[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54774-54776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22925]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity Meeting

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

ACTION: Announcement of an open meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda for the December 16, 17, and 
18, 2015, 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.

DATES: The NACIQI meeting will be held December 16, 17, and 18, 2015, 
from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at a location in the Washington DC area to 
be announced in a later notice.

ADDRESSES: The exact location of the meeting will be published at a 
later date in the Federal Register and on the Department's Web site at 
http://www2.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/naciqi.html#meetings by November 
13, 2015.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    NACIQI's Statutory Authority and Function: The NACIQI is 
established under section 114 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as 
amended (HEA), 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 public postsecondary vocational 
education or nurse education 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.

[[Page 54775]]

    Meeting Agenda: Below is a list of agencies, including their 
current and requested scopes of recognition, scheduled for review 
during the December 2015 meeting:

Application for Initial Recognition

    Association of Institutions for Jewish Studies Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary institutions of Jewish 
Studies within the United States exclusively offering educational 
programs leading to a certificate, associate degree, baccalaureate 
degree or their equivalent credential in Jewish Studies or Classical 
Torah Studies.
    (The agency does not accredit any institution or program that 
offers credit for distance education or correspondence education.)

Applications for Renewal of Recognition

1. American Board of Funeral Service Education

    Scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions and 
programs within the United States awarding diplomas, associate degrees 
and bachelor's degrees in funeral service or mortuary science, 
including the accreditation of distance learning courses and programs 
offered by these programs and institutions.

2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic 
Accreditation in Audiology and Speech--Language Pathology

    Scope of recognition: 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.

3. Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation

    Scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions and 
programs in the United States that award postsecondary certificates, 
postsecondary diplomas, academic Associate degrees and occupational 
Associate degrees, in the practice of massage therapy, bodywork, and 
aesthetics/esthetics and skin care, including components of programs 
which are offered through distance learning modalities.

4. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education

    Scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
throughout the United States of graduate-level, four-year naturopathic 
medical education programs leading to the Doctor of Naturopathic 
Medicine (N.M.D.) or Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.)

5. Midwifery Education Accreditation Council

    Scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
throughout the United States of direct- entry midwifery educational 
institutions and programs conferring degrees and certificates, 
including the accreditation of such programs offered via distance 
education.

6. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education

    Scope of recognition: The accreditation of Montessori teacher 
education institutions and programs throughout the United States, 
including those offered via distance education.

7. National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, Inc.

    Scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the United 
States of postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and 
sciences and massage therapy.

Compliance Reports

    1. Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (Consideration 
of relevant and material information not contained in the record 
pursuant to 34 CFR 602.36(g)(1)(i) and (ii).)
    Scope of recognition: 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.
    2. Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational 
Programs
    Scope of recognition: 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, and its 
territories, including programs offering distance education.)
    3. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
    Scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Candidacy status'') of postsecondary degree-granting educational 
institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and 
Washington, and 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
    Scope of recognition: 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 of Recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of community and 
other colleges with a primarily pre-baccalaureate mission 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 certificates, associate degrees, and the 
first baccalaureate degree by means of a substantive change review 
offered by institutions that are already accredited by the agency, and 
such programs offered via distance education and correspondence 
education at these colleges. This recognition also extends to the 
Committee on Substantive Change of the Commission, for decisions on 
substantive changes, and the Appeals Panel.

State Approval Agency for Public Postsecondary Vocational Education--
Applications for Renewal of Recognition

    1. New York State Board of Regents (Public Postsecondary Vocational 
Education)
    2. Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education
    3. Pennsylvania State Board for Vocational Education, Bureau of 
Career and Technical Education
    4. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs

State Approval Agency for Nurse Education--Applications for Renewal of 
Recognition

    1. Kansas State Board of Nursing

[[Page 54776]]

    2. Maryland Board of Nursing
    3. New York State Board of Regents (Nursing Education)

Degree Modification (substantive change notification) for Military 
Educational Institutions

    United States Air Force Institute of Technology, Graduate School of 
Engineering and Management (request to offer Masters in Operations 
Management degree at an additional location at Kirtland Air Force Base, 
Albuquerque, NM).
    Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 9314, the United States Air Force Institute 
of Technology has submitted a request for modification of existing 
degree-granting authority to the U.S. Secretary of Education. The 
NACIQI is the designated review committee for matters concerning 
degree-granting authority of military educational institutions as 
outlined in the U.S. Department of Defense Instruction 5545.04 (DoDI 
5545.04) and the Federal Policy Governing the Granting of Academic 
Degrees by Federal Agencies and Institutions (approved by a letter, 
dated December 23, 1954, from the Director, Bureau of the Budget, to 
the Secretary for Health, Education, and Welfare). Under DoDI 5545.04, 
recommendations by the U.S. Secretary of Education regarding 
substantive change requests submitted by military educational 
institutions will be included with subsequent notification to the House 
and Senate Armed Services Committees.
    Submission of written comments regarding a specific accrediting 
agency or state approval agency under review: Written comments about 
the recognition of a specific accrediting or State agency must be 
received by September 25, 2015, in the [email protected] 
mailbox and include the subject line ``Written Comments: (agency 
name).'' The email must include the name(s), title, organization/
affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of 
the person(s) 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 
recognition after review of a compliance report must relate to issues 
identified in the compliance report and the criteria for recognition 
cited in the Secretary's letter that requested the report. Comments 
about the renewal of an agency's recognition based on a review of the 
agency's petition 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. 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 NACIQI in their deliberations. Please do not send 
material directly to NACIQI members.
    Submission of requests to make an oral comment regarding a specific 
accrediting agency or state approval agency under review: There are two 
methods the public may use to make a third-party oral comment of three 
minutes concerning one of the agencies scheduled for review at the 
December 16,17, and 18, 2015 meeting. Oral comments about agencies 
undergoing review must relate to the Criteria for 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 September 25, 2015, and 
include the subject line ``Oral Comment Request: (agency name).'' The 
email must include the name(s), title, organization/affiliation, 
mailing address, email address, telephone number, of the person(s) 
requesting to speak, and a brief summary (not to exceed one page) of 
the principal points to be made during the oral presentation. All 
individuals submitting an advance request in accordance with this 
notice will be afforded an opportunity to speak.
    Method Two: Register at the meeting location on December 16, 17, or 
18, 2015, to make an oral comment during NACIQI's deliberations 
concerning a particular agency or institution scheduled for review. The 
requestor must provide his or her name, title, organization/
affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone number. A 
total of up to fifteen minutes during each agency review will be 
allotted for oral commenters who register on December 16, 17, or 18, 
2015. Individuals will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. 
If selected, each commenter may not exceed three minutes.
    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 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) 502-7696 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.
    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.

    Authority:  20 U.S.C. 1011c.

Jamienne S. Studley,
Deputy Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-22925 Filed 9-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P