[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5175-5176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-366]


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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?

    The purpose of this notice is to invite written comments on 
accrediting agencies and State approval agencies whose applications to 
the Secretary for renewed recognition or whose reports will be reviewed 
at the Advisory Committee meeting to be held on June 13, 2005.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by mail, fax, or e-mail no 
later than March 3, 2005 to Ms. Robin Greathouse, Accreditation and 
State Liaison. You may contact her at the U.S. Department of Education, 
room 7105, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006, 
telephone: (202) 219-7011, fax: (202) 219-7005, or 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 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, a subsequent 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 a second 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 agencies' compliance with Section 496 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended and the Secretary's Criteria 
for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies. 
The Criteria are regulations found in 34 CFR Part 602 (for accrediting 
agencies) and in 34 CFR Part 603 (for State approval agencies) and are 
found at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
    We will also include your comments with the staff analyses we 
present to the Advisory Committee at its June 2005 meeting. Therefore, 
in order for us to give full consideration to your comments, it is 
important that we receive them by March 3, 2005.
    In all instances, your comments about agencies seeking initial or 
continued recognition must relate to the Criteria for Recognition. In 
addition, your comments for any agency whose interim report is 
scheduled for review must relate to the issues raised and the Criteria 
for Recognition cited in the Secretary's letter that requested the 
interim report.

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.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    The Secretary of Education recognizes accrediting agencies and 
State approval agencies for public postsecondary vocational education 
and nurse education if the Secretary determines that they meet the 
Criteria for Recognition. Recognition means that the Secretary 
considers the agency to be a reliable authority as to the quality of 
education offered by institutions or programs it accredits that are 
encompassed within the scope of recognition he grants to the agency.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the June 2005 
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (Current 
and requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of postsecondary, 
non-degree-granting English language programs and institutions in the 
United States).
    2. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (Current and requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation 
throughout the United States of graduate-level, four-year naturopathic 
medical education programs leading to the Doctor of Naturopathic 
Medicine (N.M.D.) or Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.)).
    3. 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 throughout 
the United States of postsecondary schools, including those granting 
occupational associate degrees, and departments of cosmetology arts and 
sciences and massage therapy).
    4. Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Accreditation Committee 
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of professional 
teacher education programs in institutions offering baccalaureate and 
graduate degrees for the preparation of K-12 teachers). (Requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation throughout 
the United States of professional teacher education programs in 
institutions offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees for the 
preparation of K-12 teachers).
    Interim Report (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. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and 
Canada, Commission on Accrediting.
    Progress Report (A report describing the agency's implementation of 
its new standards and accreditation process).
    1. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges.

[[Page 5176]]

State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. New York State Board of Regents (Public Postsecondary Vocational 
Education).

Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and After 
the Meeting?

    All petitions and those third-party comments received in advance of 
the meeting, will be available for public inspection and copying at the 
U.S. Department of Education, room 7105, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 219-7011 between the hours of 8 
a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, until May 9, 2005. They will be 
available again after the June 13, 2005 Advisory Committee meeting. An 
appointment must be made in advance of such inspection or copying.

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/index.html.


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

    Dated: January 26, 2005.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E5-366 Filed 1-31-05; 8:45 am]
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