[Federal Register: September 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 187)]
[Notices]
[Page 57804-57806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se00-34]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (National Advisory Committee); Meeting
AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity, Department of Education.
What Is the Purpose of This Notice?
The purpose of this notice is to announce the public meeting of the
National Advisory Committee and invite third-party oral presentations
before the Committee. This notice also presents the proposed agenda and
informs the public of its opportunity to attend this meeting. The
notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act.
When and Where Will the Meeting Take Place?
We will hold the public meeting on December 11-13, 2000 from 9:30
a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Pentagon City, 1250
South Hayes Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202. You may call the hotel
on (703) 415-5000 to inquire about rooms.
What Access Does the Hotel Provide for Individuals with
Disabilities?
The meeting site is 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.
Who Is the Contact Person for the Meeting?
Please contact Ms. Bonnie LeBold, who is the Executive Director of
the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity,
if you have questions about the meeting. You may contact her at the
U.S. Department of Education, Room 7007-MS 7592, 1990 K St. N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7009, fax: (202) 219-7008,
e-mail: Bonnie_LeBold@ed.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay
Service at 1-800-877-8339.
What Is the Authority for the National Advisory Committee?
The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity is established under Section 114 of the Higher Education Act
(HEA) as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1011c.
What are the Functions of the National Advisory Committee?
The Committee advises the Secretary of Education about:
The establishment and enforcement of the criteria for
recognition of accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2 of
part H of Title IV, HEA.
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, HEA.
The development of standards and criteria for specific
categories of vocational training institutions and institutions of
higher education for which there are no recognized accrediting
agencies, associations, or State agencies in order to establish the
interim eligibility of those institutions to participate in Federally
funded programs.
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 functions relating to accreditation and
institutional eligibility that the Secretary may prescribe.
What Items Will be on the Agenda for Discussion at the Meeting?
Agenda topics will include an update on the Title IV Distance
Education Demonstration Program, a panel discussion by Federal and
higher education agency representatives on transfer of credit issues,
the review of agencies that have submitted petitions for initial
recognition or renewal of recognition, and the review of agencies that
have submitted interim reports.
What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?
The Advisory Committee will review the following agencies during
its December 11-13, 2000 meeting.
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies
Petition for Initial Recognition
1. Midwifery Education Accreditation Commission (Requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation of direct-entry
(non-nurse) midwifery certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree
educational programs and institutions offering those types of programs)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (Current
scope of recognition: the accreditation of clinical training programs
in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and
postgraduate levels. Requested scope of recognition: the current scope
of recognition plus the preaccreditation of clinical training programs
in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and
postgraduate levels [``Candidacy''] of programs)
2. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal
Education and Admissions to the Bar (Requested scope of recognition:
the accreditation of programs in legal education that lead to the first
professional degree in law, as well as freestanding law schools
offering such programs)
3. Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
(Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of first-
professional master's degree and professional master's level
certificate and diploma programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine)
4. Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services
Administration (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of
graduate programs in health services administration)
[[Page 57805]]
5. American Osteopathic Association, Bureau of Professional
Education (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation and
preaccreditation [``Provisional Accreditation''] of freestanding
institutions of osteopathic medicine and programs leading to the degree
of Doctor of Osteopathy or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
6. American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric
Medical Education (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation
and preaccreditation [``Candidate Status''] of freestanding colleges of
podiatric medicine and programs of podiatric medicine, including first
professional programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Podiatric
Medicine)
7. Council on Occupational Education (Requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidate for
Accreditation''] of non-degree granting postsecondary occupational/
vocational institutions and those postsecondary occupational/vocational
education institutions that grant the applied associate degree in
specific vocational/occupational fields)
8. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
(Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of professional
education units providing baccalaureate and graduate degree programs
for the preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for
elementary and secondary schools)
9. New York State Board of Regents (Current scope of recognition:
the accreditation [registration] of collegiate degree-granting programs
or curricula offered by institutions of higher education located in the
State of New York and of credit-bearing certificate and diploma
programs offered by degree-granting institutions of higher education
located in the State of New York. Requested scope of recognition: the
preaccreditation and accreditation of those degree-granting
institutions in New York State that designate the Board of Regents as
their sole nationally recognized accrediting agency or as their primary
nationally recognized accrediting agency for purposes of establishing
eligibility for HEA Title IV funds)
10. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Executive
Board of the Commission on Schools (Requested scope of recognition: the
accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidate for Accreditation''] of
schools offering non-degree, postsecondary education in Arizona,
Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio,
Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the
Navajo Nation.
Interim Reports (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 renewed
recognition to the agency.)
1. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
2. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
3. Accreditation Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of
Technology
4. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
5. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and
Canada, Commission on Accrediting
6. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education,
Commission on Accreditation
7. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Institutions of Higher Education
8. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Institutions of Higher Education
9. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Colleges
10. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
11. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting
Commission for Schools
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Education
Petition for Renewal of Recognition
1. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Interim Report
1. Missouri State Board of Education
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education
Interim Report
1. Missouri State Board of Nursing
2. New Hampshire Board of Nursing
Who Can Make Third-Party Oral Presentations at this Meeting?
We invite you to make a third-party oral presentation before the
National Advisory Committee concerning the recognition of any agency
published in this notice.
How Do I Request to Make an Oral Presentation?
You must submit a written request to make an oral presentation
concerning an agency listed in this notice to the contact person so
that the request is received no later than November 16, 2000. Your
request (no more than 6 pages maximum) should include:
--the names of all persons seeking an appearance,
--the organization they represent, and
--a brief summary of the principal points to be made during the oral
presentation.
If you wish, you may attach documents illustrating the main points
of your oral testimony. Please keep in mind, however, that any
attachments are included in the 6-page limit.
Please do not distribute written materials at the meeting or send
materials directly to Committee members.
Only materials submitted by the deadline and in accordance with
these instructions become part of the official record and are
considered by the Committee in its deliberations. Documents received
after the November 16, 2000 deadline will not be distributed to the
Advisory Committee for their consideration.
If I Cannot Attend the Meeting, Can I Submit Written Comments
Regarding an Accrediting Agency in Lieu of Making an Oral
Presentation?
This notice requests third-party oral testimony, not written
comment. A request for written comments on agencies that are being
reviewed during this meeting was published in the Federal Register on
June 13, 2000. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider only
written comments submitted by the deadlines specified in that Federal
Register notice.
How Do I Request to Present Comments Regarding General Issues
Rather Than Specific Accrediting Agencies?
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Committee, at its discretion,
may invite attendees to address the Committee briefly on issues
pertaining to the functions of the Committee, which are listed earlier
in this notice. If you are interested in making such comments, you
should inform Ms. LeBold before or during the meeting.
How May I Obtain Access to the Records of the Meeting?
We will record the meeting and make a transcript available for
public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, Room 7105, 1990
K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. It is
preferred that an appointment be made in advance of such inspection.
[[Page 57806]]
What Agencies Will be Postponed for Review until the May 2001
Meeting?
The agency listed below, which was originally scheduled for review
during the Committee's December 2000 meeting, will be postponed for
review until the Committee's May 2001 meeting. Any third-party written
comments regarding these agencies that were received by July 28, 2000,
in accordance with the Federal Register notice published on June 13,
2000, will become part of the official record and will be considered by
the Committee in its deliberations at the May 2001 meeting. There will
be another opportunity to provide written comments on this agency next
winter; a Federal Register notice requesting comments on all agencies
scheduled for review at the May 2001 meeting will be published in
January 2001.
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies
Petition for Initial Recognition
1. Teacher Education Accreditation Council (Requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation of professional education programs in
institutions offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees for the
preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary
and secondary schools)
Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2
A. Lee Fritschler,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 00-24662 Filed 9-25-00; 8:45 am]
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