[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 195 (Friday, October 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54876-54877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26361]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance; Meeting

AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.

ACTION: Notice of upcoming meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
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: Tuesday, November 2, 1999, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 
ending at 6:00 p.m., but closed from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 
p.m.; and Wednesday, November 3, 1999, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 2:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Wyndham City Center Hotel, New Hampshire III Room, 1143 New 
Hampshire Avenue, 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 Public Law 100-50 (20 U.S.C. 1098). The Advisory 
Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the 
Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid 
policy. Since its inception, the Committee has been charged with 
providing technical expertise with regard to systems of need analysis 
and application forms, making recommendations that 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; assisting with activities related to the 
1992 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965; conducting a 
third-year evaluation of the Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP) 
and the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) under the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993; and assisting Congress with 
the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
    The congressional mandate requires the Advisory Committee to 
conduct objective, nonpartisan, and independent analyses on important 
aspects of the student assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher 
Education Act. The Committee traditionally approaches its work from a 
set of fundamental goals: promoting program integrity, eliminating or 
avoiding program complexity, integrating delivery across the Title IV 
programs; and minimizing burden on students and institutions.
    Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act has provided the 
Advisory Committee with a significantly expanded agenda in six major 
areas, such as, Performance-Based Organization (PBO); Modernization; 
Technology; Simplification of Law and Regulation; Distance Education; 
and Early Information and Needs Assessment. In each of these areas, 
Congress has asked the Committee to: monitor progress toward 
implementing the Amendments of 1998; conduct independent, objective 
assessments; and make recommendations for improvement to the Congress 
and the Secretary. Each of these responsibilities flows logically from 
and effectively implements one or more of the Committee's original 
statutory functions and purposes.
    The proposed agenda includes--(a) presentations and discussion 
sessions by congressional members and staff, Department of Education 
officials (ED), and presidential associations regarding progress to 
date on the implementation of the PBO and modernization; (b) 
presentations and discussion sessions focusing on distance education 
and GearUp; and (c) a planning session on the Committee's agenda for 
fiscal year 2000 and other Committee business (e.g., personnel matters, 
the budget, 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 electronically, 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 Monday, October 25, 1999.
    The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC on November 2, 
1999, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m., and on November 3, 
from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be closed to 
the public on November 2, from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to 
discuss personnel matters. The ensuing discussions will relate to 
internal personnel rules and practices 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

[[Page 54877]]

exemptions (2) and (6) of 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 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 
weekdays, except Federal holidays.

    Dated: October 5, 1999.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-26361 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
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