[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67426-67429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28263]


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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.

ACTION: Notice of Amended Agenda and Procedures for Making Oral 
Comments at December 14-16, 2011 Open Meeting of the National Advisory 
Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI).

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ADDRESS: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8060, Washington, DC 20006.
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth changes to the December 14-16, 2011 
NACIQI

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meeting agenda that was published in the August 17, 2011, Federal 
Register (76 FR 159); a complete listing of the agenda items for the 
December 14-16, 2011 NACIQI meeting, as revised; and information 
related to members of the public making oral comments at the meeting. 
The notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and Section 114(d)(1)(B) of the 
Higher Education Act (HEA).
    Meeting Date and Place: The NACIQI meeting will be held on December 
14-16, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m., Eastern 
Standard Time, except for December 16, 2011, when it is anticipated 
that the meeting will end mid-afternoon, at the Crowne Plaza Old Town 
Alexandria, Washington Ballroom, 901 North Fairfax, Alexandria, 
Virginia.
    Changes to Agenda: Since the publication of the August 17, 2011 
Federal Register notice, the Department has added an item to the 
agenda: The review of an informational report on initial accrediting 
decisions since October 2010 by the Higher Learning Commission of the 
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools as required by the 
corrective actions report issued by the Department's Office of 
Postsecondary Education on May 6, 2010. The NACIQI will not be making a 
recommendation to the Senior Department Official concerning the 
informational report from the Higher Learning Commission of the North 
Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Also, the Mississippi 
Institutes of Higher Learning Board of Trustees of State Institutions 
of Higher Education has been removed from the December meeting agenda.
    Meeting Agenda: Below is a list of agencies and the current and 
requested scopes of recognition scheduled for review during the 
December 14-16, 2011 NACIQI meeting.

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

Accrediting Agencies

    1. American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric 
Medical Education. (Current Scope: the accreditation and 
preaccreditation [``Candidate Status''] throughout the United States of 
freestanding colleges of podiatric medicine and programs of podiatric 
medicine, including first professional programs leading to the degree 
of Doctor of Podiatric Medicine).
    2. The Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on 
Accreditation. (Current Scope: The accreditation of programs leading to 
the Doctor of Chiropractic degree and single-purpose institutions 
offering the Doctor of Chiropractic program).
    3. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation. (Current 
Scope: The accreditation of postsecondary, non-degree-granting English 
language programs and institutions in the United States).
    4. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. 
(Current Scope: The accreditation of education programs in radiography, 
magnetic resonance, radiation therapy, and medical dosimetry, including 
those offered via distance education, at the certificate, associate, 
and baccalaureate levels).
    5. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School 
Improvement, Board of Trustees. (Current Scope: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation [``Candidacy Status''] of schools offering non-degree, 
postsecondary education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, 
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New 
Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, 
Wisconsin, Wyoming, and in the Navajo Nation).

State Approval Agencies for Nursing Education

    1. Kansas State Board of Nursing. (Current Scope: A State agency 
for the approval of nurse education).
    2. Maryland State Board of Nursing. (Current Scope: A State agency 
for the approval of nurse education).
    3. New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, 
Office of the Professions (Nursing Education). (Current Scope: A State 
agency for the approval of nurse education).

State Approval Agencies for Postsecondary Education Vocational 
Education

    1. New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, 
Office of the Professions (Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, 
Practical Nursing). (Current Scope: State agency for the approval of 
public postsecondary vocational education in the field of practical 
nursing offered by the Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the 
Educational Opportunity Centers, and the New York City Board of 
Education to prepare persons for licensed practical nursing careers in 
the State of New York).
    2. Pennsylvania State Board for Vocational Education, Bureau of 
Career and Technology Education. (Current Scope: State agency for the 
approval of public postsecondary vocational education).

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition and Expansion of Scope to Include 
Distance Education

Accrediting Agency

    1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission 
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. (Current 
Scope: the accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidacy''] 
throughout the United States of clinical training programs in marriage 
and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and postgraduate levels. 
Requested Scope: The accreditation throughout the United States of 
clinical training programs in marriage and family therapy at the 
master's, doctoral, and postgraduate levels, including programs 
offering distance education.)

State Approval Agency for Postsecondary Education Vocational Education

    1. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education. (Current 
Scope: State agency for 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. Requested Scope: State agency for 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, including programs offered via distance 
education.)

Compliance Reports

Accrediting Agencies

    1. American Optometric Education, Accreditation Council on 
Optometric Education. (Current Scope: The accreditation in the United 
States of professional optometric degree programs, optometric 
technician [associate degree] programs, and optometric residency 
programs, and for the preaccreditation categories of ``Preliminary 
Approval'' for professional optometric degree programs and ``Candidacy 
Pending'' for optometric residency programs in Department of Veterans 
Affairs facilities).
    2. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. (Current Scope: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidate for Accreditation''] of 
two-year, associate degree-granting institutions located in California, 
Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the 
Republic of Palau, the

[[Page 67428]]

Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, including 
the accreditation of such programs offered via distance education at 
these colleges].

Informational Report

Accrediting Agency

    1. The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association 
of Colleges and Schools. (Current Scope: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation [``Candidate for Accreditation''] of degree-granting 
institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, 
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West 
Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, including tribal institutions, and the 
accreditation of programs offered via distance education with these 
institutions. This recognition extends to the Institutional Actions 
Committee, jointly with the Board of Trustees of the Commission, for 
decisions on cases for continued accreditation or reaffirmation and 
continued candidacy. This recognition also extends to the Review 
Committee of the Accreditation Review Council, jointly with the Board 
of Trustees of the Commission, for decisions on cases for continued 
accreditation or candidacy and for initial candidacy or initial 
accreditation when there is a consensus decision by the Review 
Committee.)
    Instructions for Making a Third-Party Oral Comment at the December 
2011 NACIQI Meeting: There are two methods the public may use to make a 
third-party oral comment of three to five minutes concerning one of the 
agencies scheduled for review during the December 14-16, 2011 meeting.
    Method One: Submit a written request by email in advance of the 
meeting to make a third-party oral presentation. All individuals or 
groups submitting an advance request in accordance with this notice 
will be afforded an opportunity to speak for a minimum of three minutes 
each. Each request must concern the recognition of a single agency 
scheduled in this notice for review, must be received no later than 
thirty days after the date of publication of this notice, and must be 
sent to [email protected] with the subject line ``Oral Comments 
re: (agency name).'' Your request (no more than one page maximum) must 
include:
    1. The name, title, affiliation, mailing address, email address, 
telephone and facsimile numbers, and Web site (if any) of the person/
group requesting to speak, and
    2. A brief summary of the principal points to be made during the 
oral presentation.
    Only requests made in accordance with these instructions will 
result in an opportunity to speak under this method. Individuals making 
oral presentations may not distribute written materials at the meeting. 
Please do not send material directly to the NACIQI members.
    Method Two: Register on December 14, 15, or 16, 2011, for an oral 
presentation opportunity during the NACIQI's deliberations concerning a 
particular agency scheduled for review. The requester should provide 
his or her name, title, affiliation, mailing address, email address, 
telephone and facsimile numbers, and Web site (if any). A total of up 
to fifteen minutes during each agency's review will be allotted for 
commenters who sign up the day of the meeting (in addition to those 
commenters who signed up in advance); and, if a person or group 
requests to make comments in advance, they cannot sign-up to make 
comments the day of the meeting. Individuals or groups that sign up on 
the day of the meeting will be selected on a first-come, first-served 
basis. If selected, each commenter may speak from three to five 
minutes, depending on the number of individuals or groups who signed up 
the day of the meeting. The Committee may engage the commenter in 
discussion afterwards.
    Members of the public will be eligible for making third-party oral 
comments only in accordance with these instructions. The oral comments 
will become part of the official record and will be considered by the 
Department and the NACIQI in their deliberations. Individuals and 
groups making oral presentations may not distribute written materials 
at the meeting.
    Oral comments about agencies seeking continued recognition or 
presenting a compliance report must relate to the Criteria for the 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, the Criteria and Procedures for 
Recognition of State Agencies for Nurse Education, or the Criteria and 
Procedures for Recognition of State Agencies for Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational Education, which are available at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
    If the Committee is reviewing an agency's petition, comments must 
relate to whether the agency meets the Criteria for Recognition. If the 
Committee is reviewing an agency's compliance/interim report, comments 
must relate to the NACIQI's area of consideration, which will be 
whether the agency has demonstrated compliance with the specific 
criteria specified in the Department's request for the report. Third 
parties having concerns about agencies regarding matters outside the 
scope of the requested compliance report should report those concerns 
to Department staff.
    Written Comments: This notice invites third-party oral testimony 
about the agencies scheduled for review, not written comment. Requests 
for written comments on agencies that are scheduled for review during 
the meeting were published in the Federal Register (76 FR 159) on 
August 17, 2011. The NACIQI will receive and consider only written 
comments that were submitted by the September 17, 2011 deadline 
specified in the above referenced Federal Register notice.
    Access to Records of the Meeting: The Department will post the 
official report of the meeting on the NACIQI Web site shortly after the 
meeting. Pursuant to the FACA, the public may also inspect the 
materials at 1990 K Street NW., Washington, DC, by emailing the 
[email protected], or by calling (202) 219-7067 to schedule an 
appointment.
    Reasonable Accommodations: Individuals who will need accommodations 
for a disability in order to attend the December 14-16, 2011 meeting 
(i.e., interpreter services, assistive listening devices, and/or 
materials in alternative format) should contact department staff by 
telephone: (202) 219-7011; or, email: [email protected], no 
later than November 21, 2011. We will attempt to meet requests after 
this date but cannot guarantee the availability of the requested 
accommodation. The meeting site is accessible.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Melissa Lewis, Executive 
Director, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, Room 8060, 1990 K 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7011; email: 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the federal Information Relay Service at 1-
(800) 877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday 
through Friday.
    NACIQI'S Statutory Authority and Functions: The NACIQI is 
established under Section 114 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) as 
amended, 20 U.S.C. 1011c. The NACIQI advises the Secretary of Education 
about:
     The establishment and enforcement of the Criteria for 
Recognition of accrediting agencies or associations

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under Subpart 2, Part H, Title IV, HEA, as amended.
     The recognition of specific accrediting agencies or 
associations, or a specific State approval agency.
     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 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.
    Electronic Access to this Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System 
at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, 
as well as all other documents of this Department published in the 
Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To 
use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at 
the site.
    You may also access documents of the Department published in the 
Federal Register by using the article search feature at: http://www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search 
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published 
by the Department.

Eduardo M. Ochoa,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2011-28263 Filed 10-31-11; 8:45 am]
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