[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26240-26241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-10495]


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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: Revision to the agenda for the June 18-19, 2014 meeting of the 
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity 
(NACIQI) meeting and a solicitation for third party comments.

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SUMMARY: This meeting notice is an update to the previous notices 
published in the Federal Register on February 25, 2014 (79 FR 10508) 
and on March 31, 2014 (79 FR 18021). This notice identifies a revision 
to the agenda and invites written third party comment on the question 
``What issues are critical to consider in advancing quality assurance 
in higher education?''

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.
    Meeting Agenda: The following agency, originally scheduled for a 
review for initial recognition, has been removed from the NACIQI review 
agenda and will be rescheduled at a later date:
    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.)
    Submission of Written Comments: The meeting agenda will include 
NACIQI discussion sessions regarding the Committee's 2012 Policy Report 
of Recommendations on Accreditation (http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/naciqi-dir/2012-spring/teleconference-2012/naciqi-final-report.pdf) and/or on developing new policy recommendations to advise 
the Secretary in preparation for the reauthorization of the Higher 
Education Act (HEA). To enhance its discussions, the NACIQI invites 
written, third-party comment on current issues and initiatives in 
postsecondary education accreditation, specifically, on the question 
``What issues are critical to consider in advancing quality assurance 
in higher education?'' Written comments must be received by May 30, 
2014, in the [email protected] mailbox and include the 
subject line ``Comment: Advancing Quality Assurance in Higher 
Education.'' The email must include the name, title, affiliation, 
mailing address, email address, telephone number, and Web site (if any) 
of the person/group making the comment. Comments (including any 
attachments) may not exceed four (4) 8.5'' x 11'' pages (on one side 
only) in either a 10 or 12 point font, and are to 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 must relate 
specifically to ``What issues are critical to consider in advancing 
quality assurance in higher education?'' No comments pertaining to the 
review of any individual accrediting or State agency under review will 
be accepted under this notice. Only material submitted in accordance 
with the above instructions may be forwarded to the NACIQI for its 
consideration by the deadline to the email address listed in this 
notice.

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

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your search to documents published by the Department.

Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Senior Director, Policy Coordination, Development, and Accreditation 
Service, delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of 
the Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2014-10495 Filed 5-6-14; 8:45 am]
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