National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (National Advisory Committee); Meeting

[Federal Register: September 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 187)]

[Notices]               

[Page 57804-57806]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

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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 

before the Committee. 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 December 11-13, 2000 from 9:30 

a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Pentagon City, 1250 

South Hayes Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202. You may call the hotel 

on (703) 415-5000 to inquire about rooms.


What Access Does the Hotel Provide for 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. Bonnie LeBold, who is the 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 7007-MS 7592, 1990 K St. N.W., 

Washington, D.C. 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7009, fax: (202) 219-7008, 

e-mail: Bonnie_LeBold@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 an update on the Title IV Distance 

Education Demonstration Program, a panel discussion by Federal and 

higher education agency representatives on transfer of credit issues, 

the review of agencies that have submitted petitions for initial 

recognition or renewal of recognition, and the review of agencies that 

have submitted interim reports.


What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?


    The Advisory Committee will review the following agencies during 

its December 11-13, 2000 meeting.


Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies


Petition for Initial Recognition


    1. Midwifery Education Accreditation Commission (Requested scope of 

recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation of direct-entry 

(non-nurse) midwifery certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree 

educational programs and institutions offering those types of programs)


Petitions for Renewal of Recognition


    1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission 

on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (Current 

scope of recognition: the accreditation of clinical training programs 

in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and 

postgraduate levels. Requested scope of recognition: the current scope 

of recognition plus the preaccreditation of clinical training programs 

in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and 

postgraduate levels [``Candidacy''] of programs)

    2. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal 

Education and Admissions to the Bar (Requested scope of recognition: 

the accreditation of programs in legal education that lead to the first 

professional degree in law, as well as freestanding law schools 

offering such programs)

    3. Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 

(Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of first-

professional master's degree and professional master's level 

certificate and diploma programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine)

    4. Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services 

Administration (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 

graduate programs in health services administration)


[[Page 57805]]


    5. American Osteopathic Association, Bureau of Professional 

Education (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation and 

preaccreditation [``Provisional Accreditation''] of freestanding 

institutions of osteopathic medicine and programs leading to the degree 

of Doctor of Osteopathy or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

    6. American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric 

Medical Education (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation 

and preaccreditation [``Candidate Status''] of freestanding colleges of 

podiatric medicine and programs of podiatric medicine, including first 

professional programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Podiatric 

Medicine)

    7. Council on Occupational Education (Requested scope of 

recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidate for 

Accreditation''] of non-degree granting postsecondary occupational/

vocational institutions and those postsecondary occupational/vocational 

education institutions that grant the applied associate degree in 

specific vocational/occupational fields)

    8. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education 

(Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of professional 

education units providing baccalaureate and graduate degree programs 

for the preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for 

elementary and secondary schools)

    9. New York State Board of Regents (Current scope of recognition: 

the accreditation [registration] of collegiate degree-granting programs 

or curricula offered by institutions of higher education located in the 

State of New York and of credit-bearing certificate and diploma 

programs offered by degree-granting institutions of higher education 

located in the State of New York. Requested scope of recognition: the 

preaccreditation and accreditation of those degree-granting 

institutions in New York State that designate the Board of Regents as 

their sole nationally recognized accrediting agency or as their primary 

nationally recognized accrediting agency for purposes of establishing 

eligibility for HEA Title IV funds)

    10. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Executive 

Board of the Commission on Schools (Requested scope of recognition: the 

accreditation and preaccreditation [``Candidate for Accreditation''] of 

schools offering non-degree, postsecondary education in Arizona, 

Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, 

Oklahoma, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the 

Navajo Nation.

    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 renewed 

recognition to the agency.)

    1. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

    2. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training

    3. Accreditation Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of 

Technology

    4. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

    5. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and 

Canada, Commission on Accrediting

    6. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, 

Commission on Accreditation

    7. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 

Institutions of Higher Education

    8. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 

Institutions of Higher Education

    9. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 

Colleges

    10. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 

Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

    11. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 

Commission for Schools


State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 

Vocational Education


Petition for Renewal of Recognition


    1. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education


Interim Report


    1. Missouri State Board of Education


State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education


Interim Report


    1. Missouri State Board of Nursing

    2. New Hampshire Board of Nursing


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 so 

that the request is received no later than November 16, 2000. Your 

request (no more than 6 pages maximum) should include:


--the names of all persons seeking an appearance,

--the organization they represent, and

--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 distribute written materials at the meeting or send 

materials directly to Committee members.

    Only materials submitted by the deadline and in accordance with 

these instructions become part of the official record and are 

considered by the Committee in its deliberations. Documents received 

after the November 16, 2000 deadline will not be distributed to the 

Advisory Committee for their consideration.


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. A request for written comments on agencies that are being 

reviewed during this meeting was published in the Federal Register on 

June 13, 2000. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider only 

written comments submitted by the deadlines specified in that 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 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. LeBold 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, Room 7105, 1990 

K St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006 between the hours of 9:00 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.


[[Page 57806]]


What Agencies Will be Postponed for Review until the May 2001 

Meeting?


    The agency listed below, which was originally scheduled for review 

during the Committee's December 2000 meeting, will be postponed for 

review until the Committee's May 2001 meeting. Any third-party written 

comments regarding these agencies that were received by July 28, 2000, 

in accordance with the Federal Register notice published on June 13, 

2000, will become part of the official record and will be considered by 

the Committee in its deliberations at the May 2001 meeting. There will 

be another opportunity to provide written comments on this agency next 

winter; a Federal Register notice requesting comments on all agencies 

scheduled for review at the May 2001 meeting will be published in 

January 2001.


Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies


Petition for Initial Recognition


    1. Teacher Education Accreditation Council (Requested scope of 

recognition: the accreditation of professional education programs in 

institutions offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees for the 

preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary 

and secondary schools)


    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2


A. Lee Fritschler,

Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 00-24662 Filed 9-25-00; 8:45 am]

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