[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 51568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21860]


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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 Friday, September 5. 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 AND TIMES: Thursday, September 11, 2003, beginning at 9 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW., the 
Congressional Room. 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.
    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. As a result of the findings in its 
access reports, the Committee submitted its access proposal to Congress 
in May 2003 in preparation for reauthorization of the Higher Education 
Act. The Committee will review and evaluate, from an access 
perspective, other reauthorization proposals and ideas emanating from 
Congress and the higher education community.
    The proposed agenda includes discussion sessions with congressional 
staff and members of the higher education community focusing on 
reauthorization proposals and ideas related to: (a) The Committee's 
access partnership, (b) grants and work, (c) loans, (d) accountability, 
college costs and consumer information, and (e) address other Committee 
business. Space is limited and you are encouraged to register early if 
you plan to attend. You may register through the 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 Monday, September 8, 2003.
    The Advisory Committee will meet on Washington, DC on Thursday, 
September 11, 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: August 20, 2003.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 03-21860 Filed 8-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M