[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16006-16007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-7941]


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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 meetings.

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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 Monday, April 14. 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: Tuesday, April 22, 2003, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 
approximately 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill, 525 New Jersey 
Avenue, NW., the Atrium Ballroom, Washington, DC 20001.

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 
(HEA) 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 three-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 assistance programs under title IV of the Higher 
Education Act. The Committee traditionally approaches its work from a 
set of fundamental goals; promoting access; ensuring program integrity; 
integrating delivery across the title IV programs; eliminating or 
avoiding program complexity; and minimizing burden on students and 
institutions.

[[Page 16007]]

    The most important charge of the Advisory Committee is to make 
recommendations to Congress and the Secretary that will lead to the 
maintenance and enhancement of access to postsecondary education for 
low- and middle-income students. In addition to carrying out its 
ongoing statutory charges, the Committee dedicated itself to 
articulating the current state of access by developing two reports on 
the condition of access, Access Denied: Restoring the Nation's 
Commitment to Equal Educational Opportunity and Empty Promises: The 
Myth of College Access in America. The Committee will build upon the 
findings in its access reports and prepare the reauthorization of the 
Higher Education Act by conducting follow on research that will assist 
in formulating recommendations to Congress and the Secretary of 
Education on student financial aid issues.
    The proposed agenda includes round table discussion sessions with 
nationally recognized scholars focusing on (a) key dimensions of the 
core access/persistence problem and effective solutions, (b) assuring 
adequate information, financial access, academic preparation, and 
simple applications, (c) lowering unmet need and assuring both 
enrollment and persistence, and (d) implications for reauthorization of 
the HEA. 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 Wednesday, April 16, 2003.
    The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC on Tuesday, 
April 22, 2003, from 9 a.m. until approximately 5 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, 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: March 27, 2003.
Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 03-7941 Filed 4-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7000-01-M