FR Doc 04-23017
[Federal Register: October 14, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 198)]
[Notices]
[Page 60991-60994]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14oc04-38]
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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 13, 2004 from 8:30 a.m.
until approximately 5 p.m., on December 14, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. until
approximately 5 p.m., and on December 15, 2004 from 8:30 a.m. until
approximately 1 p.m. in Salon I 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 Assistance Will Be Provided to 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, 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., NW.,
Washington, DC 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
[[Page 60992]]
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 the review of agencies that have
submitted petitions for renewal of recognition, agencies that have
submitted interim reports, an agency that has submitted a progress
report and requested an expansion of scope of recognition, and a
Federal agency seeking degree-granting authority.
What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?
Please note that the agencies listed below, which were originally
scheduled for review during the National Advisory Committee's June 2004
meeting, were deferred and will be reviewed at the December 2004
meeting.
Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
American Academy for Liberal Education.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
National Association of Schools of Art and Design,
Commission on Accreditation.
National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on
Accreditation.
National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on
Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation,
Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation.
National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on
Accreditation.
New England Association of Schools and Colleges,
Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.
New England Association of Schools and Colleges,
Commission on Technical and Career Institutions.
Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.
Any requests for third-party oral presentations regarding these
agencies that were received by May 21, 2004, in accordance with the
Federal Register notice published on March 26, 2004, will become part
of the official record. Those comments will be considered by the
National Advisory Committee when it reviews the agencies at the
December 2004 meeting.
The following agencies will be reviewed during the December 2004
meeting of the Advisory Committee:
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (Current scope of
recognition: the accreditation of private, postsecondary allied health
education institutions and institutions that offer predominantly allied
health programs, private medical assistant programs, and public and
private medical laboratory technician programs leading to the Associate
of Applied Science and the Associate of Occupational Science degrees.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of private,
postsecondary institutions in the United States offering predominantly
allied health education programs, and the programmatic accreditation of
allied health programs, leading to a certificate, diploma, or the
Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Occupational Science
degrees, including those offered via distance education.)
2. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of
Technology (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of private,
postsecondary, non-degree-granting institutions and degree-granting
institutions, including those granting associate and baccalaureate
degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate students for
occupational, trade and technical careers, and including institutions
that offer programs via distance education.) (Requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation of private, postsecondary, non-degree-
granting institutions and degree-granting institutions in the United
States, including those granting associate and baccalaureate degrees,
that are predominantly organized to educate students for occupational,
trade and technical careers, and including institutions that offer
programs via distance education.)
3. American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of doctoral programs
in clinical, counseling, school and combined professional-scientific
psychology; predoctoral internship programs in professional psychology;
and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation in the United States
of doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, school and combined
professional-scientific psychology; predoctoral internship programs in
professional psychology; and postdoctoral residency programs in
professional psychology.)
4. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary
schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences and massage
therapy.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of
postsecondary schools and departments of cosmetology arts and sciences
and massage therapy in the United States.)
5. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools,
Accreditation Commission (Current scope of recognition: the
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate'' status) of
postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, and
associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including institutions
that offer distance education.) (Requested scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate'' status) of
postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer
certificates, diplomas, and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate
degrees, including institutions that offer distance education.)
6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting
Commission for Schools (Current and requested scope of recognition: the
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of
adult and postsecondary schools that offer programs below the degree
level in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and
American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of
Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the
Republic of the Marshall Islands.)
Petition for an Expansion of Scope and a Progress Report
(A petition for an expansion of scope and a progress report on the
agency's experience with its new method and system to assess its
institutions' success with respect to student achievement.)
1. Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of postsecondary
institutions in the United States offering programs primarily by the
distance
[[Page 60993]]
education method up through the first professional degree level. Title
IV Note: Accreditation by this agency does not enable the entities it
accredits to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV
programs.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of
postsecondary institutions in the United States that offer degree
programs primarily by the distance education method up through the
first professional degree level, and are specifically certified by the
agency as accredited for Title IV purposes; and the accreditation of
postsecondary institutions in the United States not participating in
Title IV that offer programs primarily by the distance education method
up through the first professional degree level. Title IV Note:
Accreditation by this agency does not enable the entities it accredits
to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, other
than to permit degree-granting schools certified by DETC as accredited
for Title IV purposes to establish eligibility to participate in the
Distance Education Demonstration Program.)
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. American Academy for Liberal Education.
2. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
3. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation.
4. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education,
Commission on Accreditation.
5. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on
Accreditation.
6. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on
Accreditation.
7. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on
Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation,
Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation.
8. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on
Accreditation.
9. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Institutions of Higher Education.
10. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Technical and Career Institutions.
11. Teacher Education Accreditation Council, Accreditation
Committee.
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Education
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
2. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.
Interim Report
1. Missouri State Board of Education.
Federal Agency Seeking Degree-Granting Authority
In accordance with the Federal policy governing the granting of
academic degrees by Federal agencies (approved by a letter from the
Director, Bureau of the Budget, to the Secretary, Health, Education,
and Welfare, dated December 23, 1954), the Secretary is required to
establish a review committee to advise the Secretary concerning any
legislation that may be proposed that 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 and the Secretary'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 this meeting:
Proposed Master's Degree-Granting Authority
1. National Defense University, Joint Forces Staff College, Joint
Advanced Warfighting School, Norfolk, VA (request to award a Master's
in Science (M.S.) degree in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy).
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 via mail, fax, or e-mail no later than
November 22, 2004. Your request (no more than 6 pages maximum) must
include:
1. The names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail
addresses of all persons seeking an appearance,
2. The organization they represent, and
3. 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 send
materials directly to Committee members. Only materials submitted by
the deadline to the contact person listed in this notice 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 22, 2004 deadline will not be distributed
to the Advisory Committee for their consideration. Individuals making
oral presentations may not distribute written materials at the meeting.
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. Requests for written comments on agencies that are being
reviewed during this meeting were published in the Federal Register on
February 5, 2004, July 16, 2004 and August 11, 2004. An additional
notice requesting written comments is being published in today's
Federal Register. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider only
written comments submitted by the deadlines specified in the above-
referenced Federal Register notices.
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, 1990 K St., NW.,
Washington, DC 20006 between the
[[Page 60994]]
hours of 9 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.
How May I Obtain Electronic Access to This Document?
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister. To use PDF you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have
questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office
(GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at
(202) 512-1530. Note: 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 on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html
.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.
Dated: October 7, 2004.
Sally L. Stroup,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 04-23017 Filed 10-13-04; 8:45 am]
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