[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 19587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07701]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2016-ICCD-0035]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for Institutions and Programs

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), Department of 
Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is proposing a new information 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
June 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2016-ICCD-
0035. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments 
submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period 
will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments 
submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the 
Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E-103, 
Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Herman Bounds, 202-453-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with 
an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact 
of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The 
Department of Education is especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to 
the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be 
processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden 
accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the 
Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, 
including through the use of information technology. Please note that 
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered 
public records.
    Title of Collection: Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for 
Institutions and Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-NEW.
    Type of Review: A new information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 76.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 200.
    Abstract: The Secretary of Education is authorized by 34 CFR part 
602 to recognize accrediting agencies to ensure that these agencies 
are, for the purposes of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended 
(HEA), or for other Federal purposes, reliable authorities regarding 
the quality of education or training offered by the institutions or 
programs they accredit. Federal regulations (34 CFR 602.26) outline 
information that accrediting agencies must report to the Department of 
Education on a timely basis in order to support the Department's 
oversight role, including information on accreditation actions taken 
with regard to institutions and programs. The proposed information 
collection will clarify the categories of actions taken by accreditors, 
the reporting required or requested on those actions, and the format 
for submitting the information.
    The proposed information collection includes two items--a letter 
and an Excel spreadsheet. The Accreditor Letter on Terminology and 
Reporting is a draft of a letter the Department plans to send to 
accrediting agencies to clarify the information those agencies should 
submit to the Department. The excel spreadsheet is the mechanism 
through which the Department proposes agencies submit the information. 
Agencies are invited to review both items and provide comment to 
improve their clarity and usefulness. The Department will consider 
public comment and make revisions as necessary before issuing final 
versions.
    This data is required to demonstrate compliance with criteria at 34 
CFR part 602; State agencies for the approval of vocational education 
to demonstrate compliance with the criteria at 34 CFR part 603; State 
agencies for the approval of nurse education to demonstrate compliance 
with the criteria published in the 1969 Federal Register notice; 
foreign medical accrediting entities in accordance with criteria 34 CFR 
600.55; and criteria established by Department staff to evaluate 
foreign veterinary accrediting organizations in accordance with 34 CFR 
600.56.

    Dated: March 31, 2016.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of 
the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-07701 Filed 4-4-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P