[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 86 (Friday, May 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 24265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9651]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance: Roundtable

AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.

ACTION: Notice of an Opening Meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a 
forthcoming roundtable of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial 
Assistance (The Advisory Committee). This notice also describes the 
functions of the Advisory Committee. Notice of this roundtable required 
under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This 
document is intended to notify the general public.

DATES: Date and Time: Friday, June 13, 2008, beginning at 9 a.m. and 
ending at approximately 4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Wyatt Center Rotunda, Peabody College of Education, 
Vanderbilt University, 1930 South Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper, Deputy 
Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol 
Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582, (202) 
219-2099.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-8339.

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 roundtable in Tennessee will focus on ways to ensure access to 
college for low- and middle-income students and the possible impact of 
our nation's current economic situation on college access and 
persistence for students.
    This day-long discussion will address broad economic issues related 
to various areas of the higher education enterprise. Issues addressed 
will include:
     How will the subprime credit crisis and worsening economic 
conditions affect access to and persistence in college?
     How might current demographic trends exacerbate the 
impact?
     How will student aid of all types from all sources be 
affected?
     What will be the impact on institutional financing, state 
appropriations, and charitable giving?
     Are recently planned solutions likely to be adequate?
     What additional steps must be taken at the federal, state, 
and institutional levels?
    Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability in order 
to attend the roundtable (i.e., interpreting services, assistive 
listening devices, and/or materials in alternative format) should 
notify the Advisory Committee no later than Thursday, June 5, 2008 by 
contacting Ms. Tracy Jones 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 roundtable site is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
    Space for the roundtable 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 Monday, June 2, 2008.
    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.
    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/index.html.
    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/nara/index.html.


    Dated: April 28, 2008.
William J. Goggin,
Executive Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. E8-9651 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P