[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71274-71275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34101]


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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 
Renewed Recognition.

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DATES: Commenters should submit their written comments by February 8, 
1999, 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, 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 continued recognition. A subsequent 
Federal Register notice will announce the meeting and invite 
individuals and/or groups to submit requests for oral presentation 
before the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (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.
    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 Secretary's Criteria for Recognition. In order for 
Department staff to give full consideration to the comments received 
and to address them in the staff analyses that will be presented to the 
Advisory Committee at its May 1999 meeting, the comments must arrive at 
the address listed above not later than February 8, 1999, with the 
exception of the comments for the American Bar Association, Council of 
the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, for which the 
deadline for receiving comments is March 1, 1999 since the agency's 
interim report is not due into the Department until February 15, 1999. 
Comments received after the specified deadlines will be reviewed by 
Department staff, which will take action, as appropriate, either before 
or after the meeting, should the comments suggest that an accrediting 
agency is not acting in accordance with the Secretary's Criteria for 
Recognition.
    All 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 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 11-13, 1999 in Washington, 
DC. All written comments in response to this notice that are received 
by the Department by the specified deadlines will be considered by both 
the Advisory Committee and the Secretary. Comments received after the 
specified deadlines, as indicated previously, will be reviewed by 
Department staff, which will take follow-up action, as appropriate, 
either before or after the meeting. Commenters whose comments are 
received after the deadline will be notified by staff of the 
disposition of those comments.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the May 1999 meeting 
of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition--

    1. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and 
Canada, Commission on Accrediting (Current scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accredited 
Status'') of freestanding institutions, as well as programs affiliated 
with larger institutions, that offer graduate professional education 
for ministry and graduate study of theology).
    2. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for 
Accreditation'') of institutions and graduate programs in Naturopathy 
that lead to the degree of Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.) or Doctor of 
Naturopathic Medicine (N.M.D.).
    3. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, 
Commission on Accreditation (requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation of Montessori teacher education institutions and programs 
evaluated by the following review Committees: The American Montessori 
Society Review Committee and the Independent Review Committee).
    4. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Secondary Schools (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation 
and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of public 
vocational/technical schools offering non-degree, postsecondary 
education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, 
New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands).
    5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Schools (requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of 
adult and postsecondary schools that offer programs below the degree 
level in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and 
American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of 
Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the 
Republic of the Marshall Islands).
    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 renewed 
recognition to the Agency)--
    1. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal 
Education and Admissions to the Bar.

[[Page 71275]]

    2. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
    3. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.
    4. American Optometric Association, Council on Optometric 
Education.
    5. Council on Occupational Education.
    6. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on 
Accreditation.
    7. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on 
Accreditation.
    8. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on 
Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation, 
Commisson on Community/Junior College Accreditation.
    9. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commisson on 
Accreditation.
    10. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission 
on Institutions of Higher Education.
    11. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Technical and Career Institutions.
    12. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Institutions of Higher Education.
    13. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Colleges.
    14. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges.
    15. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Missouri State Board of Education.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Missouri State Board of Nursing.
    2. New Hampshire 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 meetng, will be available for public 
inspection in copying 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 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, until April 15, 1999. They will be available again after the 
May 11-13 Advisory Committee meeting. It is preferred that an 
appointment be made in advance of such inspection or copying.
Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer Office of Student Financial Assistance 
Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-34101 Filed 12-23-98; 8:45 am]
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