[Federal Register: December 21, 1995 (Volume 60, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 66272-66273]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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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.
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DATES: Commentors should submit their written comments by February 5,
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 quality 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
[[Page 66273]]
comments received, the comments must arrive at the address listed above
not later than (Insert 45 days after date of publication in the Federal
Register). Comments must relate to the Secretary's Criteria for the
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies.
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 May 22-24, 1996
in Washington, D.C. 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 May 1996 meeting
of the Advisory Committee:
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations
Petitions for Initial Recognition
1. American Polygraph Association (requested scope of recognition:
the accreditation of private, postsecondary, non-degree-granting
institutions that prepare students to become Polygraph examiners).
2. National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive
Health (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of women's
health nurse practitioner education programs in reproductive health).
3. Pacific Association of Schools and Colleges (requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation of smaller specialized degree-granting
institutions of higher education that specialize in limited and
identified areas of social sciences and humanities).
4. Respiratory Care Accreditation Board (requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation of respiratory care education programs).
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
(requested scope of recognition: As a coordinating agency for the
accreditation of institutions and programs under the following allied
health education committees:
a. Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee.
b. Joint Review Committee on Education in Diagnostic Medical
Sonography.
c. Joint Review Committee on Education in Electroneurodiagnostic
Technology.
d. Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for the EMT-
Paramedic
e. Accredition Committee for Perfusion Education (perfusionist)
f. Accredition Committee for Education for the Physician Assistant
g. Joint Review Committee for Respiratory Therapy Education
h. Accreditation Review Committee for the Surgical Technologist
The Commission is also requesting an expansion of scope of
recognition to include the accredition of institutions and programs
under the following allied health education committee:
i. Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovascular
Technology.
2. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Secondary Schools (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation
and preaccreditation of public vocational and technical schools
offering non-degree postsecondary education in Delaware, the District
of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands)
3. National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
(requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of programs for the
histologic technician/technologist)
4. National League for Nursing, Inc. (requested scope of recognition:
the accredition of programs in practical nursing, and diploma,
associate, baccalaureate and higher degree nurse education programs)
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 Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education
and Admission to the Bar
2. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
3. American Psychological Association, Committee on Education
4. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation
5. Distance Education and Training Council, Accrediting Commission
6. National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation
Council
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Education
Petition for Renewal of Recognition--
1. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Technical Education Institutions and Programs
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education
Petition for Renewal of Recognition
1. Montana Board of Nursing
Public Inspection of Petitions and Third-Party Comments
All petitions and interim reports, and those third-party comments
received in advance of the meeting, will be available for public
inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, ROB-3, Room 3915, 7th
and D Streets, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone (202) 708-
7417 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday.
Dated: December 18, 1995.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 95-31073 Filed 12-20-95; 8:45 am]
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