[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 160 (Monday, August 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50401-50404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20171]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (NACIQI)

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 8072, Washington, DC 20006.

ACTION: Announcement of an open meeting of the National Advisory

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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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    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 December 12-13, 2013 
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 December 
12-13, 2013, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at a location to be determined in 
the Washington DC area. The exact location will be published in the 
Federal Register and on the Department's Web site at http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/naciqi.html#meetings by November 6, 
2013.
    Meeting Agenda: Below is a list of agencies, including their 
current and requested scopes of recognition, scheduled for review 
during the December 12-13, 2013 meeting:

Petition for Initial Recognition

Accrediting Agency

    1. Association of Institutions for Jewish Studies (AIJS) (Requested 
Scope: The accreditation of postsecondary institutions of Jewish 
Studies within the United States offering educational programs leading 
to a certificate, associate, or baccalaureate degree.)

Petitions for Continued Recognition

Accrediting Agencies

    1. Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational 
Programs(COANAEP) (Current and Requested Scope: The accreditation of 
institutions and programs of nurse anesthesia at the post master's 
certificate, master's, or doctoral degree levels in the United States, 
including programs offering distance education.)
    2. Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) (Current and 
Requested Scope: The accreditation within the United States of schools 
of public health and public health programs outside schools of public 
health, at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including 
those offered via distance education.)
    3. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) 
(Current and Requested Scope: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidacy Status'') of postsecondary degree-granting educational 
institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and 
Washington, including the accreditation of programs offered via 
distance education within these institutions.)
    4. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASC-ACCJC) (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 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.) (Requested 
Scope: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for 
Accreditation'') of community and other two-year colleges located in 
California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American 
Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, which offer the associate degree and may offer 
certificates and limited bachelor's degrees, and the accreditation of 
such programs offered via distance education and correspondence 
education at these colleges.)

State Approval Agency for Nurse Education

    1. North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBN)

Petitions for Recognition Based on a Compliance Report

Accrediting Agencies

    1. American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) (Current Scope: 
The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Provisional Accreditation'') 
throughout the United States of freestanding colleges of podiatric 
medicine and programs of podiatric medicine, including first 
professional program leading to the degree of Doctor of Podiatric 
Medicine.) (Requested Scope: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidate Status'' and ``Provisional Accreditation'') 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. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPEI) 
(Current and Requested Scope: The accreditation of both clinical 
pastoral education (CPE) centers and supervisory CPE programs located 
within the United States and territories.)
    3. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) 
(Current and Requested Scope: The accreditation of postsecondary, non-
degree-granting English language programs and institutions in the 
United States.)
    4. Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) (Current and Requested 
Scope: The accreditation of programs leading to the Doctor of 
Chiropractic degree and single-purpose institutions offering the Doctor 
of Chiropractic program.)
    5. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology 
(JRCERT) (Current and Requested 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.)
    6. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE) 
(Current and Requested Scope: The accreditation of Montessori teacher

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education institutions and programs throughout the United States, 
including those offered via distance education.)

State Approval Agency for Nurse Education

    1. New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, 
Office of the Professions (Nursing Education) (NYBRN)

State Approval Agencies for Vocational Education

    1. New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, 
Office of the Professions (Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, 
Practical Nursing)
    2. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education (OBCTE)
    3. Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Education, Bureau of 
Career and Technical Education (PSVBE/BCTE)
    Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must be received 
by September 6, 2013, 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 the renewal of an agency's recognition must relate to 
its compliance with the Criteria for the Recognition of Accrediting 
Agencies, the Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of State Agencies 
for Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, or the 
Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of State Agencies for Approval 
of Nurse Education, as appropriate, which are available at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. Third parties having 
concerns about agencies regarding matters outside the scope of the 
petition should report those concerns to the Department. 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 at 
the December 12-13, 2013 meeting. Oral comments about agencies seeking 
renewal of recognition must relate to the Criteria for Recognition of 
Accrediting Agencies, the Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of 
State Agencies for Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational 
Education, or the Criteria and Procedures for Recognition of State 
Agencies for Approval of Nurse 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 September 6, 
2013, 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. Comments may not exceed three 
minutes, except at the discretion of the NACIQI Chair exercised on a 
case-by-case basis during the meeting. 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 December 12, 2013, 
to make an oral comment during the NACIQI's deliberations concerning a 
particular agency or institution scheduled for review. 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 oral commenters who register on December 12, 2013. 
Individuals or groups will be selected on a first-come, first-served 
basis. If selected, each commenter may not exceed three minutes, 
depending on the number of individuals or groups who signed up on 
December 12, 2013, to make oral comments, except at the discretion of 
the NACIQI Chair exercised on a case-by-case basis.
    If a person or group requests, in advance, to make comments they 
cannot also register for an oral presentation opportunity on December 
12, 2013. The oral comments made will become part of the official 
record and will be considered by the Department and NACIQI in their 
deliberations. No individual or group in attendance or making oral 
presentations may 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 90 days 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, Executive Director, 
NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street NW., Room 8073, 
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

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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 Lynn B. Mahaffie, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Policy, Planning, and Innovation, to perform the functions and duties 
of the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Acting 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. 2013-20171 Filed 8-16-13; 8:45 am]
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