[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47014-47015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23704]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance; Meeting

AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.

ACTION: Notice of upcoming meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of the 
forthcoming partially closed meeting of the Advisory Committee on 
Student Financial Assistance. This notice also describes the functions 
of the Committee. 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.

DATES AND TIMES: Monday, September 21, 1998, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 
ending at 6 p.m., but closed from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 
and Tuesday, September 22, 1998, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 
approximately 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Embassy Suites Hotel, the Diplomat/Consulate Room, 1250 22nd 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20037.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student 
Financial Assistance, Portals Building, 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW., 
Suite 601, Washington, DC 20202-7582, (202) 708-7439.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Student Financial 
Assistance is established under Section 491 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 as amended by Pub. L. 100-50 (20 U.S.C. 1098). The Advisory 
Committee is established to provide advice and counsel to the Congress 
and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid matters,

[[Page 47015]]

including providing technical expertise with regard to systems of need 
analysis and application forms, making recommendations that will result 
in the maintenance of access to postsecondary education for low- and 
middle-income students, conducting a study of institutional lending in 
the Stafford Student Loan Program, and assisting with activities 
related to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965. As a 
result of the passage of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, the 
Congress directed the Advisory Committee to assist with a series of 
special assessments and conduct an in-depth study of student loan 
simplification. The Advisory Committee fulfills its charge by 
conducting objective, nonpartisan, and independent analyses of 
important student aid issues. Also, with passage of the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993, Congress assigned the Advisory 
Committee the major task of evaluating the Ford Federal Direct Loan 
Program (FDLP) and the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). 
The Committee was directed to report to the Secretary and Congress on 
not less than an annual basis on the operation of both programs and 
submit a final report by January 1, 1997. The Committee submitted to 
Congress its final recommendations on the advisability of fully 
implementing the FDLP on December 11, 1996. In addition, Congress 
invited the Committee to submit recommendations pertaining to the 1998 
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Specifically, Congress 
asked the Committee to identify proposals to improve access through 
delivery and identify and analyze the impact of proposals being 
developed by the Department of Education (ED) and the higher education 
community, among others. The Committee delivered its reauthorization 
recommendations to Congress on May 1, 1997. The Committee will continue 
to inform members and the higher education community about the current 
status of congressional and other legislative proposals and make 
recommendations to Congress and the Secretary of Education regarding 
the impact of these proposals on student aid policy.
    The proposed agenda includes: (a) Discussion sessions on 
reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and its impact on students, 
institutions, ED, and all other participants in the student aid 
programs; and (b) discussion sessions addressing the Committee's agenda 
for fiscal year 1999 and other Committee business (e.g., election of 
officers, etc.). Space is limited and you are encouraged to register 
early if you plan to attend. You may register through Internet at 
[email protected] or [email protected]. Please include your 
name, title, affiliation, complete address (including Internet and e-
mail--if available), and telephone and fax numbers. If you are unable 
to register through Internet, you may mail or fax your registration 
information to the Advisory Committee staff office at (202) 401-3467. 
Also, you may contact the Advisory Committee staff at (202) 708-7439. 
The registration deadline is Tuesday, September 15, 1998.
    The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC on September 21, 
1998, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 6 p.m., and on September 22, 
from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m. The meeting will be closed to 
the public on September 21, from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to 
discuss personnel matters. The ensuing discussions will relate to 
internal personnel rules and practices of an agency and will disclose 
information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if conducted in open 
session. Such matters are protected by exemptions (2) and (6) Section 
552(b)(c) of Title 5 U.S.C.
    A summary of the activities at the closed session and related 
matters which are informative to the public consistent with the policy 
of Title 5 U.S.C. 552(b) will be available to the public within 
fourteen days after the meeting.
    Records are kept of all Committee proceedings, and are available 
for public inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on 
Student Financial Assistance, Portals Building, 1280 Maryland Avenue, 
SW., Suite 601, Washington, DC from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 
weekdays, except Federal holidays.

    Dated: August 28, 1998.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-23704 Filed 9-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M