FR Doc 07-531
[Federal Register: February 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 5681-5682]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe07-43]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance: Hearing
AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.
ACTION: Notice of upcoming hearing.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a
forthcoming hearing of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial
Assistance (The Advisory Committee). Individuals who will need
accommodations for a disability in order to attend the hearing (i.e.,
interpreting services, assistive listening devices, and/or materials in
alternative format) should notify the Advisory Committee no later than
Monday, February 26, 2007, by contacting Ms. Hope Gray at (202) 219-
2099 or via e-mail at Hope.Gray@ed.gov. We will attempt to meet
requests after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the
requested accommodation. The hearing site is accessible to individuals
with disabilities. This notice also describes the functions of the
Advisory Committee. Notice of this hearing is required under Section
10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is
intended to notify the general public.
DATE AND TIME: Monday, March 5, 2007, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending
at approximately 3 p.m.
ADDRESSES: College of the Canyons, Performing Arts Center, 26455
Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California 91355.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Erin B. Renner, Director of
Government Relations or Ms. Julie J. Johnson, Assistant Director,
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F
Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582, (202) 219-2099.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Student Financial
Assistance is established under Section 491 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 as amended by Public Law 100-50 (20 U.S.C. 1098). The Advisory
Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the
Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid
policy. Since its inception, the congressional mandate requires the
Advisory Committee to conduct objective, nonpartisan, and independent
analyses on important aspects of the student assistance programs under
Title IV of the Higher Education Act, and to make recommendations that
will result in the maintenance of access to postsecondary education for
low- and middle-income students. In addition, Congress expanded the
Advisory Committee's mission in the Higher Education Amendments of 1998
to include several important areas; Access, Title IV modernization,
distance education, and early information and needs assessment.
Specifically, the Advisory Committee is to review, monitor and evaluate
the Department of Education's progress in these areas and report
recommended improvements to Congress and the Secretary.
The Advisory Committee has scheduled the hearing on Monday, March 5
in Santa Clarita, CA to conduct activities related to its
congressionally requested study to make textbooks more affordable
(Textbook Study). This one-year study, which was requested by the U.S.
House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor (formerly
Education and the Workforce), will investigate further the problem of
rising textbook prices; determine the impact of rising textbook prices
on students' ability to afford a postsecondary education; and make
recommendations to Congress, the Secretary, and other stakeholders on
what can be done to make textbooks more affordable for students. Over
the course of the study, the Committee will conduct three field
hearings that will include testimony from stakeholders around the
country who are currently working to make textbooks more affordable for
students.
The proposed agenda includes expert testimony and discussions by
prominent higher education community leaders, state representatives,
and institutions that will share what they are doing to make textbooks
more affordable for students. The Advisory Committee will also conduct
a public comment and discussion session.
The Advisory Committee invites the public to submit written
comments on the Textbook Study to the following e-mail address:
ACSFA@ed.gov. Information regarding the Textbook Study will also be
available on the Advisory Committee's Web site, http://www.ed.gov/ACSFA.
To be included in the hearing materials, we must receive your
comments on or before Monday, February 26, 2007; additional comments
should be provided to the Committee no later than April 9, 2007.
Space for the hearing is limited and you are encouraged to register
early if you plan to attend. You may register by sending an e-mail to
the following address: ACSFA@ed.gov or Tracy.Deanna.Jones@ed.gov.
Please include your name, title, affiliation, complete address
(including internet and e-mail address, if available), and telephone
and fax numbers. If you are unable to register electronically, you may
fax your registration information to the Advisory Committee staff
office at (202) 219-3032. You may also contact the Advisory Committee
staff directly at (202) 219-2099. The registration deadline is Friday,
February 23, 2007.
Records are kept for Advisory Committee proceedings, and are
available for inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on
Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW.--Suite
413, Washington, DC, from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Information regarding the
[[Page 5682]]
Advisory Committee is available on the Committee's Web site,
http://www.ed.gov/ACSFA.
Dated: February 1, 2007.
Dr. William J. Goggin,
Executive Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 07-531 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
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