FR Doc 04-723
[Federal Register: January 14, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 9)]
[Notices]
[Page 2128]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ja04-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Hearing
AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.
ACTION: Notice of upcoming hearing.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a
forthcoming hearing of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial
Assistance. Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability
in order to attend the meeting (i.e., interpreting services, assistive
listening devices, and/or materials in alternative format) should
notify Ms. Hope M. Gray at (202) 219-2099 or via e-mail at
hope.gray@ed.gov no later than Thursday, January 29, 2004. We will
attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee
availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is
accessible to individuals with disabilities. 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: Thursday, February 5, 2004, beginning at 9 a.m.
and ending at approximately 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The Holiday Inn on the Hill, 415 New Jersey Avenue, NW., the
Federal South Room, Washington, DC 20001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Brian K. Fitzgerald, Staff
Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol
Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582 (202)
219-2099.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Student Financial
Assistance is established under section 491 of the Higher Education Act
(HEA) of 1965 as amended by Pub. L. 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 three-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 VI of the Higher
Education Act. The Committee traditionally approaches its work from a
set of fundamental goals: Promoting access; ensuring program integrity;
integrating delivery across the Title IV programs; eliminating or
avoiding program complexity; and minimizing burden on students and
institutions.
The most important charge of the Advisory Committee is to make
recommendations to Congress and the Secretary that will lead to the
maintenance and enhancement of access to postsecondary education for
low- and middle-income students. In addition to carrying out its
ongoing statutory charges, the Committee dedicated itself to
articulating the current state of access by developing two reports on
the condition of access, Access Denied: Restoring the Nation's
Commitment to Equal Educational Opportunity and Empty Promises: The
Myth of College Access in America. As a result of the findings in its
access reports, the Committee submitted its access proposal to Congress
in May 2003 in preparation for reauthorization of the Higher Education
Act. The Committee will review and evaluate, from an access
perspective, other reauthorization proposals and ideas emanating from
Congress and the higher education community.
The proposed agenda includes discussion sessions with congressional
staff, Department of Education officials, and members of the higher
education community focusing on the need for simplification of need
analysis, forms and delivery of student aid. Specifically, the hearing
will initiate an Advisory Committee simplification study conducted at
the request of Congress. The hearing will explore (a) congressional
interests and proposals for simplification, (b) perspectives of the
higher education community and specific problems, including annual
updates to the state tax allowances, (c) the student work penalty, and
(d) early notification of student aid eligibility. Space is limited and
you are encouraged to register early if you plan to attend. You may
register through the 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) 219-3032.
Also, you may contact the Advisory Committee staff at (202) 219-2099.
The registration deadline is Friday, January 30, 2004.
The Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, DC on Thursday,
February 5, 2004, from 9 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m.
Record are kept of all Committee proceedings, and are available for
public inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on Student
Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413,
Washington, DC from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., weekdays, except
Federal holidays.
Dated: January 8, 2004.
Brian K. Fitzgerald,
Staff Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 04-723 Filed 1-13-04; 8:45 am]
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