[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 90 (Thursday, May 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21987-21989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09572]


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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, time, and location for the 
June 20-22, 2017 meeting of the National Advisory Committee on 
Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), and provides information 
to members of the public regarding the meeting, including requesting to 
make oral comments. The notice of this meeting is required under Sec.  
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and Sec.  
114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended.

DATES: The NACIQI meeting will be held on June 20, 21, and 22, 2017, 
each day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle NW., National 
Ballroom, Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hong, Executive Director/
Designated Federal Official, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW., Room 6W250, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202) 
453-7805, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    NACIQI's Statutory Authority and Function: NACIQI is established 
under Sec.  114 of the HEA. NACIQI advises the Secretary of Education 
with respect to:
     The establishment and enforcement of the standards of 
accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2, part G, Title IV 
of the HEA, as amended.
     The recognition of specific accrediting agencies or 
associations.
     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 and part C, subchapter I, 
chapter 34, Title 42, 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 of Education may prescribe 
by regulation.
    Meeting Agenda: Agenda items for the June 2017 are below.

Agencies Applying for Renewal of Recognition

    1. American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council 
for Occupational Therapy Education, Scope of Recognition: The 
accreditation of occupational therapy educational programs offering the 
professional master's degree, combined baccalaureate/master's degree, 
and occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) degree; the accreditation of 
occupational therapy assistant programs offering the associate degree 
or a certificate; and the accreditation of these programs offered via 
distance education.
    2. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, Scope of 
Recognition: 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.
    3. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Scope of 
Recognition: The accreditation of both clinical pastoral education 
(CPE) centers and Supervisory CPE programs located within the United 
States and territories.
    4. Association for Biblical Higher Education, Scope of Recognition: 
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.
    5. American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of predoctoral dental education 
programs (leading to the D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree), advanced dental 
education programs, and allied dental education programs that are fully 
operational or have attained ``Initial Accreditation'' status, 
including programs offered via distance education.
    6. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Scope of 
Recognition: The accreditation of nursing education programs in the 
United States, at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degree 
levels, including programs offering distance education.
    7. Distance Education Accrediting Commission, Scope of Recognition: 
The accreditation of postsecondary institutions in the United States 
that offer degree and/or non-degree programs primarily by the distance 
or correspondence education method up to and including the professional 
doctoral degree, including those institutions that are specifically 
certified by the agency as accredited for Title IV purposes.
    8. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, Scope of 
Recognition: 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. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on 
Colleges (SACSCOC), Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``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.

Application for an Expansion of Scope

    Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Scope of Recognition: 
The accreditation of nursing education programs in the United States, 
at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral

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degree levels, including programs offering distance education.
    Requested Scope: The accreditation of nursing education programs in 
the United States, at the baccalaureate, master's, doctoral, and 
certificate levels, including programs offering distance education.

Application for Granting of Academic Graduate Degrees by Federal 
Agencies and Institutions

    Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 9314, 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.
    1. Air University (Air Command and Staff College): Air University 
seeks to expand its educational offerings by offering a Master's degree 
in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration.
    2. Army's Command and General Staff College: Notification of name 
change for two degree programs currently approved and offered by the 
College. The proposal would change the MMAS (Theater Operations) to 
Master of Arts in Military Operations and the MMAS (Strategic 
Operations) to Master of Arts in Strategic Studies.

Panel on Student Unit Record Systems

    Representatives from the Department and the research community will 
discuss successes and challenges in implementing state longitudinal 
student databases for purposes of tracking student progress and 
outcomes.

Accreditor Dashboards

    NACIQI will continue its discussion of the accreditor dashboards 
and how to better incorporate data into its review of accrediting 
agencies.

Meeting Discussion

    In addition to following the HEA, the FACA, implementing 
regulations, and the NACIQI charter, as well as its customary 
procedural protocols, NACIQI inquiries will include the questions and 
topics listed in the pilot plan it adopted at its December 2015 
meeting. A document entitled ``June 2016 Pilot Plan'' and available at: 
http://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/naciqi-dir/2016-spring/pilot-project-march-2016.pdf, provides further explanation and context framing 
NACIQI's work. As noted in this document, NACIQI's reviews of 
accrediting agencies will include consideration of data and information 
available on the accreditation data dashboards, https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/2017/02/Accreditor-Dashboards-Feb-22-2017.pdf. Accrediting 
agencies that will be reviewed for renewal of recognition will not be 
on the consent agenda and are advised to come prepared to answer 
questions related to the following:
     Decision activities of and data gathered by the agency.
    [cir] NACIQI will inquire about the range of accreditation 
activities of the agency since its prior review for recognition, 
including discussion about the various favorable, monitoring, and 
adverse actions taken. Information about the primary standards cited 
for the monitoring and adverse actions that have been taken will be 
sought.
    [cir] NACIQI will also inquire about what data the agency routinely 
gathers about the activities of the institutions it accredits and about 
how that data is used in their evaluative processes.
     Standards and practices with regard to student 
achievement.
    [cir] How does your agency address ``success with respect to 
student achievement'' in the institutions it accredits?
    [cir] Why was this strategy chosen? How is this appropriate in your 
context?
    [cir] What are the student achievement challenges in the 
institutions accredited by your agency?
    [cir] What has changed/is likely to change in the standards about 
student achievement for the institutions accredited by your agency?
    [cir] In what ways have student achievement results been used for 
monitoring or adverse actions?
     Agency activities in improving program/institutional 
quality.
    [cir] How does this agency define ``at risk?''
    [cir] What tools does this agency use to evaluate ``at risk'' 
status?
    [cir] What tools does this agency have to help ``at risk'' 
institutions improve?
    [cir] What can the agency tell us about how well these tools for 
improvement have worked?
    To the extent NACIQI's questions go to improvement of institutions 
and programs that are not at risk of falling into noncompliance with 
agency requirements, the responses will be used to inform NACIQI's 
general policy recommendations to the Department rather than its 
recommendations regarding recognition of any individual agency.
    The discussions and issues described above are in addition to, 
rather than substituting for, exploration by Committee members of any 
topic relevant to recognition.
    Submission of requests to make an oral comment regarding a specific 
accrediting agency or state approval agency under review, or an oral or 
written statement regarding other issues within the scope of NACIQI's 
authority: Opportunity to submit a written comment regarding a specific 
accrediting agency or state approval agency under review was solicited 
by a previous Federal Register notice published on February 13, 2017 
(Vol. 82, No. 28). The comment period for submission of such comments 
closed on March 12, 2017. Written comments regarding a specific agency 
or state approval agency under review will not be accepted at this 
time. Members of the public may submit written statements regarding 
other issues within the scope of NACIQI authority for consideration by 
the Committee in the manner described below. No individual in 
attendance or making oral presentations may distribute written 
materials at the meeting. Oral comments may not exceed three minutes.
    Oral 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 senior Department 
official's letter that requested the report, or in the Secretary's 
appeal decision, if any. Oral comments about an agency seeking 
expansion of scope must be directed to the agency's ability to serve as 
a recognized accrediting agency with respect to the kinds of 
institutions or programs requested to be added. Oral 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 Nurse Education, as 
appropriate, which are available at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. Written statements concerning NACIQI's work outside 
of a specific accrediting agency under review, must be limited to the 
scope of NACIQI's authority as outlined under section 114 of the HEA.
    There are two methods the public may use to request to make a 
third-party

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oral comment of three minutes at the June 20-22, 2017 meeting. To 
submit a written statement to NACIQI concerning its work outside a 
specific accrediting agency under review, please follow Method One.
    Method One: Submit a request by email to the 
[email protected] mailbox. Please do not send material directly 
to NACIQI members. Written statements and requests to make oral comment 
must be received by June 12, 2017, and include the subject line ``Oral 
Comment Request: (agency name),'' or ``Written Statement: (subject).'' 
The email must include the name(s), title, organization/affiliation, 
mailing address, email address, telephone number, of the person(s) 
submitting a written statement or requesting to speak, and a brief 
summary (not to exceed one page) of the principal points to be made 
during the oral presentation, if applicable. 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 June 20, 2017, from 
7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., 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 June 20, 2017 by 8:30 
a.m. Individuals will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. 
If selected, each commenter may not exceed three minutes.
    Access to Records of the Meeting: The Department will post the 
official report of the meeting on the NACIQI Web site within 90 days 
after the meeting. Pursuant to the FACA, the public may also inspect 
the materials at 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC, by emailing 
[email protected] or by calling (202) 453-7110 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.

Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-09572 Filed 5-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P