[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42366-42368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11914]


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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 initial or renewed recognition, requests for an 
expansion of the scope of recognition, or reports will be reviewed at 
the Advisory Committee meeting to be held on December 4-6, 2006, at The 
Madison, 15th and M Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005, telephone: 202-
587-2684.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by mail, fax, or e-mail no 
later than August 25, 2006 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 
comments.

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 December 2006 meeting. 
Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to your comments, 
it is important that we receive them by August 25, 2006. In all 
instances, your comments about agencies seeking initial recognition, 
continued recognition and/or an expansion of an agency's scope of 
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

[[Page 42367]]

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 or 
State approval 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 she grants to the agency.
    Please note that the agencies listed below, which were originally 
scheduled for review during the National Advisory Committee's June 2006 
meeting, were postponed and will be reviewed at the December 2006 
meeting.
     Accrediting Bar Association.
     Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.
    Any third-party written comments regarding these agencies that were 
received by March 8, 2006, in accordance with the Federal Register 
notice published on February 6, 2006, 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 2006 meeting.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the December 2006 
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petition for Renewal of Recognition That Includes a Contraction of the 
Scope of Recognition

    1. American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council 
for Occupational Therapy Education. (Current scope of recognition: The 
accreditation of entry-level professional occupational therapy 
educational programs offering the Baccalaureate Degree, Post-
baccalaureate Certificate, Professional Master's Degree, Combined 
Baccalaureate/Master's degree, and Doctoral Degree for the 
accreditation of occupational therapy assistant programs offering the 
Associate Degree or a Certificate; and for its accreditation of these 
programs offered via distance education.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of occupational therapy educational 
programs offering the professional master's degree, combined 
baccalaureate/master's degree, and occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) 
degree; the accreditation of occupational therapy assistant programs 
offering the associate degree or a certificate; and the accreditation 
of these programs offered via distance education.)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition That Include an Expansion of the 
Scope of Recognition

    1. The Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on 
Accreditation. (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of Bible colleges 
and institutes in the United States offering undergraduate programs.) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
throughout the United States of institutions and programs of biblical 
higher education that award undergraduate certificates and degrees, and 
masters, and doctoral degrees including those programs offered via 
traditional and alternative [distance education] delivery systems.)
    2. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. (Current scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of nursing education programs in the 
United States, at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels.) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of nursing programs 
in the United States, at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, 
including programs offering distance education.)
    3. Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission. 
(Current 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.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the 
United States that offer degree programs primarily by the distance 
education method from the associate up to and including the 
professional doctoral degree, 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 
from the associates up through the professional doctoral degrees.)
    4. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. (Current 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.) (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 Virgin 
Islands including programs offered all or in part via distance 
education modalities at those institutions.)
    5. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. (Current 
scope of recognition: The accreditation in the United States of 
programs in practical nursing, and diploma, associate, baccalaureate 
and higher degree nurse education programs.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation in the United States of programs in 
practical nursing, diploma, associate, baccalaureate and graduate 
degree nurse education programs including those that offer such 
programs via distance education.)

Petition for an Expansion of the Scope

    1. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Schools. (Current 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.) (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

[[Page 42368]]

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; and the 
accreditation and preaccreditation of not-for-profit postsecondary non-
degree-granting institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, 
Utah, and Washington.)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. American Academy for Liberal Education. (Current and requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidacy for Accreditation'') of institutions of higher education 
and programs within institutions of higher education throughout the 
United States that offer liberal arts degree(s) at the baccalaureate 
level or a documented equivalency.)
    2. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal 
Education and Admissions to the Bar. (Current and requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation throughout the United States of programs 
in legal education that lead to the first professional degree in law, 
as well as freestanding law schools offering such programs.)
    3. American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on 
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (Current and requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidate for Accreditation'') in the United States of physical 
therapist education programs leading to the first professional degree 
at the master's or doctoral level and physical therapist assistant 
education programs at the associate degree level and for its 
accreditation of such programs offered via distance education.)
    4. American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education. 
(Current and requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Reasonable Assurance'') in the United States of 
programs leading to professional degrees (D.V.M. or D.M.V.) in 
veterinary medicine.)
    5. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation 
Commission. (Current and requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation of both clinical pastoral education (CPE) centers and CPE 
and Supervisory CPE programs located within the United States and 
territories.)
    6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. (Current and requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidate for Accreditation'') of senior colleges and universities 
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, including distance education programs 
offered at those institutions.)
    Interim Reports. (An interim report is a follow-up report on an 
accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for 
recognition.)
    1. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.
    2. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School 
Improvement, Board of Trustees.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Renewal Petitions

    1. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education (Current and 
requested scope of recognition: The approval of public postsecondary 
vocational education offered at institutions in the State of Oklahoma 
that are not under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma State Regents for 
Higher Education.)
    2. Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Education, Bureau of 
Career and Technical Education.

Interim Reports

    1. New York State Board of Regents (Public Postsecondary Vocational 
Education).
    2. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.

State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Maryland Board of Nursing.

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, Washington, DC (request to award a 
Master's in Arts in Strategic Security Studies degree).

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 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 November 6, 2006. They 
will be available again after the December 4-6, 2006 Advisory Committee 
meeting. An appointment must 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/index.html.


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

    Dated: July 20, 2006.
James F. Manning,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E6-11914 Filed 7-25-06; 8:45 am]
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