[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60994-60995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23018]


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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 August 11, 2004, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
to invite written comments on the petition for expansion of scope 
submitted by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) that 
will be reviewed at the Advisory Committee meeting to be held on 
December 13-15, 2004. This notice amends the requested scope of 
recognition to clarify the relationship between an institution's 
recognition by DETC and the institution's Title IV eligibility. This 
notice invites written comments on the amended scope of recognition 
requested by DETC.

Petition for an Expansion of Scope

    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 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.)

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by November 15, 2004 to Carol 
Griffiths, 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 Distance Education and Training Council's 
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 2004 
meeting. Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to your 
comments, it is important that we receive them by November 15, 2004. In 
all instances, your comments regarding the Distance Education and 
Training Council 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 November 17, 2004. They will be available again 
after the December 13-15 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

[[Page 60995]]

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.gpo/nara/index.html.


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

    Dated: October 7, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-23018 Filed 10-13-04; 8:45 am]
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