[Federal Register: February 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 26)] [Notices] [Page 6546] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09fe98-53] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance; Meeting AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education. ACTION: Notice of upcoming meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming partially closed meeting of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance. This notice also describes the functions of the Committee. Notice of this meeting is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general public. DATES AND TIMES: February 25, 1998, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5:30 p.m., but closed from approximately 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and February 26, 1998, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at approximately 2:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The Washington Marriott Hotel, Georgetown I Room, 1221 22nd Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Portals Building, 1280 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Suite 601, Washington, D.C. 20202-7582 (202) 708-7439 or visit our web site at www.ed.gov/offices/ AC/ACSFA. 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 is established to provide advice and counsel to the Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid matters, including providing technical expertise with regard to systems of need analysis and application forms, making recommendations that will result in the maintenance of access to postsecondary education for low- and middle-income students, conducting a study of institutional lending in the Stafford Student Loan Program, and assisting with activities related to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965. As a result of the passage of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, the Congress directed the Advisory Committee to assist with a series of special assessments and conduct an in-depth study of student loan simplification. The Advisory Committee fulfills its charge by conducting objective, nonpartisan, and independent analyses of important student aid issues. As a result of passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993, Congress assigned the Advisory Committee the major task of evaluating the Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP) and the Federal Education Loan Program (FFELP). The Committee was directed to report to the Secretary and Congress on not less than an annual basis on the operation of both programs and submit a final report by January 1, 1997. The Committee submitted to Congress its final recommendations on the advisability of fully implementing the FDLP on December 11, 1996. The Advisory Committee has now focused its energies on activities related to reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1998. The proposed agenda includes presentations and discussion sessions which will focus on (a) congressional and other legislative proposals and their impact on Title IV student aid programs; (b) an update on the Department of Education's reauthorization initiatives including the delivery system; (c) an association update on priorities for reauthorization; and (d) special topic discussion sessions pertaining to student loan interest rates and college costs issues. In addition, the Committee will discuss its agenda for the remainder of fiscal year 1998 and address other Committee business (e.g., personnel matters, etc). Space is limited and your are encouraged to register early if you plan to attend. You may register through Internet at ADV __COMSFA@ed.gov or Tracy__Deanna__Jones@ed.gov. Please include your name, title, affiliation, complete address (including Internet and e- mail--if available), and telephone and fax numbers. If you are unable to register electronically, you may mail or fax your registration information to the Advisory Committee staff office at (202) 401-3467. Also, you may contact the Advisory Committee staff at (202) 708-7439. The registration deadline is Wednesday, February 18, 1998. The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, D.C. on February 25, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 5:30 p.m., and on February 26, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be closed to the public on February 25, from approximately 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. The ensuing discussions will relate to internal personnel rules and practices of an agency and will disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy if conducted in open session. Such matters are protected by exemptions (2) and (6) of Section 552(b)(c) of Title 5 U.S.C. A summary of the activities at the closed session and related matters which are informative to the public consistent with the policy of Title 5 U.S.C. 552(b) will be available to the public within fourteen days after the meeting. Records are kept of all Committee proceedings, and are available for public inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Portals Building, 1280 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Suite 601, Washington, D.C. from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays except Federal holidays. Dated: February 3, 1998. Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Staff Director, Advisory Committee on student Financial Assistance. [FR Doc. 98-3088 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4000-01-M