[Federal Register: December 16, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 242)] [Notices] [Page 66026-66027] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education AGENCY: Department of Education. ACTION: Request for comments on agencies applying to the Secretary for Initial Recognition or Renewal of Recognition. DATES: Commentors should submit their written comments by January 30, 1997 to the address below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen W. Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and Eligibility Determination Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, S.W., Room 3915 ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone: (202) 708-7417. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877- 8339 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday. SUBMISSION OF THIRD-PARTY COMMENTS: The Secretary of Education recognizes, as reliable authorities as to the quality of education offered by institutions or programs within their scope, accrediting agencies and State approval agencies for public postsecondary vocational education and nurse education that meet certain criteria for recognition. The purpose of this notice is to invite interested third parties to present written comments on the agencies listed in this notice that have applied for initial or continued recognition. All comments received in response to this notice will be reviewed by Department staff as part of its evaluation of the agencies' compliance with the criteria for recognition. In order for Department staff to give full consideration to the comments received, the comments must arrive at the address listed above not later than January 30, 1997. Comments must relate to the Secretary's Criteria for the Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. Comments pertaining to agencies whose interim reports will be reviewed must be restricted to the concerns raised in the Secretary's letter for which the report is requested. The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (the ``Advisory Committee'') advises the Secretary of Education on the recognition of accrediting agencies and State approval agencies. The Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet June 16-18, 1997 in Washington, D.C. All written comments received by the Department in response to this notice will be considered by both the Advisory Committee and the Secretary. A subsequent Federal Register notice will announce the meeting and invite individuals and/or groups to submit requests for oral presentation before the Advisory Committee on the agencies being reviewed. That notice, however, does not constitute another call for written comment. This notice is the only call for written comment. The following agencies will be reviewed during the June 1997 meeting of the Advisory Committee: Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations Petition for Initial Recognition-- Planning Accreditation Board (requested scope of recognition: The [[Page 66027]] accredition of baccalaureate and masters degrees in planning) Petitions for Renewal of Recognition-- 1. American Academy for Liberal Education (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation of institutions of higher education and programs within institutions of higher education that offer liberal arts degree(s) at the baccalaureate level or a documented equivalency) 2. Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, Accreditation Commission (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation of advanced rabbinical and Talmudic schools) 3. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of professional law schools) 4. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on Accreditation (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions and programs awarding diplomas, associate degrees and bachelor's degrees) 5. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of graduate degree programs) 6. American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of colleges of veterinary medicine offering programs leading to a professional degree) 7. The Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on Accreditation (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of programs and institutions leading to the D.C. degree) 8. Council on Education for Public Health (requested scope of recognition; The accreditation and preaccreditation of graduate schools of public health and graduate programs offered outside schools of public health in community health education and in community health/ preventive medicine) 9. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of two-year programs for the ophthalmic dispenser and one-year programs for the ophthalmic laboratory technician) 10. Liaison Committee on Medical Education of the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association and the American Medical Colleges (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation of programs leading to the M.D. degree) 11. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education ( requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of Montessori teacher education programs and institutions) Interim Report (An interim report is a follow-up report on an accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for recognition that was requested by the Secretary when the Secretary granted recognition to the agency)-- 1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools 2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology 3. Accrediting Commission on Education for Health services Administration 4. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools 5. American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation 6. American Dental Association, Commission on Accreditation 7. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, Commission on Accrediting 8. Council on Occupational Education 9. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology 10. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology 11. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges 12. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Schools 13. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 14. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs-- for the accreditation of the following health education programs: a. Cytotechnology b. Diagnostic Medical Sonography c. Electroneurodiagnostic Technology d. Emergency Medical Services e. Perfusion f. Physician Assistant Education g. Respiratory Therapy h. Surgical Technology 15. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Secondary Schools State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education Interim Report-- 1. Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Public Inspection of Petitions and Third-Party Comments All petitions and interim reports, and those third-party comments received in advance of the meeting, will be available for public inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of Education, ROB-3, Room 3915, 7th and D Streets, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone (202) 708-7417 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, until June 6, 1997. They will be available again after the June 16-18 Advisory Committee meeting. It is preferred that an appointment be made in advance of such inspection or copying. Dated: December 10, 1996. Davis A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 96-31764 Filed 12-13-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-M