[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 19 (Monday, February 1, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7716-7718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02106]


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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 instructions to 
access or participate in the March 3-5, 2021 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 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 on March 3-5, 2021, from 9:00 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The NACIQI meeting will be held virtually. See the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for information on how to register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Alan Smith, Executive Director/
Designated Federal Official, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 400 
Maryland Avenue SW, Room 271-03, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202) 
453-7757, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please note that a notice setting forth the 
agenda, time, and instructions to access or participate in a meeting of 
the NACIQI on February 24-25, 2021 was posted for public inspection by 
the Federal Register on January 27, 2021. At the Department's request, 
that notice has been withdrawn, and this notice provides information 
about the NACIQI meeting, which has been rescheduled to March 3-5, 
2021.
    Web links: You may register for the meeting on your computer with 
each day's designated entry link, after which you will receive an email 
containing personalized dial-in details, access code, and meeting web 
link.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

    You must pre-register at https://ems8.intellor.com?do=register&t=1&p=836514 to receive a join link, 
dial-in number, access code, and unique Attendee ID for the event.

Thursday, March 4, 2021

    You must pre-register at https://ems8.intellor.com?do=register&t=1&p=836280 to receive a join link, 
dial-in number, access code, and unique Attendee ID for the event.

Friday, March 5, 2021

    You must pre-register at https://ems8.intellor.com?do=register&t=1&p=836281 to receive a join link, 
dial-in number, access code, and unique Attendee ID for the event.
    NACIQI's Statutory Authority and Function: NACIQI is established 
under section 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 H, 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 March 3-5, 2021, meeting are 
listed below.

Application for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Association of Institutions of Jewish Studies. 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.
    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. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on 
Accreditation. 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.
    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 (NMD) or Doctor of 
Naturopathy (ND).
    5. 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.
    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.

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    7. Midwifery Education Accreditation Council. Scope of Recognition: 
The accreditation and pre-accreditation 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.
    8. 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 Report Under 34 CFR 602.31(c)

Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)

    Pursuant to the November 21, 2018 Decision of the Secretary, Docket 
No. 16-44-0 (available at https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/PublicDocuments under NACIQI meeting date: 6/23/2016 for ACICS), ACICS 
submitted a compliance report on December 19, 2019 on issues identified 
in the Decision related to the agency's compliance with criteria in 34 
CFR 602.15(a)(2) and (6). The Department staff's review has identified 
continued noncompliance with 34 CFR 602.15(a)(2). The ACICS compliance 
report was originally scheduled for the July 2020 NACIQI meeting, but 
the Department published a notice in the Federal Register on June 25, 
2020 (85 FR 38132; Document Number 2020-13286), announcing that it was 
rescheduled for the February 2021 NACIQI meeting.

Inquiries Under 34 CFR 602.33

1. ACICS

    a. 34 CFR 602.33 review in response to ACICS monitoring report. 
Pursuant to the November 21, 2018 Decision of the Secretary, Docket No. 
16-44-0 (available at https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/PublicDocuments under NACIQI meeting date: 06/23/2016 for ACICS), ACICS 
submitted a monitoring report on issues identified in the Decision 
related to the agency's compliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 
602.15(a)(1), 602.16(a)(1)(i) and (vii), and 602.19(b). In its review 
of the monitoring report, the Department staff noted that one or more 
deficiencies may exist in the agency's compliance with the Secretary's 
Criteria for Recognition or the agency's effective application of those 
Criteria, and therefore processed the monitoring report in accordance 
with the review procedures set forth in 34 CFR 602.33. The review has 
identified noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1) and 
602.19(b).
    b. 34 CFR 602.33 review initiated by inquiry letter dated June 19, 
2019 (letter available at https://www.ed.gov/accreditation/acics). The 
initiation of the review was based on information from media coverage 
of ACICS's presentation to the Council for Higher Education 
Accreditation concerning its financial situation and its review of two 
institutions, Virginia International University and San Diego 
University for Integrative Studies. The review has identified 
noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1), 602.16(c), and 
602.17(c) and (e). It should be noted that the new accreditation 
regulations effective July 1, 2020 changed Sec.  602.16(c) to Sec.  
602.16(d). There are no substantive changes to these two paragraphs of 
Sec.  602.16, just a change in the paragraph lettering.
    c. 34 CFR 602.33 review initiated by inquiry letter dated February 
24, 2020 (letter available at https://www.ed.gov/accreditation/acics). 
The initiation of the review was based on information from media 
coverage alleging that ACICS accredited Reagan National University, an 
institution not actually in operation. The review has identified 
noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1) and (2), 
602.17(c), 602.18(c), and 602.19(b). It should be noted that the new 
regulations effective July 1, 2020 changed Sec.  602.18(c) to Sec.  
602.18(b)(3). There are no relevant substantive changes to these two 
paragraphs of Sec.  602.18, just a change in the paragraph lettering.

Subcommittee on Student Success

    The subcommittee will provide an interim report on its work that 
focuses on Sec.  602.16, Accreditation and preaccreditation standards, 
paragraph (a)(1)(i).
    Submission of requests to make an oral comment regarding a specific 
accrediting agency under review, or to make an oral comment or written 
statement regarding other issues within the scope of NACIQI's 
authority: Opportunity to submit a written statement regarding a 
specific accrediting agency under review was solicited by previous 
Federal Register notices published on March 4, 2020 (85 FR 12778; 
Document Number 2020-04410), May 5, 2020 (85 FR 32031; Document Number 
2020-11372), June 9, 2020 (85 FR 35295; Document Number 2020-12351), 
and November 5, 2020 (85 FR 70594: Document Number 2020-24595). The 
period for submission of such statements is now closed. Additional 
written comments regarding a specific agency or state approval agency 
under review will not be accepted at this time. However, members of the 
public may submit written statements regarding other issues within the 
scope of NACIQI's authority for consideration by NACIQI in the manner 
described below. Oral comments may not exceed three minutes.
    Oral comments about an agency's recognition when a compliance 
report has been required by the senior Department official or the 
Secretary must relate to 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 must relate to its compliance with 
the Criteria for the Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, which are 
available at http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. Written 
statements and oral comments 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.
    To request to make a third-party oral comment of three minutes or 
less during the March 3-5, 2021 meeting, please follow either Method 
One or Method Two. 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 to NACIQI concerning its work 
outside a specific accrediting agency under review and requests to make 
oral comment must be received by February 17, 2021 and include the 
subject line ``Oral Comment Request: (agency name),'' ``Oral Comment 
Request: (subject)'' 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

[[Page 7718]]

this notice will be afforded an opportunity to speak.
    Method Two: Register on the day the meeting begins, March 3, 2021, 
from 7:45 a.m.-8:45 a.m., to make an oral comment during NACIQI's 
deliberations, using the designated link for Wednesday, March 3, 2021 
listed earlier in this notice. The requestor must provide the subject 
on which he or she wishes to comment, in addition to his or her name, 
title, organization/affiliation, mailing address, email address, and 
telephone number. A total of up to fifteen minutes for each agenda item 
will be allotted for oral commenters who register on March 3, 2021 by 
8:45 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 website within 90 days 
after the meeting. In addition, pursuant to the FACA, the public may 
request to inspect records of the meeting at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 
(202) 453-7415 to schedule an appointment. Senior Department official's 
(as defined in 34 CFR 602.3) decisions pursuant to 34 CFR 602.36 
associated with all NACIQI Meetings can be found at the following 
website: https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/PublicDocuments.
    Reasonable Accommodations: The meeting dial-in information and 
weblink are 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 also may 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.

Tiwanda Burse,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management & Planning, Office of 
Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2021-02106 Filed 1-29-21; 8:45 am]
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