[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 9304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3111]



[[Page 9304]]

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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 Wednesday, February 14, 
2001. 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: Tuesday, February 20, 2001, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, February 21, 2001, 
beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 2 p.m.

ADDRESSESS: The Radisson Barcelo Hotel, the Phillips Ballroom, 2121 P 
Street, 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 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 mimizing 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; Simplication of Law and Regulation; Distance Education; and 
Early Information and Needs Assessment. In each of these areas, 
Congress has asked the Committe 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) Unveiling the Committee's 
findings on the condition and access to higher education for low-income 
students and its policy priorities for the new administration, (b) 
discussion sessions on the condition of access today and the 
implications of strong demographic trends already underway, (c) the 
realignment of policy priorities required to respond effectively to 
today's and tomorrow's challenges, and (d) the Committee's plan for the 
remainder of fiscal year 2001. In addition, other Committee business 
will be addressed. 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 Wednesday, February 14, 2001.
    The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC. on Tuesday, 
February 20, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m., and on 
Wednesday, February 21, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 2 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 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 
weekdays, except Federal holidays.

    Dated: February 1, 2001.
Dr. Brian K. Fitzerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 01-3111 Filed 2-6-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M