[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49440-49441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20151]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests; Office of 
Postsecondary Education; Secretary's Recognition of Accrediting 
Agencies

SUMMARY: The information collected is required to determine if an 
accrediting agency complies with the Secretary of Education's Criteria 
for Recognition and is used to allow the Secretary to make 
determinations on extending and/or continuing recognition.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
October 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding burden and/or the collection 
activity requirements should be electronically mailed to 
[email protected] or mailed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Copies of the 
proposed information collection request may be accessed from http://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse Pending Collections'' link 
and by clicking on link number 04910. When you access the information 
collection, click on ``Download Attachments'' to view. Written requests 
for information should be addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may 
also be electronically mailed to [email protected] or faxed to 202-
401-0920. Please specify the complete title of the information 
collection and OMB Control Number when making your request.
    Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide 
interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information 
collection requests. The Director, Information Collection Clearance 
Division, Privacy, Information and Records Management Services, Office 
of Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information 
collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the

[[Page 49441]]

information collection. The Department of Education is especially 
interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is 
this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department; 
(2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) 
is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this 
collection on the respondents, including through the use of information 
technology. Please note that written comments received in response to 
this notice will be considered public records.
    Title of Collection: Title 34 CFR 602: Secretary's Recognition of 
Accrediting Agencies.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-0788.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 167.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 4,885.
    Abstract: In compliance with Title 34 CFR part 602, the information 
collected consists of petitions, reports and accreditation 
notifications. The information collected is required to determine if an 
accrediting agency complies with the Secretary of Education's Criteria 
for Recognition and is used to allow the Secretary to make 
determinations on extending and/or continuing recognition. Only 
postsecondary institutions accredited by such a recognized accrediting 
agency obtain Title IV funding for its students. This portion of the 
new regulation was disclosed but not submitted for public comment when 
the negotiated rulemaking legislature was originally announced in the 
Federal Register in 2009. Therefore, this submission is considered a 
``revision of a currently approved collection.''

    Dated: August 9, 2012.
Darrin A. King,
Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Privacy, 
Information and Records Management Services, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-20151 Filed 8-15-12; 8:45 am]
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