may be proposed that would authorize the granting of 
degrees by a Federal agency. The review committee forwards its 
recommendation concerning a Federal agency's proposed degree-granting 
authority to the Secretary, who then forwards that committee's 
recommendation and the Secretary's recommendation to the Office of 
Management and Budget for review and transmittal to the Congress. The 
Secretary uses the Advisory Committee as the review committee required 
for this purpose. Accordingly, the Advisory Committee will review the 
following institution at this meeting.

Proposed Bachelor's Degree-Granting Authority

    1. Joint Military Intelligence College, Bolling Air Force Base (for 
Bachelor of Science in Intelligence).
    A request for comments on all agencies whose petitions, interim 
reports, and request for degree-granting authority are being reviewed 
during this meeting was published in the Federal Register dated July 9, 
1996.
    This notice invites third-party oral presentations before the 
Advisory Committee. It does not constitute another call for written 
comment. Requests for oral presentation before the Advisory Committee 
should be submitted in writing to Ms. Sperry at the address above by 
October 30, 1996. Requests should include the names of all persons 
seeking an appearance, the organization(s) they represent, and a brief 
summary of the principal points to be made during the oral 
presentation. Presenters are requested not to distribute written 
materials at the meeting. Any written materials presenters may wish to 
give to the Advisory Committee must be submitted to Ms. Sperry by 
October 30, 1996 (one original and 25 copies). Only documents 
presenters submit by that date will be considered by the Advisory 
Committee.
    At the conclusion of the meeting, attendees may, at the discretion 
of the Committee chair, be invited to address the Committee briefly on 
issues pertaining to the functions of the Committee, as identified in 
the section above on Supplementary Information. Attendees interested in 
making such comments should inform Ms. Sperry before or during the 
meeting.
    A record will be made of the proceedings of the meeting and will be 
available for public inspection at the Office of Postsecondary 
Education, U.S. Department of Education, 7th and D Streets SW., Room 
3905, ROB 3, Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C.A. Appendix 2.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 96-25426 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am]
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