[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68476-68477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-24821]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No. ED-2022-SCC-0142]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; the 
Recognition Process for Accrediting Agencies, State Approval Agencies; 
Evaluation of Foreign Medical, and Foreign Veterinary Accrediting 
Agencies (e-Recognition)

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, ED is 
proposing an extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
January 17, 2023.

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-2022-SCC-0142. 
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. If the regulations.gov 
site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily 
accept comments at [email protected]. Please include the docket ID 
number and the title of the information collection request when 
requesting documents or submitting comments. 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 PRA 
Coordinator of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and 
Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, 
LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-8240.

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: The Recognition Process for Accrediting 
Agencies, State Approval Agencies; Evaluation of Foreign Medical, and 
Foreign Veterinary Accrediting Agencies (e-Recognition).
    OMB Control Number: 1840-0788.
    Type of Review: An extension without change of a currently approved 
collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals and Households.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 17.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 18,351.
    Abstract: The authority for collecting this information is 
contained in the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended Sec.  496 
(HEA), and implementing regulations at 34 CFR 602. The data is required 
in order for recognized accrediting agencies to demonstrate compliance 
with 34 CFR 602. The Secretary will use these criteria in determining 
whether an accrediting agency is a reliable authority as to the quality 
of education or training provided by institutions of higher education 
they accredit. The data is required for State Agencies for the approval 
of Vocational Education to demonstrate compliance with 34 CFR 603. The 
Secretary will use these

[[Page 68477]]

criterial to determine whether a State Agency for the Approval of 
Vocational Education is a reliable authority as to the quality of 
education or training provided by the vocational institutions of higher 
education they accredit. The data is also required in order for State 
approval Agencies for Nurse Education to demonstrate compliance with 
the criteria and procedures for recognition of State Agencies for 
Approval of Nurse Education published in the January 16, 1969 Federal 
Register. The Secretary will use these criteria in determining whether 
a state agency is a reliable authority as to the quality of training 
offered by schools of nursing.
    In addition, and in accordance with 34 CFR 600.55, the Secretary is 
also required to collect information, review, and determine whether the 
accreditation standards used by foreign countries to accredit medical 
education programs are comparable to the standards used to accredit 
medical education programs in the U.S.

    Dated: November 9, 2022.
Kun Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and 
Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, 
Evaluation and Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 2022-24821 Filed 11-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P