[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61607-61608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24826]


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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?

    On July 24, 2002, we published a notice in the Federal Register to 
invite written comments on accrediting agencies that had submitted 
petitions for review by the Advisory Committee at its December 2-4, 
2002 meeting. The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts 
and Sciences was omitted from the list of accrediting agencies in our 
July 24, 2002 notice. This notice invites written comments on the 
petition for expansion of scope submitted by the National Accrediting 
Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences that will be reviewed at 
the Advisory Committee meeting to be held on December 2-4, 2002.

Petition for an Expansion of Scope

    1. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences 
(Current scope of recognition: the accreditation of postsecondary 
schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences.) (Requested 
scope of recognition: the accreditation throughout the United States of 
postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences 
and massage therapy.)

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by October 18, 2002 to Carol 
Griffiths, Chief, Accrediting Agency Evaluation, Accreditation and 
State Liaison. You may contact her at the U.S. Department of Education, 
1990 K Street, NW., 7th Floor, Room 7105, Washington, DC 20006-8509, 
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, another 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 an 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 National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology 
Arts and Sciences' compliance with the Secretary's Criteria for 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. The Criteria are regulations found 
in 34 CFR part 602 (for accrediting agencies).
    We will also respond to your comments, as appropriate, in the staff 
analysis 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 October 18, 2002. In 
all instances, your comments regarding the National Accrediting 
Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences must relate to the Criteria 
for Recognition.

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.
    Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and 
After the Meeting?
    Subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 522, petitions, interim 
reports, and those third-party comments received in advance of the 
meeting, will, upon written request, be made available, by appointment, 
for inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K 
Street, NW., 7th Floor, Room 7105, Washington, DC 20006-8509, telephone 
(202) 219-7011 until October 18, 2002. They will be available again 
after the December 2-4 Advisory Committee meeting.

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.



[[Page 61608]]


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

    Dated: September 24, 2002.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 02-24826 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
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