[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14542-14543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1490]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance: Hearing

AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.

ACTION: Notice of Upcoming Hearing.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
forthcoming hearing of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial 
Assistance (The Advisory Committee). Individuals who will need 
accommodations for a disability in order to attend the hearing (i.e., 
interpreting services, assistive listening devices, and/or materials in 
alternative format) should notify the Advisory Committee no later than 
Thursday, April 5, 2007, by contacting Ms. Hope Gray at (202) 219-2099 
or via e-mail at [email protected]. We will attempt to meet requests 
after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested 
accommodation. The hearing site is accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. This notice also describes the functions of the Advisory 
Committee. Notice of this hearing is required under Section 10(a)(2) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify 
the general public.

DATE AND TIME: Friday, April 13, 2007, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 3 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Portaland State University, Smith Memorial Student Union, 
Rooms 327-329, 1825 SW Broadway Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97207.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Erin B. Renner, Director of 
Government

[[Page 14543]]

Relations or Ms. Julie J. Johnson, Assistant Director, Advisory 
Committee or Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, 
NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582, (202) 219-2099.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Student Financial 
Assistance is established under Section 491 of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 as amended by Public Law 100-50 (20 U.S.C. 1098). The Advisory 
Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the 
Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid 
policy. Since its inception, the congressional mandate requires the 
Advisory Committee to conduct objective, nonpartisan, and independent 
analyses on important aspects of the student assistance programs under 
Title IV of the Higher Education Act, and to make recommendations that 
will result in the maintenance of access to postsecondary education for 
low- and middle-income students. In addition, Congress expanded the 
Advisory Committee's mission in the Higher Education Amendments of 1998 
to include several important areas: access, Title IV modernization, 
distance education, and early information and needs assessment. 
Specifically, the Advisory Committee is to review, monitor and evaluate 
the Department of Education's progress in these areas and report 
recommended improvements to Congress and the Secretary.
    The Advisory Committee has scheduled the hearing on Friday, April 
13 in Portland, Oregon to conduct activities related to its 
congressionally requested study to make textbooks more affordable 
(Textbook Study). This one-year study, which was requested by the U.S. 
House of Representative Committee on Education and Labor (formerly 
Education and the Workforce), will investigate further the problem of 
rising textbook prices; determine the impact of rising textbook prices 
on students' ability to afford a postsecondary education; and make 
recommendations to Congress, the Secretary, and other stakeholders on 
what can be done to make textbooks more affordable for students. Over 
the course of the study, the Committee will conduct three field 
hearings that will include testimony from stakeholders around the 
country who are currently working to make textbooks more affordable for 
students.
    The proposed agenda includes expert testimony and discussions by 
prominent higher education community leaders, state representatives, 
and institutions that will share what they are doing to make textbooks 
more affordable for students. The Advisory Committee will also conduct 
a public comment and discussion session.
    The Advisory Committee invites the public to submit written 
comments on the Textbook Study to the following e-mail address: 
[email protected]. Information regarding the Textbook Study will also be 
available on the Advisory Committee's Web site, http://www.ed.gov/ACSFA. To be included in the hearing materials, we must receive your 
comments on or before Thursday, April 5, 2007; additional comments 
should be provided to the Committee no later than May 7, 2007.
    Space for the hearing is limited and you are encouraged to register 
early if you plan to attend. You may register by sending an e-mail to 
the following address: [email protected] or [email protected]. 
Please include your name, title, affiliation, complete address 
(including Internet and e-mail address, if available), and telephone 
and fax numbers. If you are unable to register electronically, you may 
fax your registration information to the Advisory Committee staff 
office at (202) 219-3032. You may also contact the Advisory Committee 
staff directly at (202) 219-2099. The registration deadline is Friday, 
April 6, 2007.
    Records are kept for Advisory Committee proceedings, and are 
available for inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on 
Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW.,--Suite 
413, Washington, DC from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Information regarding the 
Advisory Committee is available on the Committee's Web site, http://www.ed.gov/ACSFA.

    Dated: March 22, 2007.
Dr. William J. Goggin,
Executive Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 07-1490 Filed 3-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4001-01-M