[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 242 (Monday, December 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66026-66027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31764]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


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

AGENCY: Department of Education.

ACTION: Request for comments on agencies applying to the Secretary for 
Initial Recognition or Renewal of Recognition.

DATES: Commentors should submit their written comments by January 30, 
1997 to the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen W. Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and Eligibility 
Determination 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 
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 January 30, 1997. 
Comments must relate to the Secretary's Criteria for the Recognition of 
Accrediting Agencies. Comments pertaining to agencies whose interim 
reports will be reviewed must be restricted to the concerns raised in 
the Secretary's letter for which the report is requested.
    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 June 16-18, 1997 
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 June 1997 
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations

Petition for Initial Recognition--

Planning Accreditation Board (requested scope of recognition: The

[[Page 66027]]

accredition of baccalaureate and masters degrees in planning)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition--

1. American Academy for Liberal Education (requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation of institutions of 
higher education and programs within institutions of higher education 
that offer liberal arts degree(s) at the baccalaureate level or a 
documented equivalency)
2. Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, 
Accreditation Commission (requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation of advanced rabbinical and Talmudic 
schools)
3. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education 
and Admissions to the Bar (requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation of professional law schools)
4. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on 
Accreditation (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of 
institutions and programs awarding diplomas, associate degrees and 
bachelor's degrees)
5. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of graduate degree programs)
6. American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education 
(requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of colleges of 
veterinary medicine offering programs leading to a professional degree)
7. The Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on Accreditation 
(requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of programs and 
institutions leading to the D.C. degree)
8. Council on Education for Public Health (requested scope of 
recognition; The accreditation and preaccreditation of graduate schools 
of public health and graduate programs offered outside schools of 
public health in community health education and in community health/
preventive medicine)
9. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of two-year programs for the ophthalmic 
dispenser and one-year programs for the ophthalmic laboratory 
technician)
10. Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the Council on Medical 
Education of the American Medical Association and the American Medical 
Colleges (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation and 
preaccreditation of programs leading to the M.D. degree)
11. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education ( requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation of Montessori teacher education 
programs and institutions)

    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. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology
3. Accrediting Commission on Education for Health services 
Administration
4. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools
5. American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation
6. American Dental Association, Commission on Accreditation
7. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, 
Commission on Accrediting
8. Council on Occupational Education
9. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine 
Technology
10. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
11. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges
12. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission 
for Schools
13. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
14. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs--
for the accreditation of the following health education programs:
    a. Cytotechnology
    b. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
    c. Electroneurodiagnostic Technology
    d. Emergency Medical Services
    e. Perfusion
    f. Physician Assistant Education
    g. Respiratory Therapy
    h. Surgical Technology
15. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Secondary Schools

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

    Interim Report--

1. Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities

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 and copying 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, until June 6, 1997. They will be available again after 
the June 16-18 Advisory Committee meeting. It is preferred that an 
appointment be made in advance of such inspection or copying.

    Dated: December 10, 1996.
Davis A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 96-31764 Filed 12-13-96; 8:45 am]
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