FR Doc E7-4448
[Federal Register: March 12, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 47)]
[Notices]
[Page 10999-11002]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr07-50]
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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
(3-5 minutes) before the Committee. In all instances, your comments
about agencies seeking initial recognition, continued recognition and/
or an expansion of an agency's scope of recognition must relate to the
Criteria
[[Page 11000]]
for Recognition. In addition, your comments for any agency whose
interim report is scheduled for review must relate to the issues raised
and the Criteria for Recognition cited in the Secretary's letter that
requested the interim report. 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 Wednesday, May 30, 2007, from
8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m.; on Thursday, May 31, 2007,
from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m., and on Friday, June 1,
2007, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m. in the Mt. Vernon
Rooms A and B at The Madison, 1177 Fifteenth Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20005. You may call the hotel at (202) 862-1600 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. Francesca Paris-Albertson, 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 7110, 1990 K St., NW., Washington,
DC 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7009, fax: (202) 219-7008, e-mail:
Francesca.Paris-Albertson@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 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 and/or an expansion of
an agency's scope of recognition, and the review of agencies that have
submitted an interim report.
What Agencies Will the National Advisory Committee Review at the
Meeting?
The following agencies will be reviewed during the May 30-June 1,
2007 meeting of the National Advisory Committee:
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies
Petition for an Expansion of Scope
1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (Current scope of
recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions
in the United States offering predominantly allied health education
programs and the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant,
medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs, leading
to a certificate, diploma, or the Associate of Applied Science and
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 medical assistant,
medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs, leading
to a certificate, diploma, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of
Occupational Science, or Academic Associate degree, including those
offered via distance education.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition That Include an Expansion of the
Scope of Recognition
1. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of
institutions and programs within the United States awarding diplomas,
associate degrees and bachelor's degrees in funeral service or mortuary
science.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of
institutions and programs within the United States awarding diplomas,
associate degrees and bachelor degrees in funeral service and/or
mortuary science, including the accreditation of Distance Learning
courses and programs offered by these programs and institutions.)
2. American Dietetic Association, Commission on Accreditation for
Dietetics Education (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation
within the United States of Didactic and Coordinated Programs in
Dietetics at both the undergraduate and graduate level, post
baccalaureate Dietetic Internships, and Dietetic Technician Programs at
the associate degree level and for its accreditation of such programs
offered via distance education.) (Requested scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation within the United States of Didactic
and Coordinated Programs in Dietetics at both the undergraduate and
graduate level, post baccalaureate Dietetic Internships, and Dietetic
Technician Programs at the associate degree level and for its
accreditation of such programs offered via distance education.)
3. Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational
Programs (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of
institutions and programs of nurse anesthesia within the United States
at the post-master's certificate, master's, or doctoral degree levels.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions and
[[Page 11001]]
programs of nurse anesthesia within the United States at the post
master's certificate, master's, or doctoral degree levels, including
programs offering distance education.)
4. Council on Education for Public Health (Current scope of
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Preaccreditation
status'') within the United States of graduate schools of public
health, graduate programs in community health education outside schools
of public health, and graduate programs in community health/preventive
medicine outside schools of public health.) (Requested scope of
recognition: The accreditation within the United States of schools of
public health and public health programs outside schools of public
health at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including those
offered via distance education.)
5. Council on Occupational Education (Current scope of recognition:
The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'')
throughout the United States of non-degree granting postsecondary
occupational/vocational institutions and those postsecondary
occupational/vocational education institutions that have state
authorization to grant the applied associate degree in specific
vocational/occupational fields.) (Requested scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy Status'') throughout
the United States of postsecondary occupational education institutions
offering non-degree and applied associate degree programs in specific
career and technical education fields, including institutions that
offer programs via distance education.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools,
Accreditation Commission (Current and requested scope of recognition:
The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Correspondent'' and
``Candidate'') within the United States of advanced rabbinical and
Talmudic schools.)
2. Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education
(Current and requested scope of recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of graduate programs in health services
administration.)
3. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (Current and requested
scope of recognition: The accreditation of medical education programs
within the United States leading to the M.D. degree.)
4. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Higher Education (Current and requested scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of
institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia,
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
Virgin Islands, including distance education programs offered at those
institutions.)
5. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Technical and Career Institutions (Current and requested scope of
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate
status'') of secondary institutions with vocational-technical programs
at the 13th and 14th grade level, postsecondary institutions, and
institutions of higher education that provide primarily vocational/
technical education at the certificate, associate, and baccalaureate
degree levels in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, and Vermont. This recognition extends to the Board of
Trustees of the Association jointly with the Commission for decisions
involving preaccreditation, initial accreditation, and adverse
actions.)
6. New York State Board of Regents, and the Commissioner of
Education (Current and requested scope of recognition: The
accreditation of those degree-granting institutions of higher education
in New York that designate the agency as their sole or primary
nationally recognized accrediting agency for purposes of establishing
eligibility to participate in HEA programs.)
Interim Reports (An interim report is a follow-up report on an
accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for
recognition.)
1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
2. American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic
College Accreditation.
3. American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric
Medical Education.
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education
Petition for Initial Recognition
1. Kansas State Board of Nursing.
Petition for Renewal of Recognition
1. Missouri State Board of Nursing.
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. Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (request to
award a Master's of Science in Flight Test Engineering Degree.)
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
identified earlier in this notice so that the request is received via
mail, fax, or e-mail no later than April 18, 2007.
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
[[Page 11002]]
are considered by the Committee in its deliberations. Documents
received after the April 18, 2007 deadline will not be distributed to
the National 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
January 30, 2007. The National Advisory Committee will receive and
consider only written comments submitted by the deadline specified in
the above-referenced Federal Register notice.
How Do I Request To Present Comments Regarding General Issues Rather
Than Specific Accrediting Agencies?
At the conclusion of the meeting, the National Advisory 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. Paris-Albertson 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 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/index.html.
(Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.)
Dated: March 2, 2007.
James F. Manning,
Delegated the Authority of the Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-4448 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
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