[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30967-30968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14574]


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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: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, Department of Education (The Advisory Committee).

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    The purpose of this notice is to invite written comments on 
accrediting agencies whose applications to the Secretary for initial or 
renewed recognition will be reviewed at the Advisory Committee meeting 
to be held on December 6-8, 1999. The notice also invites written 
comments on agencies submitting interim reports that will be reviewed 
at the December meeting.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by July 26, 1999 to Nami 
Randolph, Chief of the Accrediting Agency Evaluation Branch. You may 
contact her at the US Department of Education, 7th & D Streets, SW, 
Room 3915, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone: (202) 708-8481. 
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.

What Is the Authority for the Advisory Committee?

    The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity is established under Section 114 of the Higher Education Act 
(HEA), as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1011. One of the purposes of the Advisory 
Committee is to advise the Secretary of Education on the recognition of 
accrediting agencies and State approval agencies.

Will This Be My Only Opportunity To Submit Written Comments?

    Yes, this notice announces the only opportunity you will have to 
submit written comments. However, a subsequent Federal Register notice 
will announce the meeting and invite individuals and/or groups to 
submit requests to make oral presentations before the Advisory 
Committee on the agencies that the Committee will review. That notice, 
however, does not offer a second opportunity to submit written comment.

What Happens to the Comments That I Submit?

    We will review your comments in response to this notice as part of 
our evaluation of the agencies' compliance with the Secretary's 
Criteria for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. The Criteria are 
regulations found in 34 CFR part 602.
    We will also include your comments in the staff analyses that we 
present to the Advisory committee at the December 1999 meeting. 
Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to the comments 
we receive, it is important that we receive your comments on all 
agencies except the council of the Section of Legal Education and 
Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) by July 26, 
1999. The deadline for receiving comments about the ABA is September 3, 
1999 because that cited agency's interim report is not due to us until 
August 15, 1999. In all instances, your comments about agencies seeking 
initial or renewed recognition must relate to the Criteria for the 
Recognition. In addition, your comments for any agency whose interim 
report is scheduled for review must relate to the issues raised and the 
Criteria for Recognition in the Secretary's letter that requested the 
interim report.

What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?

    We will review comments received after the deadline as complaints. 
If such comments upon investigation reveal that the accrediting agency 
is not acting in accordance with the Criteria for Recognition, we will 
take action either before or after the meeting, as appropriate. We will 
notify the commentors of the disposition of those comments.

What Agencies Are on the Agenda for the Meeting?

    The Secretary of Education recognizes accrediting agencies and 
State approval agencies for public postsecondary vocational education 
and nurse education if he determines that they meet the Criteria for 
Recognition. Recognition means that the Secretary considers the agency 
to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education offered by 
institutions or programs that are encompassed within the scope of 
recognition he grants to the agency. The following agencies will be 
reviewed

[[Page 30968]]

during the December 1999 meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petition for Initial Recognition

    1. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (Requested scope of 
recognition: Baccalaureate Degree Programs in Nursing Education and 
Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Education.

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of 
Technology (Requested scope of recognition: the Accreditation of 
private, postsecondary, non-degree-granting institutions and degree-
granting institution, including those granting associate and 
baccalaureate degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate 
students for occupation, trade and technical careers).
    2. American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation 
(Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of doctoral programs 
in clinical, counseling, school and combined professional-scientific 
psychology, predocotral internship programs in professional psychology, 
and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology.
    3. 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.).
    4. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences 
(Scope of recognition: the accreditation of postsecondary schools and 
departments of costmetology arts and sciences).
    5. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, 
Accrediting Commission (Requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of 
postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, and 
associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees).
    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. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation 
Commission.
    3. Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass 
Communciations.
    4. American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation.
    5. American Physical Therapy Association, Committee on 
Accreditation.
    6. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation.
    7. National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive 
Health, Council on Accreditation.
    8. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Schools.

State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Eduation

Interim Report

    1. Kansas State Department of Education.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Interim Report

    1. New York State Board of Regents, Nursing Education Unit.

Federal Agency Seeking Degree-Granting Authority

    In accordance with the Federal policy governing the granting of 
academic degrees by Federal agencies (approved by a letter from the 
Director, Bureau of the Budget, to the Secretary, Health, Education, 
and Welfare dated December 23, 1954), the Secretary is required to 
establish a review committee to advise the Secretary concerning any 
legislation that may be proposed that would authorize the granting of 
degrees by a Federal agency. The review committee forwards its 
recommendation concerning a Federal agency's proposed degree-granting 
authority to the Secretary, who then forwards the committee's 
recommendation and the Secretary's recommendation to the Office of 
Management and Budget for review and transmittal to the Congress. The 
Secretary uses the Advisory Committee as the review committee required 
for this purpose. Accordingly, the Advisory Committee will review the 
following institution at this meeting:

Proposed Associate Degree-Granting Authority

    1. Defense Language Institute (Accrdited by: Western Association of 
Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior 
Colleges).

Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and 
After the Meeting?

    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, 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 November 22, 1999. They will be available again after the 
December 6-8 Advisory Committe meeting. It is preferred that an 
appointment be made in advance of such inspection or copying.

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

    Dated: June 3, 1999.
Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer, Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-14574 Filed 6-8-99; 8:45 am]
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