[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42347-42349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13917]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (NACIQI or Committee)

AGENCY: 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 August 1-3, 2023, virtual meeting of 
NACIQI, and provides information to members of the public regarding the 
meeting, including requesting to make written or oral comments. 
Committee members will meet in-person while accrediting agency 
representatives and public attendees will participate virtually.

ADDRESSES: Department of Education, Barnard Auditorium, 400 Maryland 
Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202. Only NACIQI members and Department of 
Education staff will meet at this address.

DATES: The virtual NACIQI meeting will be held on August 1-3, 2023, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Statutory Authority and Function

    NACIQI is established under section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 
1011c). 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, 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; and
     Any other advisory functions relating to accreditation and 
institutional eligibility that the Secretary of Education may prescribe 
by regulation.
    The notice of this meeting is required by 5 U.S.C. chapter 10 
(Federal Advisory Committees) and section 114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

Virtual Meeting Agenda

    The purpose of the virtual meeting is to conduct a review of the 
applications for renewal of recognition and compliance reports listed 
below and to present and discuss policy-related matters.

[[Page 42348]]

Applications for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, 
Accreditation Commission. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Correspondent'' and ``Candidate'') of advanced 
rabbinical and Talmudic schools to include Associate, Baccalaureate, 
Masters, Doctorate, and First Rabbinic and First Talmudic degrees 
programs. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the 
United States.
    2. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for 
Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. Scope of Recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation of Didactic and Coordinated Programs 
in Dietetics at both the undergraduate and graduate level, 
postbaccalaureate Dietetic Internships, and Dietetic Technician 
Programs at the associate degree level and for its accreditation of 
such programs offered via distance education. Geographic Area of 
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States.
    3. American Optometric Association, Accreditation Council on 
Optometric Education. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of 
professional optometric degree programs and optometric residency 
programs, and for the preaccreditation category of Preliminary Approval 
for professional optometric degree programs. Geographic Area of 
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States.
    4. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Scope of 
Recognition: The accreditation of nursing education programs at the 
baccalaureate, master's, doctoral, and certificate levels, including 
programs offering distance education. Geographic Area of Accrediting 
Activities: Throughout the United States.
    5. 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, including programs offering 
distance education. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: 
Throughout the United States.
    Requested Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of institutions 
and programs of nurse anesthesia at the post master's certificate, 
post-doctoral certificate, master's, or doctoral degree levels, 
including programs offering distance education. Geographic Area of 
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States.
    6. Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Scope of Recognition: 
The accreditation of medical education programs leading to the M.D. 
degree. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the 
United States.
    7. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on 
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of freestanding 
institutions and units offering art/design and art/design-related 
programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting), including those 
offered via distance education. Geographic Area of Accrediting 
Activities: Throughout the United States.
    8. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Scope of 
Recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy 
status'') of postsecondary degree-granting educational institutions and 
the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within 
these institutions. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: 
Throughout the United States.

Compliance Reports

    1. Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation. Scope of 
Recognition: The accreditation of institutions and programs 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. Geographic 
Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States. The 
compliance report addresses findings of noncompliance with Criteria in 
34 CFR part 602, as referenced in the senior Department official's 
(SDO) (as defined in 34 CFR 602.3) decision letter dated June 02, 2021, 
available under NACIQI meeting date February 25, 2021, available at: 
https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents.

Military Degree Granting Authority Substantive Change Approval in 
Accordance With Department of Defense DOD Instruction 5545.04

    1. The National Defense University. Name Change of degree program 
from ``Master of Science in Government Information Leadership'' to 
``Master of Science in Strategic Information and Cyberspace Studies.''
    To ensure sufficient time for all agency reviews, including NACIQI 
member questions and discussion, the Department requests that agencies 
limit the total time of their opening statements to 10 minutes, and 
that agencies avoid extended discussions about their representatives 
and backgrounds. Following the opening statement, the agency's 
presentation should focus on regulatory criteria--particularly to 
responses to areas where the staff has recommended a finding of 
noncompliance or substantial compliance, or where other concerns have 
been raised that the agency would like to address. Questions from 
NACIQI members may focus on other areas.

Administration Policy Update

    A representative of the Administration will discuss higher 
education policy priorities.

Regulations Subcommittee Report

    The NACIQI Regulations Subcommittee will present recommendations to 
the Committee for review and consideration for sharing with the 
Department in advance of the Department's upcoming negotiated 
rulemaking process.

Accreditor Dashboards

    A member of the Department staff will provide an update on recent 
changes to the Accreditor Dashboards.

NACIQI Policy Discussion

    In addition to its review of accrediting agencies for Secretarial 
recognition, there will be time for Committee discussions regarding any 
of the categories within NACIQI's statutory authority in its capacity 
as an advisory committee.

Instructions To Access or Participate in the Virtual Meeting

    Accrediting agency representatives and members of the public must 
access or participate in the meeting virtually.
    You must register online at https://cvent.me/04MvVB any time before 
the meeting begins on August 1, 2023.
    After you register, you will receive a confirmation email 
containing personalized participation links for each day of the three-
day meeting.

Public Comment

    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:
    The opportunity to submit a written statement regarding a specific 
accrediting agency under review was solicited by a previous Federal 
Register notice published on May 5, 2022 (87 FR 26743; Document Number 
2022-09582). The opportunity to submit written statements regarding the 
National Defense University (NDU) was solicited by a previous Federal 
Register notice

[[Page 42349]]

published on November 14, 2022 (87 FR 68144; Document Number 2022-
24637). The periods for submission of such statements are now closed. 
Additional written statements regarding the specific accrediting 
agencies and institution under review as identified in this Federal 
Register notice will not be accepted or provided to NACIQI members for 
purposes of the current cycle of review. 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. Members of the public may also make oral comments 
regarding the specific accrediting agencies and institution under 
review, as identified in this Federal Register notice, and/or other 
agenda topics. Oral comments may not exceed three minutes. Oral 
comments about an agency's recognition when a compliance report has 
been required by the SDO or the Secretary must relate to the criteria 
for recognition cited in the SDO'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 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 matters within the scope of NACIQI's authority as outlined under 
Section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c). Written statements of any 
kind submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the 
Department or provided to NACIQI for purposes of the current cycle of 
review. Requests to make oral comments that are received outside of the 
periods noted below will not be accepted.

Instructions on Requesting To Make Public Comment

    To request to make oral comments of three minutes or less during 
the August 1-3, 2023 virtual meeting, please follow Method One or 
Method Two below. To submit a written statement to NACIQI concerning 
its work outside of 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 of a specific accrediting agency under review and requests to 
make oral comment must be received by 5:00pm Eastern Time on July 25, 
2023 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, and telephone number, of 
the person(s) submitting a written statement or requesting to speak. 
All individuals submitting an advance request in accordance with Method 
One will be afforded an opportunity to speak. If you intend to make 
your comments by dialing into the meeting rather than using a computer, 
please be sure to include that information in your email request.
    Method Two (Available only to those seeking to make oral comments): 
Submit a request by email on August 1, 2023, between 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 
a.m. Eastern Time to [email protected]; requests outside of 
this period will not be accepted. The email must include the subject 
line ``Oral Comment Request: (agency name),'' or ``Oral Comment 
Request: (subject)'' on which the requestor wishes to comment, in 
addition to his or her name, title, organization/affiliation, mailing 
address, email address, and telephone number. If you intend to make 
your comments by dialing into the meeting rather than using a computer, 
please include that information in your email request. For each agenda 
item, we will allot a total of up to 15 minutes for oral commenters who 
submit a request in accordance with Method Two. We will select 
individuals using Method Two on a first-come, first-served basis. If 
selected, each commenter may not exceed three minutes.
    Access to Records of the Virtual Meeting: The Department will post 
the official report of the virtual meeting on the NACIQI website at 
https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/archive-of-meetings within 90 days after 
the meeting. In addition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009, 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. SDO decisions, pursuant to 
34 CFR 602.36, associated with all NACIQI meetings are located at the 
following website: https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents.
    Reasonable Accommodations: The dial-in information and weblink 
access to the virtual meeting are accessible to individuals with 
disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary aid or service to 
participate in the virtual meeting (e.g., interpreting service, 
assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), 
notify the contact person in this notice at least two weeks before the 
meeting. 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 the 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: Section 114 of the HEA of 1964, as amended (20 U.S.C. 
1011c).

Annmarie Weisman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation, Office 
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2023-13917 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
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