[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 5275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2740]


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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 meeting of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial 
Assistance. 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 202-219-2099 or via e-mail at 
[email protected] no later than Thursday, February 28. 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 liabilities. 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: Thursday, March 7, 2002, beginning at 9 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 5 p.m.; and Friday, March 8, 2002, beginning at 
8:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 12 noon.

ADDRESSES: The Universit7y of Texas at Brownsville in the Science, 
Engineering, and Technology Building, 80 Fort Brown, Brownville, Texas 
78520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Staff 
Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol 
Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582 (202) 
219-2099.

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) 
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) Round table discussion sessions 
regarding the findings of Access Denied and related research, in 
particular, the implications of unmet need on low-income students, (b) 
the role of academic preparation in access; and (c) the implications of 
the data and findings for federal and state policy. In addition, the 
Committee will discuss its plans for the remainder of fiscal year 2002 
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) 219-3032. Also, you may contact the Advisory Committee 
staff at (202) 
219-2099. The registration deadline is Tuesday, February 26, 2002.
    The Advisory Committee will meet in Brownsville, Texas on Thursday, 
March 7, 2002, from 9 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m., and on Friday, 
March 8, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 12 noon.
    Records are kept of all Committee proceedings, and are available 
for public inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on 
Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 
413, Washington, DC from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays, 
except Federal holidays.

    Dated: January 30, 2002.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-2740 Filed 2-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M