[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48450-48453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18663]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for the 
Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, and State 
Agencies for the Approval of Nurse Education

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, Department of Education (The Advisory Committee).

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    The purpose of this notice is to invite written comments on 
accrediting agencies and State approval agencies whose applications to 
the Secretary for initial or renewed recognition or whose interim 
reports will be reviewed at the Advisory Committee meeting to be held 
on December 2-4, 2002.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by September 9, 2002 to Carol 
Griffiths, Chief, Accrediting Agency Evaluation, Accreditation and 
State Liaison. You may contact her at the U.S. Department of Education, 
room 7105, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006, 
telephone: (202) 219-7011. 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 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. One of the purposes of the Advisory 
Committee is to advise the Secretary of Education on the recognition of 
accrediting agencies and State approval agencies.

Will This Be My Only Opportunity To Submit Written Comments?

    Yes, this notice announces the only opportunity you will have to 
submit written comments. However, a subsequent Federal Register notice 
will announce the meeting and invite individuals and/or groups to 
submit requests to make oral presentations before the Advisory 
Committee on the agencies that the Committee will review. That notice, 
however, does not offer a second opportunity to submit written comment.

What Happens to the Comments That I Submit?

    We will review your comments, in response to this notice, as part 
of our evaluation of the agencies' compliance with the Secretary's 
Criteria for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies and State Approval 
Agencies. The Criteria are regulations found in 34 CFR part 602 (for 
accrediting agencies) and in 34 CFR part 603 (for State approval 
agencies).
    We will also include your comments with the staff analyses we 
present to the Advisory Committee at its December 2002 meeting. 
Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to your comments, 
it is important that we receive them by September 9, 2002. In all 
instances, your comments about agencies seeking initial or continued 
recognition must relate to the Criteria for Recognition. In addition, 
your comments for any agency whose interim report is scheduled for 
review must relate to the issues raised and the Criteria for 
Recognition cited in the Secretary's letter that requested the interim 
report.

What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?

    We will review any comments received after the deadline. If such 
comments, upon investigation, reveal that the accrediting agency is not 
acting in accordance with the Criteria for Recognition, we will take 
action either before or after the meeting, as appropriate.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    The Secretary of Education recognizes accrediting agencies and 
State approval agencies for public postsecondary vocational education 
and nurse education if the Secretary determines that they meet the 
Criteria for Recognition. Recognition means that the Secretary 
considers the agency to be a reliable authority as to the quality of 
education offered by institutions or programs that are encompassed 
within the scope of recognition he grants to the agency. The following 
agencies will be reviewed during the December 2002 meeting of the 
Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accredity Agencies

Petition for Initial Recognition

    1. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (Requested 
scope of recognition: the accreditation of postsecondary English 
language programs and institutions in the United States)
    2. Teacher Education Accreditation Council (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of 
professional education programs in institutions offering baccalaureate 
and

[[Page 48451]]

graduate degrees for the preparation of teachers K-12)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training 
(Current scope of recognition: the accreditation of institutions of 
higher education throughout the United States that offer non-collegiate 
continuing education programs.) (Requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation of institutions of higher education throughout the United 
States that offer non-collegiate continuing education programs, 
including programs offered via distance education.)
    2. American Optometric Association, Accreditation Council on 
Optometric Education (Current scope of recognition: the accreditation 
in the United States of professional optometric degree programs, 
optometric technician (associate degree) programs, and optometric 
residency programs and for the preaccreditation categories of 
Preliminary Approval and Reasonable Assurance for professional 
optometric degree programs and Candidacy Pending for optometric 
residency programs in Veterans' Administration facilities.)
    3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on 
Academic Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: the accreditation 
and preaccreditation (Candidacy status) throughout the United States of 
Master's and doctoral-level degree programs in speech-language 
pathology and/or audiology.) (Requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Accreditation Candidate'') 
throughout the United States of entry-level graduate education programs 
at the master's or doctoral level leading to the first professional or 
academic degree in audiology and/or speech-language pathology and the 
accreditation of these programs offered via distance education.)
    4. Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (Current scope of 
recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of direct-
entry midwifery educational institutions and programs conferring 
degrees and certificates.) (Requested scope of recognition: the 
preaccreditation and accreditation throughout the United States of 
direct-entry midwifery educational institutions and programs conferring 
degrees and certificates, including the accreditation of programs 
offered via distance education.)
    5. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on 
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: the accreditation 
throughout the United States of institutions and units within 
institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs 
in art and design and art and design-related disciplines.) (Requested 
scope of recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of 
institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and 
non-degree-granting programs in art and design and art and design-
related disciplines, including programs offered via distance 
education.)
    6. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on 
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: the accreditation 
throughout the United States of institutions and units within 
institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs 
in dance and dance-related disciplines.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of 
institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and 
non-degree-granting programs in dance and dance-related disciplines, 
including programs offered via distance education.)
    7. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on 
Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation, 
Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation (Current scope of 
recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of 
institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and 
non-degree-granting programs in music and music-related disciplines, 
including community/junior colleges and independent degree-granting and 
non-degree-granting institutions.) (Requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation throughout the United States of institutions and units 
within institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting 
programs in music and music-related disciplines, including community/
junior colleges and independent degree-granting and non-degree-granting 
institutions and programs offered via distance education.)
    8. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on 
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: the accreditation 
throughout the United States of institutions and units within 
institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs 
in theatre and theatre-related disciplines.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of 
institutions and units within institutions offering degree-granting and 
non-degree-granting programs in theatre and theatre-related 
disciplines, including programs offered via distance education.)
    9. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Institutions of Higher Education (Current scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of 
institutions of higher education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont that award bachelor's, 
master's, and/or doctoral degrees and associate degree-granting 
institutions in those states that include degrees in liberal arts or 
general studies among their offerings. This recognition extends to the 
Board of Trustees of the Association jointly with the Commission for 
decisions involving preaccreditation, initial accreditation, and 
adverse actions.) (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation 
and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of institutions of higher 
education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode 
Island, and Vermont that award bachelor's, master's, and/or doctoral 
degrees and associate degree-granting institutions in those states that 
include degrees in liberal arts or general studies among their 
offerings, and the accreditation of programs offered via distance 
education within these institutions. This recognition extends to the 
Board of Trustees of the Association jointly with the Commission for 
decisions involving preaccreditation, initial accreditation, and 
adverse actions.)
    10. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Technical and Career Institutions (Current scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate status'') of secondary 
institutions with vocational-technical programs at the 13th and 14th 
grade level, postsecondary institutions, and institutions of higher 
education that provide primarily vocational/technical education at the 
certificate, associate, and baccalaureate degree levels in Connecticut, 
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This 
recognition extends to the Board of Trustees of the Association jointly 
with the Commission for decisions involving preaccreditation, initial 
accreditation, and adverse actions.) (Requested scope of recognition: 
the accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate status'') of 
secondary institutions with vocational-technical programs at the 13th 
and 14th grade level, postsecondary institutions, and institutions of 
higher education that provide primarily vocational/technical education 
at the certificate, associate,

[[Page 48452]]

and baccalaureate degree levels in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, and the accreditation of 
programs offered via distance education within these institutions. This 
recognition extends to the Board of Trustees of the Association jointly 
with the Commission for decisions involving preaccreditation, initial 
accreditation, and adverse actions.)
    11. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher 
Learning Commission (Current scope of recognition: the accreditation 
and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-
granting institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas, 
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, including schools of the 
Navajo Nation.) (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting 
institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, 
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West 
Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, including schools of the Navajo Nation, 
and the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within 
these institutions.)
    12. Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and 
Universities, Commission on Colleges and Universities (Current scope of 
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy 
status'') of postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho, 
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy 
status'') of postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho, 
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington, and the accreditation of 
programs offered via distance education within these institutions.)
    13. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (Current scope of 
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for 
Accreditation'') of community and junior colleges located 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 Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands.) (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation 
and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of community and 
junior colleges located 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 
Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the 
accreditation of programs offered via distance education at these 
colleges.)
    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 Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.
    2. American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation.
    3. American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.
    4. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation.
    5. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
    6. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear 
Medicine Technology.
    7. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities:

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education (Current scope 
of recognition: the approval of public postsecondary vocational 
education offered at institutions in the State of Oklahoma that are not 
under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher 
Education.)
    2. Utah State Board for Applied Technology Education:

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Iowa Board of Nursing
    2. Maryland Board of Nursing

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 of Operational Studies)

Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and After 
the Meeting?

    All petitions and those third-party comments received in advance of 
the meeting, will be available for public inspection and copying at the 
U.S. Department of Education, room 7105, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 219-7011 between the hours of 
8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, until November 8, 2002. 
They will be available again after the December 2-4 Advisory Committee 
meeting. An appointment must be made in advance of such inspection or 
copying.

How May I Obtain Electronic Access to This Document?

    You may view this document, as well as all other Department of 
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe 
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: 
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.

    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.


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


[[Page 48453]]


    Dated: July 18, 2002.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 02-18663 Filed 7-23-02; 8:45 am]
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