[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 63 (Monday, April 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17538-17540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7964]


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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 23, 2001 from 9:30 a.m. 
until 6 p.m., on May 24, 2001 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on May 25, 
2001 from 8:30 a.m. until noon at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Pentagon 
City, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202. You may call 
the hotel on (703) 415-5000 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 Ms. Bonnie LeBold, 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, Room 7007--MS 7592, 1990 K St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7009, fax: (202) 219-7008, 
e-mail: [email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-800-877-8339.

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, 20 U.S.C. 1011c.

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.
     The relationship between: (1) Accreditation of 
institutions of higher education and the certification and eligibility 
of such institutions, and (2) State licensing responsibilities with 
respect to such institutions.
     Any other advisory functions relating to accreditation and 
institutional eligibility that the Secretary may prescribe.

What Items Will Be on the Agenda for Discussion at the Meeting?

    Agenda topics will include a panel discussion by higher education 
representatives on transfer of credit issues, the review of agencies 
that have submitted petitions for initial recognition or renewal of 
recognition, the review of agencies that have submitted interim 
reports, and the review of a Federal agency seeking degree-granting 
authority.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    The Advisory Committee will review the following agencies during 
its May 23-25, 2001 meeting.

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petition for Initial Recognition

    1. Teacher Education Accreditation Council (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of professional education programs in 
institutions offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees for the 
preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary 
and secondary schools)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of private 
postsecondary institutions offering business and business-related 
programs and the accreditation and preaccreditation (``Recognized 
Candidate'') of junior and senior colleges of business (including 
senior colleges with master's degree programs), as well as independent, 
freestanding institutions offering only

[[Page 17539]]

graduate business and business-related programs at the master's degree 
level)
    2. American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation 
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Preaccreditation'') of basic certificate and graduate nurse-
midwifery education programs for registered nurses, as well as the 
accreditation and preaccreditation of pre-certification nurse-midwifery 
education programs) (Requested scope of recognition: the current scope 
of recognition plus the accreditation of midwifery education programs 
for non-nurses at the post-baccalaureate or higher academic level that 
lead to certificates or graduate degrees)
    3. American Council on Pharmaceutical Education (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Precandidate'' 
and ``Candidate'') of professional degree programs in pharmacy leading 
to the degrees of Baccalaureate in Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy)
    4. American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of predoctoral 
dental education programs (programs leading to the D.D.S. or D.M.D. 
degree); dental auxiliary education programs (dental assisting, dental 
hygiene and dental laboratory technology); and advanced dental 
educational programs (general practices residency, advanced general 
dentistry, and the specialties of dental public health, endodontics, 
oral pathology, orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, 
pedodontics, periodontics, and prosthodontics))
    5. American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council 
for Occupational Therapy Education (Current scope of recognition: The 
accreditation of entry-level professional occupational therapy 
educational programs awarding baccalaureate degrees, post-baccalaureate 
certificates, professional master's degrees, and combined 
baccalaureate/master's degrees, and also for the accreditation of 
occupational therapy assistant programs leading to an associate degree 
or certificate) (Requested scope of recognition: The current scope of 
recognition plus the accreditation of entry-level doctoral degree 
professional occupational therapy educational programs and the 
accreditation of programs offered principally through distance 
education)
    6. Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on Accreditation 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of Doctor of 
Chiropractic programs and single-purpose institutions offering the 
Doctor of Chiropractic program)
    7. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of two-year programs for the ophthalmic 
dispenser and one-year programs for the ophthalmic laboratory 
technician)
    8. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of educational 
programs for radiographers and radiation therapists)
    9. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear 
Medicine Technology (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation 
of higher education programs for the nuclear medicine technologist)
    10. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting 
institutions of higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia)
    11. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for 
Accreditation'') of senior colleges and universities 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 Marianna 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. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of 
Technology
    2. American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on 
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
    3. American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation
    4. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
    5. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
    6. National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, 
Council on Accreditation
    7. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, 
Accreditation Commission

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Interim Report--

1. Kansas Board of Regents

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 Master's Degree-Granting Authority

    1. U.S. Marine Corps University, Quantico, VA (request to award a 
master's degree in Strategic Studies)

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 so 
that the request is received no later than May 4, 2001. Your request 
(no more than 6 pages maximum) should include:

--The names, addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers 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. If you wish, you may

[[Page 17540]]

attach documents illustrating the main points of your oral testimony. 
Please keep in mind, however, that any attachments are included in the 
6-page limit.

    Please do not send materials directly to Committee members. Only 
materials submitted by the deadline to the contact person listed in 
this notice and in accordance with these instructions become part of 
the official record and are considered by the Committee in its 
deliberations. Documents received after the May 4, 2001 deadline will 
not be distributed to the Advisory Committee for their consideration. 
Individuals making oral presentations may not distribute written 
materials at the meeting.

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 
comment. A request for written comments on agencies that are being 
reviewed during this meeting was published in the Federal Register on 
January 18, 2001. 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, Room 7007, 1990 
K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. It is 
preferred that an appointment be made in advance of such inspection.

What Agencies Will Be Postponed for Review Until the Fall 2001 
Meeting?

    The agency listed below, which was originally scheduled for review 
during the Committee's May 2001 meeting, will be postponed for review 
until the Committee's Fall 2001 meeting. Any third-party written 
comments regarding these agencies that were received by March 5, 2001, 
in accordance with the Federal Register notice published on January 18, 
2001, will become part of the official record and will be considered by 
the Committee in its deliberations at the Fall 2001 meeting. There will 
be another opportunity to provide written comments on these agencies 
this summer; a Federal Register notice requesting comments on all 
agencies scheduled for review at the Fall 2001 meeting will be 
published in June or July 2001.

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation 
Commission (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of 
clinical pastoral education (CPE) centers and CPE and supervisory CPE 
programs)

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

Maureen A. McLaughlin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, Office 
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 01-7964 Filed 3-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P