[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 59 (Friday, March 26, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15823-15824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6758]



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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, (National Advisory Committee); Meeting

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

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    The purpose of this notice is to announce the public meeting of the 
National Advisory Committee and invite third-party oral presentations 
before the Committee. This notice also presents the proposed agenda and 
informs the public of its opportunity to attend this meeting. The 
notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act.

When and Where Will the Meeting Take Place?

    We will hold the public meeting on June 10, 2004, from 8:45 a.m. 
until approximately 5:30 p.m., and on June 11, 2004, from 8 a.m. until 
approximately 4 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20004. You may call the hotel on (202) 628-7177 to 
inquire about rooms.

What Assistance Will Be Provided to Individuals with Disabilities?

    The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If 
you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting 
(e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials 
in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this 
notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Although 
we will attempt to meet a request received after that date, we may not 
be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or service 
because of insufficient time to arrange it.

Who Is the Contact Person for the Meeting?

    Please contact Ms. Bonnie LeBold, the Executive Director of the 
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, if 
you have questions about the meeting. You may contact her at the U.S. 
Department of Education, room 7007, MS 7592, 1990 K St., NW, 
Washington, DC 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7009, fax: (202) 219-7008, 
e-mail: [email protected].
    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 National 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.

What Are the Functions of the National Advisory Committee?

    The Committee advises the Secretary of Education about:
     The establishment and enforcement of the 
criteria for recognition of accrediting agencies or associations under 
subpart 2 of part H of Title IV, HEA.
     The recognition of specific accrediting agencies 
or associations.
     The preparation and publication of the list of 
nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations.
     The eligibility and certification process for 
institutions of higher education under Title IV, HEA.
     The development of standards and criteria for 
specific categories of vocational training institutions and 
institutions of higher education for which there are no recognized 
accrediting agencies, associations, or State agencies in order to 
establish the interim eligibility of those institutions to participate 
in Federally funded programs.
     The relationship between: (1) accreditation of 
institutions of higher education and the certification and eligibility 
of such institutions, and (2) State licensing responsibilities with 
respect to such institutions.
     Any other advisory functions relating to 
accreditation and institutional eligibility that the Secretary may 
prescribe.

What Items Will Be On the Agenda for Discussion at the Meeting?

    Agenda topics will include the review of agencies that have 
submitted petitions for initial recognition or renewal of recognition, 
as well as agencies that have submitted interim reports.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    The Advisory Committee will review the following agencies during 
its June 10-11, 2004, meeting.

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petitions for Initial Recognition

    1. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (Requested scope 
of recognition: The accreditation of institutions with postsecondary, 
non-degree granting career and technology programs, in Delaware, 
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (Current scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary allied health 
education institutions and institutions that offer predominantly allied 
health programs, private medical assistant programs, and public and 
private medical laboratory technician programs leading to the Associate 
of Applied Science and the Associate of Occupational Science degrees.) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of private, 
postsecondary institutions in the United States offering predominantly 
allied health education, medical assistant programs, and medical 
laboratory technician programs leading to a certificate, diploma or the 
Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Occupational Science 
degrees, including those offered via distance education.)
    2. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and 
Canada, Commission on Accrediting (Current scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accredited 
Status'') of freestanding institutions, as well as schools affiliated 
with larger institutions, that offer graduate professional education 
for ministry and graduate study of theology in the United States) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidate for Accredited Membership'') of theological schools and 
seminaries, as well as schools or programs that are parts of colleges 
or universities, in the United States, offering post baccalaureate 
degrees in professional and academic theological education, including 
delivery via distance education.)
    3. Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (Current scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of institutions in the United States, 
that award postsecondary certificates or diplomas in the practice of 
massage therapy and bodywork.) (Requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation of institutions in the United States, that award 
postsecondary certificates, postsecondary diplomas, and Associates 
degrees, in the practice of massage therapy and bodywork.)
    4. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School 
Improvement, Board of Trustees (Requested scope of recognition: the

[[Page 15824]]

accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidacy status''] of schools 
offering non-degree, postsecondary 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, and in the Navajo Nation.)
    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. American Academy for Liberal Education.
    2. American Optometric Association, Accreditation Council on 
Optometric Education.
    3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on 
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
    4. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and 
Sciences.
    5. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on 
Accreditation.
    6. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on 
Accreditation.
    7. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on 
Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation, 
Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation.
    8. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on 
Accreditation.
    9. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Institutions of Higher Education.
    10. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Technical and Career Institutions.
    11. New York State Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Education.
    12. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher 
Learning Commission.
    13. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Initial Recognition

    1. Pennsylvania State Board for Vocational Education.

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.

Interim Reports

    1. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Montana State Board of Nursing.
    2. North Dakota Board of Nursing.

Who Can Make Third-Party Oral Presentations at This Meeting?

    We invite you to make a third-party oral presentation before the 
National Advisory Committee concerning the recognition of any agency 
published in this notice.

How Do I Request To Make an Oral Presentation?

    You must submit a written request to make an oral presentation 
concerning an agency listed in this notice to the contact person so 
that the request is received via mail, fax, or e-mail no later than May 
21, 2004. Your request (no more than 6 pages maximum) must include:
    1. The names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail 
addresses of all persons seeking an appearance,
    2. The organization they represent, and
    3. A brief summary of the principal points to be made during the 
oral presentation.
    If you wish, you may attach documents illustrating the main points 
of your oral testimony. Please keep in mind, however, that any 
attachments are included in the 6-page limit. Please do not send 
materials directly to Committee members. Only materials submitted by 
the deadline to the contact person listed in this notice and in 
accordance with these instructions become part of the official record 
and are considered by the Committee in its deliberations. Documents 
received after the May 21, 2004 deadline will not be distributed to the 
Advisory Committee for their consideration. Individuals making oral 
presentations may not distribute written materials at the meeting.

If I Cannot Attend the Meeting, Can I Submit Written Comments Regarding 
an Accrediting Agency in Lieu of Making an Oral Presentation?

    This notice requests third-party oral testimony, not written 
comment. A request for written comments on agencies that are being 
reviewed during this meeting was published in the Federal Register on 
February 5, 2004. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider only 
written comments submitted by the deadline specified in that Federal 
Register notice.

How Do I Request To Present Comments Regarding General Issues Rather 
Than Specific Accrediting Agencies?

    At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee, at its discretion, 
may invite attendees to address the Committee briefly on issues 
pertaining to the functions of the Committee, which are listed earlier 
in this notice. If you are interested in making such comments, you 
should inform Ms. LeBold before or during the meeting.

How May I Obtain Access to the Records of the Meeting?

    We will record the meeting and make a transcript available for 
public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K St., NW., 
Washington, DC 20006 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. It is preferred that an 
appointment be made in advance of such inspection.

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.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


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

    Dated: March 19, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-6758 Filed 3-25-04; 8:45 am]
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