[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61099-61101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-16678]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity Meeting

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (NACIQI or Committee), Office of Postsecondary Education, 
Department of Education.

ACTION: Announcement of an open meeting; and update to the meeting 
location.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to 
access or participate in the August 6-8, 2024, virtual meeting of 
NACIQI, and provides information to members of the public regarding the 
meeting, including

[[Page 61100]]

requesting to make written or oral comments. The notice of this meeting 
is required under the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be virtual.

DATES: The virtual NACIQI meeting will be held on August 6-8, 2024, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. This notice is an 
update to a previous Federal Register notice dated 07/02/2024, Document 
Citation 89 FR 54803, which indicated that the meeting would be hybrid.

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 function relating to accreditation and 
institutional eligibility that the Secretary of Education may prescribe 
by regulation.

Meeting Agenda

    The purpose of the meeting is to conduct a review of the following 
applications for renewals of recognition.

Applications for Renewal of Recognition

    1. WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. 
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation 
(``Candidate for Accreditation'') of community and other colleges which 
have as a primary mission the granting of associate degrees, but which 
may also award certificates and other credentials, not to exceed the 
bachelor degree level, where the provision of such credentials is 
within the institution's mission and, if applicable, is authorized by 
their governmental authorities, and the accreditation of such programs 
offered via distance education and correspondence education at these 
colleges. This recognition also extends to the Committee on Substantive 
Change of the Commission, for decisions on substantive changes, and the 
Appeals Panel. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout 
the United States.
    2. American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education. 
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Provisional Accreditation'') in the United States of programs 
leading to professional degrees (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) in veterinary 
medicine. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the 
United States.
    3. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training. Scope 
of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the United States of 
institutions of higher education that offer continuing education and 
vocational programs that confer certificates or occupational associate 
degrees, including those programs offered via distance education. 
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United 
States.
    4. Council on Education for Public Health. Scope of Recognition: 
The accreditation of schools of public health and public health 
programs outside schools of public health, at the baccalaureate and 
graduate degree levels, including those offered via distance education. 
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United 
States.
    5. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on 
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the 
United States of freestanding institutions that offer dance and dance-
related programs (both degree and non-degree-granting), including those 
offered via distance education. Geographic Area of Accrediting 
Activities: Throughout the United States.
    6. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on 
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the 
United States of freestanding institutions that offer music and music 
related programs (both degree and non-degree-granting) including those 
offered via distance. This recognition also extends to the Commission 
on Community College Accreditation. Geographic Area of Accrediting 
Activities: Throughout the United States.
    7. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on 
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the 
United States of freestanding institutions that offer theatre and 
theatre-related programs (both degree and non-degree-granting), 
including those offered via distance education. Geographic Area of 
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States.
    8. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public 
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs. Scope of 
Recognition: State agency for the approval of vocational education.
    9. Maryland State Board of Nursing. Scope of Recognition: State 
agency for the approval of nursing education.
    10. New York State Board of Regents (nursing education). Scope of 
Recognition: State approval agency for nursing education.
    To ensure sufficient time for all agency reviews, including NACIQI 
questions and discussion, the Department requests that the agencies 
limit their opening statements to 10 minutes (total for one or more 
statements), and that the agencies avoid extended discussions about 
agency representatives and their backgrounds. Following the brief 
opening statement, the agency's presentation should focus on the 
regulatory criteria, and in particular, 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. However, the agency should expect that questions 
from NACIQI members may focus on other areas.

Administration Policy Update

    Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, Dr. Nasser Paydar, 
will provide an update on the Administration's postsecondary education 
policy priorities.

Accreditor Dashboards Updates

    The Committee will refer to the Accreditor Dashboards for 
accrediting agencies up for review. These dashboards will include 
information about post-completion earnings and cumulative loan debt.

Policy Discussion

    In addition to its review of accrediting agencies and State 
approval agencies for Secretarial recognition, there will be time for 
Committee discussions regarding any of the categories within

[[Page 61101]]

NACIQI's statutory authority in its capacity as an advisory committee.

Instructions for Accessing the Meeting Registration

    You may register for the meeting on your computer using the link 
below. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email 
containing personalized participation links for each day of the three-
day meeting no later than 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on August 6, 
2024.

Registration Link

    https://cvent.me/N7blbg.

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:
    Opportunity to submit a written statement regarding a specific 
accrediting agency under review was solicited by a previous Federal 
Register notice published on May 3, 2023 (88 FR 27876; Document Number 
2023-09362). The period for submission of such statements is now 
closed. Additional written statements regarding a specific accrediting 
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.
    Members of the public may make oral comments regarding a specific 
accrediting agency under review 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 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 matters within the scope of NACIQI's authority, as outlined under 
Section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c), and written comments of any 
kind submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the 
Department or provided to NACIQI for purposes of the current cycle 
review.

Instructions on Requesting To Make Public Comment

    To request to make oral comments of three minutes or less during 
the August 6-8, 2024, meeting, please follow either Method One or 
Method Two below. 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 of a specific accrediting agency under review and requests to 
make oral comment must be received by July 30, 2024, 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 this notice will be 
afforded an opportunity to speak. 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 review.
    Method Two (Only available to those seeking to make oral comments): 
Submit a request by email on August 6, 2024, between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 
a.m. Eastern Standard Time to the [email protected] mailbox. 
The email must include the 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 be sure to include that information in 
your email request. A total of up to fifteen minutes for each agenda 
item will be allotted for oral commenters who register on August 6, 
2024, between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. 
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 https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/archive-of-meetings/ within 90 days after the 
meeting. In addition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(b), 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/#/public-documents.
    Reasonable Accommodations: The dial-in information and weblink 
access to the meeting 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 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).

Antoinette Flores,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation, Office 
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-16678 Filed 7-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P