[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20617-20619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8188]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (NACIQI) Meeting

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education.

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    The purpose of this notice is to announce the public meeting of the 
NACIQI and invite third-party oral presentations (3-5 minutes) before 
the NACIQI. 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 found at 20 U.S.C. 1099b and 34 CFR Part 602. 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, dated April 30, 2007, that 
requested the interim report. 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 Monday, June 9, 2008, from 9 
a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m., and on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, from 
9 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m. in the Metropolitan Center at The 
Liaison Capitol Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001. 
You may call the hotel at (202) 638-1616 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. Melissa Lewis, NACIQI Executive Director, if you 
have questions about the meeting. You may contact her at the U.S. 
Department of Education, Room 7127, 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 NACIQI?

    The NACIQI is established under Section 114 of the Higher Education 
Act (HEA) as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1011c.

What Are the Functions of the NACIQI?

    The NACIQI 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 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 and/or an expansion of 
an agency's scope of recognition, and the review of agencies that have 
submitted an interim report.

What Agencies Will the NACIQI Review at the Meeting?

    The following agencies will be reviewed during the June 9-10, 2008 
meeting of the NACIQI:

[[Page 20618]]

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petitions for an Expansion of the Scope of Recognition
    1. 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, and diploma, associate, baccalaureate and higher 
degree nurse education programs, including those offered via distance 
education.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
    1. 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. This 
recognition also extends to the Accreditation Committee of the Section 
of Legal Education (Accreditation Committee) for decisions involving 
continued accreditation (referred to by the agency as ``approval'') of 
law schools.)
    2. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on 
Accreditation. (Current and requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation of institutions and programs within the United States 
awarding diplomas, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees in funeral 
service or mortuary science, including accreditation of distance 
learning courses and programs offered by these programs and 
institutions.)
    3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on 
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. 
(Current and requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (Accreditation Candidate) throughout the United States 
of education programs in audiology and speech-language pathology 
leading to the first professional or clinical degree at the master's or 
doctoral level, and the accreditation of these programs offered via 
distance education.)
    4. 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.).)
    5. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, 
Commission on Accreditation. (Current and requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of Montessori teacher education 
institutions and programs throughout the United States.)
    6. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and 
Sciences. (Current and requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation throughout the United States of postsecondary schools and 
departments of cosmetology arts and sciences and massage therapy.)
Interim Reports
    (An interim report is a follow-up report on an accrediting agency's 
compliance with specific criteria for recognition.)
    1. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal 
Education and Admissions to the Bar.
    2. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation 
Commission.
    3. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges.
    4. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.

State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Interim Reports
    1. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.
    2. Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Education.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
    1. North Dakota Board of Nursing.

Who Can Make Third-Party Oral Presentations at This Meeting?

    We invite you to make a third-party oral presentation before the 
NACIQI 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 
identified earlier in this notice so that the request is received via 
mail, fax, or e-mail no later than May 5, 2008.
    Your request (no more than six 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 six-page limit.
    Please do not send materials directly to NACIQI 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 NACIQI in its 
deliberations. Documents received after the April 28, 2008 deadline 
will not be distributed to the NACIQI for its 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. A request for written comments on agencies that are being 
reviewed during this meeting was published in the Federal Register on 
March 3, 2008. The NACIQI will receive and consider only those written 
comments that are submitted by April 2, 2008, and in accordance with 
that Federal Register notice.

How Do I Request To Present Comments Regarding General Issues Rather 
Than Specific Accrediting Agencies?

    At the conclusion of the meeting, the NACIQI, at its discretion, 
may invite attendees to address the NACIQI briefly on issues pertaining 
to the functions of the NACIQI, which are listed earlier in this 
notice. If you are interested in making such comments, you should 
inform Ms. Lewis 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 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.

[[Page 20619]]

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: April 9, 2008.
Diane Auer Jones,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E8-8188 Filed 4-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P