[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 4000-01-M