[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60991-60994]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23017]


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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 December 13, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. 
until approximately 5 p.m., on December 14, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. until 
approximately 5 p.m., and on December 15, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. until 
approximately 1 p.m. in Salon I at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Pentagon 
City, 1250 South Hayes Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202. You may call 
the hotel on (703) 415-5000 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

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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 renewal of recognition, agencies that have 
submitted interim reports, an agency that has submitted a progress 
report and requested an expansion of scope of recognition, and a 
Federal agency seeking degree-granting authority.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    Please note that the agencies listed below, which were originally 
scheduled for review during the National Advisory Committee's June 2004 
meeting, were deferred and will be reviewed at the December 2004 
meeting.
     Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
     American Academy for Liberal Education.
     American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on 
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
     National Association of Schools of Art and Design, 
Commission on Accreditation.
     National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on 
Accreditation.
     National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on 
Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation, 
Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation.
     National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on 
Accreditation.
     New England Association of Schools and Colleges, 
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
     New England Association of Schools and Colleges, 
Commission on Technical and Career Institutions.
     Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.
    Any requests for third-party oral presentations regarding these 
agencies that were received by May 21, 2004, in accordance with the 
Federal Register notice published on March 26, 2004, will become part 
of the official record. Those comments will be considered by the 
National Advisory Committee when it reviews the agencies at the 
December 2004 meeting.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the December 2004 
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

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 programs, and the programmatic accreditation of 
allied health 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. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of 
Technology (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of private, 
postsecondary, non-degree-granting institutions and degree-granting 
institutions, including those granting associate and baccalaureate 
degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate students for 
occupational, trade and technical careers, and including institutions 
that offer programs via distance education.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of private, postsecondary, non-degree-
granting institutions and degree-granting institutions in the United 
States, including those granting associate and baccalaureate degrees, 
that are predominantly organized to educate students for occupational, 
trade and technical careers, and including institutions that offer 
programs via distance education.)
    3. American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation 
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of doctoral programs 
in clinical, counseling, school and combined professional-scientific 
psychology; predoctoral internship programs in professional psychology; 
and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology.) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation in the United States 
of doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, school and combined 
professional-scientific psychology; predoctoral internship programs in 
professional psychology; and postdoctoral residency programs in 
professional psychology.)
    4. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences 
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary 
schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences and massage 
therapy.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of 
postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences 
and massage therapy in the United States.)
    5. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, 
Accreditation Commission (Current scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate'' status) of 
postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, and 
associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including institutions 
that offer distance education.) (Requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate'' status) of 
postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer 
certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate 
degrees, including institutions that offer distance education.)
    6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Schools (Current and requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of 
adult and postsecondary schools that offer programs below the degree 
level 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.)

Petition for an Expansion of Scope and a Progress Report

    (A petition for an expansion of scope and a progress report on the 
agency's experience with its new method and system to assess its 
institutions' success with respect to student achievement.)
    1. Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission 
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary 
institutions in the United States offering programs primarily by the 
distance

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education method up through the first professional degree level. Title 
IV Note: Accreditation by this agency does not enable the entities it 
accredits to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV 
programs.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of 
postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer degree 
programs primarily by the distance education method up through the 
first professional degree level, and are specifically certified by the 
agency as accredited for Title IV purposes; and the accreditation of 
postsecondary institutions in the United States not participating in 
Title IV that offer programs primarily by the distance education method 
up through the first professional degree level. Title IV Note: 
Accreditation by this agency does not enable the entities it accredits 
to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, other 
than to permit degree-granting schools certified by DETC as accredited 
for Title IV purposes to establish eligibility to participate in the 
Distance Education Demonstration Program.)

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 Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on 
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
    3. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation.
    4. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, 
Commission on Accreditation.
    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. Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Accreditation 
Committee.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
    2. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.

Interim Report

    1. Missouri State Board of Education.

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. National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, Joint 
Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, VA (request to award a Master's 
in Science (M.S.) degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy).

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 
November 22, 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 November 22, 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. Requests for written comments on agencies that are being 
reviewed during this meeting were published in the Federal Register on 
February 5, 2004, July 16, 2004 and August 11, 2004. An additional 
notice requesting written comments is being published in today's 
Federal Register. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider only 
written comments submitted by the deadlines specified in the above-
referenced Federal Register notices.

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

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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: October 7, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-23017 Filed 10-13-04; 8:45 am]
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