[Federal Register: July 9, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 132)] [Notices] [Page 36041-36042] 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, and State Agencies for Approval of Nurse 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 August 23, 1996, to the address below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen W. Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and State Liaison Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., 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 qualify 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 August 23 1996. 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 November 20-22, 1996 in Washington, DC. 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 November 1996 meeting of the Advisory Committee: Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations Petitions for Renewal of Recognition 1. Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of bible colleges and institutes offering undergraduate programs) 2. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of generic nurse anesthesia educational programs/schools) 3. Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of units within institutions offering professional undergraduate and graduate (master's) degree programs) 4. The American Dietetic Association (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of coordinated undergraduate programs in dietetics and post-baccalaureate dietetics internships) 5. American Physical Therapy Association (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of professional programs for the physical therapist and programs for the physical therapy assistant) 6. Distance Education and Training Council (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of home study schools, including associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree-granting home study schools) 7. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation programs leading to the M.D. degree) 8. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of higher education institutions in Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands) 9. National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of baccalaureate programs in environmental health science and protection) 10. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of Christian postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees) 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 recognition to the agency)-- 1. American Academy for Liberal Education 2. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy 3. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar 4. American Optometric Association 5. American Podiatric Medical Association 6. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education 7. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education 8. National Accreditation Commission for Schools and Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 9. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences 10. National Association of Schools of Dance 11. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education 12. New York State Board of Regents State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education Petition for Renewal of Recognition 1. Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education Interim Report 1. New York State Board of Regents (Vocational Education Unit) [[Page 36042]] State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education Interim Report 1. New York State Board of Regents (Nursing Education Unit) In accordance with the Federal policy governing the granting of academic degrees by Federal agencies (approved by letter from the Director, Bureau of the Budget, to the Secretary, Health, Education, and Welfare, dated December 23, 1954), the Secretary of Education is required to establish a review committee to advise the Secretary concerning any legislation that may be proposed which would authorize the granting of degrees by a Federal agency. The review committee forwards its recommendation concerning a Federal agency's proposed degree-granting authority to the Secretary, who then forwards the committee's recommendation to the Office of Management and Budget for review and transmittal to the Congress. The Secretary uses the Advisory Committee as the review committee required for this purpose. Accordingly, the Advisory Committee will review the following institution at its November meeting: Proposed Bachelor's Degree-Granting Authority 1. Joint Military Intelligence College, Bolling Air Force Base (for Bachelor of Science in Intelligence) Public Inspection of Petitions and Third-Party Comments All petitions and interim reports, and those third-party comments received in advance of this meeting, will be available for public inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of Education, ROB-3, Room 3915, 7th and D Streets, SW., Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone (202) 708-7417 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It is preferred that an appointment be made in advance of such inspection or copying. Dated: July 2, 1996. David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 96-17348 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-M