[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10508-10510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04090]



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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.

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 18-19, 2014 
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 Location: The NACIQI meeting will be held on June 
18-19, 2014, from 8:00 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 May 16, 2014.
    Meeting Agenda: In addition to its review of accrediting agencies 
and State approval agencies for Secretarial recognition, the meeting 
agenda will include presentations to further inform the Committee about 
current issues and discussions concerning accreditation and to engage 
the Committee in discussions regarding the Committee's 2012 
recommendations and/or developing new policy recommendations to advise 
the Secretary in preparation for the reauthorization of the Higher 
Education Act (HEA).
    Below is a list of agencies, including their current and requested 
scopes of recognition, scheduled for review during the June 18-19, 2014 
meeting:

Petition for Initial Recognition

Accrediting Agency

    1. Commission on Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) 
(Requested Scope: The accreditation of educator preparation programs in 
degree-granting institutions of higher education throughout the United 
States that offer certificates/licensure, or an associate's, 
bachelor's, master's, post-baccalaureate, and doctoral degrees 
including those offered via distance education.)

Petitions for Continued Recognition

Accrediting Agencies

    1. National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), Commission on 
Accreditation (Current Scope: The accreditation throughout the United 
States of freestanding institutions, and units offering dance and 
dance-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting), 
including those offered via distance education.) (Requested Scope: The 
accreditation throughout the United States of freestanding institutions 
and units offering dance and dance-related programs (both degree- and 
non-degree-granting), including those offered via distance and 
correspondence education.)
    2. National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), Commission on 
Accreditation (Current Scope: The accreditation throughout the United 
States of freestanding institutions, and units offering music and 
music-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting), 
including those offered via distance education.) (Requested Scope: The 
accreditation throughout the United States of freestanding institutions 
and units offering music and music-related programs (both degree- and 
non-degree-granting), including those offered via distance and 
correspondence education.)
    3. National Association of Schools of Theater (NAST), Commission on 
Accreditation (Current Scope: The accreditation throughout the United 
States of freestanding institutions, and units offering theatre and 
theatre-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting), 
including those offered via distance education.) (Requested Scope: The 
accreditation throughout the United States of freestanding institutions 
and units offering theatre and theatre-related programs (both degree- 
and non-degree-granting), including those offered via distance and 
correspondence education.)

Petitions for Recognition Based on a Compliance Report

Accrediting Agencies

    1. The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) (Current 
and Requested Scope: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidate for Accreditation''), at the undergraduate level, of 
institutions of biblical higher education in the United States offering 
both campus-based and distance education instructional programs.)
    2. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) 
(Current and Requested Scope: Accreditation of nursing education 
programs and schools, both postsecondary and higher degree, which offer 
a certificate, diploma, or a recognized professional degree including 
clinical doctorate, masters, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and 
practical nursing programs in the United States and its territories, 
including those offered via distance education.)
    3. Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) (Current 
and Requested Scope: The accreditation and pre-accreditation of basic 
certificate, basic graduate nurse-midwifery, direct entry midwifery, 
and pre-certification nurse-midwifery education programs, including 
those programs that offer distance education.)
    4. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) (Current and 
Requested Scope: The accreditation and preaccreditation, within the 
United States, of professional degree programs in pharmacy leading to 
the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy, including those programs offered via 
distance education.)

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    5. American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on 
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) (Current and 
Requested Scope: The accreditation and pre-accreditation (``Candidate 
for Accreditation'') in the United States of physical therapist 
education programs leading to the first professional degree at the 
master's or doctoral level and physical therapist assistant education 
programs at the associate degree level and for its accreditation of 
such programs offered via distance education.)
    6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) (Current and 
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.)
    7. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
    (Current and Requested Scope: The accreditation of medical 
education programs within the United States leading to the M.D. 
degree.)
    8. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MS-CSS) (Current 
and Requested 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 to include the accreditation of postsecondary, non-
degree granting institutions that offer all or part of their 
educational programs via distance education modalities.)
    9. National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), 
Commission on Accreditation (Current Scope: The accreditation 
throughout the United States of freestanding institutions and units 
offering art/design and art/design-related programs (both degree- and 
non-degree-granting), including those offered via distance education.) 
(Requested Scope: The accreditation throughout the United States of 
freestanding institutions and units offering art/design and art/design-
related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting), including 
those offered via distance and correspondence education.)
    10. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) (Current 
and Requested Scope: The accreditation and pre-accreditation 
(``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 SACSCOC 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 Agencies for Nurse Education

1. Maryland Board of Nursing (MDBN)
2. Missouri State Board of Nursing (MOSBN)

State Approval Agencies for Vocational Education

1. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education
2. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational, Technical Institutions, and Programs (PRHRDC)

    Submission of Written Comments: Written comments must be received 
by March 17, 2014, 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 June 18-19, 2014 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 March 17, 
2014, 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 June 18, 2014, 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 June 18, 2014. Individuals 
or groups will be selected on a first-come,

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first-served basis. If selected, each commenter may not exceed three 
minutes, depending on the number of individuals or groups who sign up 
on June 18, 2014, to make oral comments, except at the discretion of 
the NACIQI Chair exercised on a case-by-case basis. 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 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.

Brenda Dann-Messier,
Acting Assistant Secretaryfor Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-04090 Filed 2-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P