[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15140-15141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6934]


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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 the 
forthcoming meeting of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial 
Assistance which is open to the public. Individuals who will need 
accommodations for a disability in order to attend the meeting (i.e., 
interpreting services, assistive listening devices, and/or materials in 
alternative format) should notify Ms. Hope M. Gray at 202-708-7439 or 
via e-mail at [email protected] no later than April 3, 2000. We will 
attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee 
availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is 
accessible to individuals with disabilities. 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: Wednesday, April 12, 2000, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 5:00 p.m.; and Thursday, April 13, 2000, 
beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 2:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Boston University, School of Management, Executive 
Leadership Center, 595 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 
02118.

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,

[[Page 15141]]

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) discussion sessions on 
implementing the provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 
and their impact on all Title IV programs, in particular, examining 
long-term issues that are central to the federal role of providing 
access to postsecondary education for low- and middle-income students, 
and (b) progress to date on distance education and Gear Up. In 
addition, the Committee will discuss its plans for the remainder of 
fiscal year 2000 and address other Committee business. 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, April 3, 2000.
    The Advisory Committee will meet in Boston, Massachusetts on April 
12, 2000, from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m., and on April 
13, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 2:00 p.m.
    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: March 15, 2000.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance
[FR Doc. 00-6934 Filed 3-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M