[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]
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