[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9651-9652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3783]



[[Page 9651]]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


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

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

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8073, Washington, DC 20006.

ACTION: Notice of open teleconference meeting of the National Advisory 
Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and 
information related to members of the public submitting third-party 
written comments and/or making oral comments at the meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda item 
for the upcoming teleconference meeting of the NACIQI, which is 
scheduled for Friday, April 13, 2012, and provides information for 
members of the public wishing to submit written comments, attend the 
meeting, and/or make oral comments during the meeting. The notice of 
this teleconference 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) of 1965, as amended.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NACIQI teleconference meeting will be 
held on Friday, April 13, 2012, beginning at 11 a.m. and ending 
approximately at 2:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time. The proposed 
agenda for this teleconference meeting consists of public comment, 
discussion, and final action pertaining to the NACIQI's draft report on 
the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The report may be 
accessed at http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/naciqi.html.

Submission of Written Comments Concerning the Committee's Report on the 
Reauthorization of the HEA

    Written comments should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document 
that is attached to an electronic mail message (email) or provide 
comments in the body of an email message. Email messages must be 
received no later than Friday, March 16, 2012, by the 
[email protected] with the subject line ``Written Comments 
regarding the draft final report on the reauthorization of the HEA.''
    The Department intends to post the submissions on the NACIQI Web 
site. To help ensure accessibility to all interested parties, we are 
requesting that all submissions comply with the requirements of Section 
508 of the Rehabilitation Act, or be submitted in an electronic format 
that can be made accessible, such as Microsoft Word. However, we will 
accept comments in any electronic or written form provided, but 
comments submitted in other forms, which are inaccessible, will not be 
posted online. Instead we will index the inaccessible comments received 
and make them available upon request. Also, if copyrighted materials 
are submitted, written permission to post the materials on the U.S. 
Department of Education's NACIQI Web site must accompany the 
copyrighted materials.
    Only materials submitted by the deadline to the email address 
listed in this notice, and in accordance with these instructions, 
become part of the official record concerning the reauthorization of 
the HEA report and are considered by the NACIQI in their deliberations. 
Do not send material directly to NACIQI members or to staff.

Registration for the Teleconference Meeting and Instructions for 
Requests to Make Oral Comments Concerning the Committee's Report on the 
Reauthorization of the HEA

    The deadline for the teleconference meeting registration is Friday, 
March 16, 2012. Space for the teleconference meeting is limited, and 
you are encouraged to register early if you plan to attend. To register 
to attend the teleconference meeting and not make any oral comments, 
email your registration to [email protected] and enter 
``Registration for NACIQI--No Comments'' in the subject line of the 
message. In the body of the email message, please include your name, 
title, affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone and 
fax numbers.
    To register to attend the teleconference meeting and request to 
make oral comments during the meeting, email your registration and 
request to make oral comments to [email protected] and 
enter ``Registration for NACIQI and Make Oral Comments'' in the subject 
line of the email message. In the body of the email message, please 
provide your name, title, affiliation, mailing address, email address, 
and telephone and fax numbers as well as a brief explanation of no more 
than five sentences that summarize your anticipated comments.
    A total of 40 minutes will be allotted for public comment. Only ten 
commenters will be selected on a first-come, first served basis. Each 
commenter will be allotted no more than four minutes. The Department 
will inform all requesters of their selection status in advance of the 
meeting. Individuals who need accommodations for a disability in order 
to attend the teleconference meeting should contact Cathy Sheffield at 
(202) 219-7011, or email [email protected] no later than 
March 30, 2012. The teleconference site is accessible to individuals 
with disabilities.

NACIQI's Statutory Authority and Function

    The NACIQI is established under Section 114 of the HEA of 1965, 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 under Subpart 2, 
Part H, Title IV, of the 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, of the HEA, together with 
recommendations for improvement in such process.
     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 function relating to accreditation and 
institutional eligibility that the Secretary may prescribe.

Access to Records of the Teleconference Meeting

    The Department will record the teleconference meeting and post the 
official transcript of the teleconference 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 [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Griffiths, Acting Executive 
Director, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
8073, Washington, DC. Telephone: (202) 219-7035, or email:

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[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.

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: 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: 
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. 2012-3783 Filed 2-16-12; 8:45 am]
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