[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19273-19275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7725]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (NACIQI)

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

ACTION: Announcement of an open meeting of the National Advisory 
Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) and 
information pertaining to members of the public submitting third-party 
written and oral comments.

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ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary 
Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8072, Washington, DC 20006.
    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.
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda for the June 25-26, 2012, 
meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (NACIQI); and provides information to members of the public 
on submitting written comments and on requesting to make 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) of 1965, as amended.
    Meeting Date and Place: The NACIQI meeting will be held on June 25-
26, 2012, from approximately 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m. at 
the Westin Alexandria, 400 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314.
    Meeting Agenda: Below is a list of agencies, including their 
current and requested scopes of recognition, scheduled for review 
during the June 25-26, 2012, meeting:

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

Accrediting Agencies

    1. The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), Commission 
on Accreditation (Current Scope: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidate for Accreditation'') of Bible colleges and institutes in 
the United States offering undergraduate programs through both campus-
based instruction and distance education.) Requested Scope: The 
preaccreditation and accreditation of institutions of biblical higher 
education in the United States offering undergraduate and graduate 
programs (including master's, first professional, and doctoral degrees) 
through campus-based instruction and distance education; and the 
accreditation of undergraduate and graduate programs of biblical and 
ministerial education offered in nationally or regionally accredited 
institutions whose overall mission and curricula are compatible with 
ABHE's purpose and membership standards, via campus-based and distance 
education.
    2. Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (Current Scope: 
The accreditation and pre-accreditation of basic certificate, basic 
graduate nurse-midwifery, direct entry midwifery, and pre-certification 
nurse-midwifery education programs. The accreditation and pre-
accreditation of freestanding institutions of midwifery education that 
may offer other related health care programs to include nurse 
practitioner programs, and including those institutions and programs 
that offer distance education.) Requested Scope: The accreditation and 
pre-accreditation of basic certificate, basic graduate nurse-midwifery, 
direct entry midwifery, and pre-certification nurse-midwifery education 
programs.
    3. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (Current Scope: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation of professional degree programs in 
pharmacy leading to the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy.)
    4. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation 
Commission (Current Scope: The accreditation of both clinical pastoral 
education (CPE) centers and CPE and Supervisory CPE programs located 
within the United States and territories.)
    5. American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation 
(Current Scope: The accreditation of predoctoral dental education 
programs (leading to the D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree), advanced dental 
education programs, and allied dental education programs that are fully 
operational or have attained ``Initial Accreditation'' status,

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including programs offered via distance education.)
    6. American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council 
for Occupational Therapy Education (Current Scope: The accreditation of 
occupational therapy education programs offering the professional 
master's degree, combined baccalaureate/master's degree, and 
occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) degree; the accreditation of 
occupational therapy assistant programs offering the associate degree 
or a certificate; and the accreditation of these programs offered via 
distance education.)
    7. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (Current Scope: The 
accreditation of nursing education programs in the United States, at 
the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including programs 
offering distance education.) Requested Scope: The accreditation of 
nursing education programs in the United States, at the baccalaureate, 
master's, and doctoral levels, including programs offering distance 
education.
    8. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (Current Scope: 
The accreditation of institutions with postsecondary, non-degree 
granting career and technology programs in Delaware, Maryland, New 
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands including those that 
offer all or part of their educational programs via distance education 
modalities.)
    9. Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission 
(Current Scope: The accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the 
United States that offer degree programs primarily by the distance 
education method up to and including the professional doctoral degree, 
and are specifically certified by the agency as accredited for Title IV 
purposes; and for the accreditation of postsecondary institutions in 
the United States not participating in Title IV that offer programs 
primarily by the distance education method up through the professional 
doctoral degree.)
    10. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (Current 
Scope: 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.) 
Requested Scope: Accreditation of nursing education programs and 
schools, both postsecondary and higher degree, which offer either a 
certificate, diploma, or a recognized professional degree including 
clinical doctorate, master's, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and 
practical nursing programs in the United States and its territories, 
including those offered via distance education.
    11. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), Commission 
on Colleges (COC) (Current Scope: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting 
institutions of higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, including distance education programs 
offered at those institutions). Requested Scope: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting 
institutions of higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, 
Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, including the accreditation of programs 
offered via distance and correspondence education within these 
institutions. This recognition extends to the SACS-COC Board of 
Trustees and the Appeals Committee of the College Delegate Assembly on 
cases of initial candidacy or initial accreditation and for continued 
accreditation or candidacy.

State Approval Agency for Public Postsecondary Vocational Education

    1. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs (Current 
Scope: Recognition as the State agency for the approval of public 
postsecondary vocational technical education in the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico).

Compliance Reports

    1. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on 
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology 
(Current Scope: 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.
    2. National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, 
Inc. (Current Scope: The accreditation throughout the United States of 
postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences 
and massage therapy).

Request for Degree-Granting Authority

    In accordance with the ``Federal Policy Governing the Granting of 
Academic Degrees by Federal Agencies'' (approved by a letter from the 
Director, Bureau of the Budget, to the Secretary, Health, Education, 
and Welfare, dated December 23, 1954), the Secretary is required to 
establish a review committee to advise the Secretary concerning any 
legislation that may be proposed that would authorize the granting of 
degrees by a Federal agency. After considering the criteria established 
by the policy, the review committee forwards its recommendation 
concerning a Federal agency's proposed degree-granting authority to the 
Secretary, who then forwards the committee's recommendation and the 
Secretary's recommendation to the Office of Management and Budget and 
the Department of Defense. The Secretary uses the NACIQI as the review 
committee required for this purpose. Accordingly, the Advisory 
Committee will review the following request:
    1. Under the authority of Department of Defense Instruction DODI-
3305.01, dated December 22, 2006, incorporating change 1 of February 9, 
2011, the National Intelligence University, Bolling Air Force Base, 
requests degree-granting authority to award a Master's of Science and 
Technology Intelligence degree.
    Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must be received 
by April 16, 2012, in the [email protected] mailbox and 
include the subject line ``Written Comments: re (agency name).'' The 
email must include the name, title, affiliation, mailing address, email 
address, telephone and facsimile numbers and Web site (if any) of the 
person/group making the comment. Comments should be submitted as a 
Microsoft Word document or in a medium compatible with Microsoft Word 
(not a PDF file) that is attached to an electronic mail message (email) 
or provided in the body of an email message. Comments about an agency's 
compliance report must relate to the issues raised and the criteria for 
recognition cited in the Secretary's letter that requested the report. 
Comments about an agency's renewal of recognition must relate to its 
compliance with the Criteria for the Recognition of Accrediting 
Agencies or the Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of State 
Agencies for Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, as 
appropriate, which are available at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. Third parties having

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concerns about agencies regarding matters outside the scope of the 
petition should report those concerns to Department staff. Only 
material 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 agencies scheduled for review and are 
considered by the Department and the NACIQI in their deliberations. 
Please do not send material directly to the NACIQI members.
    Submission of Requests To Make An Oral Comment: 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 on 
June 25-26, 2012. Oral comments about agencies seeking continued 
recognition must relate to the criteria for the recognition of 
accrediting agencies or the Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of 
State Agencies for Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational 
Education, as appropriate, which are available at: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.
    Method One: Submit a request by email to the 
[email protected] mailbox. Please do not send material 
directly to NACIQI members. Requests must be received by April 16, 
2012, and include the subject line ``Oral Comment Request: re (agency 
name).'' The email must include the name, title, affiliation, mailing 
address, email address, telephone and facsimile numbers and Web site 
(if any) of the person/group requesting to speak. 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 or 
institution tentatively scheduled in this notice for review, be no more 
than one page (maximum), and 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.
    Method Two: Register at the meeting location on June 25 or June 26, 
2012, to make an oral comment during the NACIQI's deliberations 
concerning a particular agency or institution scheduled for review that 
day. The requestor must 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 
review will be allotted for commenters who register on June 25 or June 
26, 2012. Individuals or groups 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.
    If a person or group requests to make comments in advance, they 
cannot also register for an oral presentation opportunity on June 25 or 
June 26, 2012. The oral comments made will become part of the official 
record and will be considered by the Department and NACIQI in their 
deliberations. Individuals and groups making oral presentations 
concerning scheduled agencies may not distribute written materials at 
the meeting.
    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 
[email protected] or by calling (202) 219-7067 to schedule an 
appointment.
    Reasonable Accommodations: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Griffiths, Acting Executive 
Director, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 
8072, Washington, DC 20006-8129, telephone: (202) 219-7035, fax: (202) 
219-7005, or email: [email protected].
    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.
    Delegation of Authority: The Secretary of Education has delegated 
authority to David Bergeron, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, 
Planning, and Innovation to perform the functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

David Bergeron,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, 
delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2012-7725 Filed 3-29-12; 8:45 am]
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