[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 52 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13415-13417]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6623]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (National Advisory Committee); Meeting

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

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    The purpose of this notice is to announce the public meeting of the 
National Advisory Committee and invite third-party oral presentations 
before the Committee. This notice also presents the proposed agenda and 
informs the public of its opportunity to attend this meeting. The 
notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act.

When and Where Will the Meeting Take Place?

    We will hold the public meeting on May 11-13, 1999 from 8 a.m. 
until 6 p.m. at the Latham Hotel on 3000 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20007. You may call the Hotel on (202) 726-5000 to inquire about rooms.

What Access Does the Hotel Provide for Individuals With 
Disabilities?

    The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If 
you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting 
(e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials 
in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this 
notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although 
we will attempt to meet a request received after that date, we may not 
be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or service 
because of insufficient time to arrange it.

Who Is the Contact Person for the Meeting?

    Please contact Bonnie LeBold, who is the Executive Director of the 
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, if 
you have questions about the meeting. You may contact her at the U.S. 
Department of Education, ROB-3, Room 3082, 400 Maryland Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20202-7592, telephone: (202) 260-3636, fax: (202) 260-
5049. 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 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

[[Page 13416]]

What Is the Authority for the National Advisory Committee?

    The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity is established under Section 114 of the Higher Education Act 
(HEA) as amended by Public Law 105-244.

What Are the Functions of the National Advisory Committee?

    The Committee advises the Secretary of Education about:
     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.
     The eligibility and certification process for institutions 
of higher education under Title IV, HEA.
     The development of 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 the 
interim eligibility of those institutions to participate in Federally 
funded programs.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    The Advisory Committee will review the following agencies during 
its May 11-13, 1999 meeting.

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 leads 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
    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, 
Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation
    9. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission 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. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, 
Accrediting Commission
    16. 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

Who Can Make Third-Party Oral Presentations at this Meeting?

    We invite you to make a third-party oral presentation before the 
National Advisory Committee concerning the recognition of any agency 
published in this notice.

How Do I Request To Make an Oral Presentation?

    You must submit a written request to make an oral presentation 
concerning an agency listed in this notice to the contact person by 
April 15, 1999. Your request should include:

--the names of all persons seeking an appearance,
--the organization they represent, and
--a brief summary of the principal points to be made during the oral 
presentation.

    This notice is not a call for third-party written comments. 
However, if you wish to provide the Advisory Committee with a brief 
document (no more than 6 pages maximum) illustrating the main points of 
your oral testimony, pleased enclose one original and 25 copies of the 
document with your written request to make an oral presentation. Please 
do not distribute written materials at the meeting or send materials 
directly to Committee members.
    Materials submitted by the deadline and in accordance with these 
instructions become part of the official record and are considered by 
the Committee in its deliberations. Department staff will not 
distribute documents submitted after the April 15,

[[Page 13417]]

1999, deadline to the Advisory Committee.

If I Cannot Attend the Meeting, Can I Submit Written Comments 
Regarding an Accrediting Agency in Lieu of Making an Oral 
Presentation?

    This notice requests third-party oral testimony, not written 
comments. A request for written comments on agencies that are being 
reviewed during this meeting was published in the Federal Register on 
December 21, 1998. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider 
only written comments submitted by the deadlines specified in that 
Federal Register notice.

How Do I Request To Present Comments Regarding General Issues 
Rather Than Specific Accrediting Agencies?

    At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee, at its discretion, 
may invite attendees to address the Committee briefly on issues 
pertaining to the functions of the Committee, which are listed earlier 
in this notice. If you are interested in making such comments, you 
should inform Ms. LeBold before or during the meeting.

How May I Obtain Access to the Records of the Meeting?

    We will record the meeting and make a transcript available for 
public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, ROB-3, Room 
3082, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington, DC, between the hours of 9:00 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.

    Dated: March 15, 1999.
Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer, Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-6623 Filed 3-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M