[Federal Register: October 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 195)]
[Notices]
[Page 54876-54877]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08oc99-79]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance; Meeting
AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.
ACTION: Notice of upcoming meeting.
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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: Tuesday, November 2, 1999, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and
ending at 6:00 p.m., but closed from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6:00
p.m.; and Wednesday, November 3, 1999, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and
ending at approximately 2:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Wyndham City Center Hotel, New Hampshire III Room, 1143 New
Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Staff
Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Portals
Building, 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20202-
7582 (202) 708-7439.
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 Committee has been charged with
providing technical expertise with regard to systems of need analysis
and application forms, making recommendations that 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; assisting with activities related to the
1992 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965; conducting a
third-year evaluation of the Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP)
and the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) under the Omnibus
Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993; and assisting Congress with
the 1998 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.
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. The Committee traditionally approaches its work from a
set of fundamental goals: promoting program integrity, eliminating or
avoiding program complexity, integrating delivery across the Title IV
programs; and minimizing burden on students and institutions.
Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act has provided the
Advisory Committee with a significantly expanded agenda in six major
areas, such as, Performance-Based Organization (PBO); Modernization;
Technology; Simplification of Law and Regulation; Distance Education;
and Early Information and Needs Assessment. In each of these areas,
Congress has asked the Committee to: monitor progress toward
implementing the Amendments of 1998; conduct independent, objective
assessments; and make recommendations for improvement to the Congress
and the Secretary. Each of these responsibilities flows logically from
and effectively implements one or more of the Committee's original
statutory functions and purposes.
The proposed agenda includes--(a) presentations and discussion
sessions by congressional members and staff, Department of Education
officials (ED), and presidential associations regarding progress to
date on the implementation of the PBO and modernization; (b)
presentations and discussion sessions focusing on distance education
and GearUp; and (c) a planning session on the Committee's agenda for
fiscal year 2000 and other Committee business (e.g., personnel matters,
the budget, etc). Space is limited and you 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 Monday, October 25, 1999.
The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC on November 2,
1999, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 6:00 p.m., and on November 3,
from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be closed to
the public on November 2, from approximately 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to
discuss personnel matters. The ensuing discussions will relate to
internal personnel rules and practices 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
[[Page 54877]]
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,
SW, Suite 601, Washington, DC from the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,
weekdays, except Federal holidays.
Dated: October 5, 1999.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-26361 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M