Summary: Accrediting agencies and State approval agencies for vocational and nurse education institutions; national recognition

[Federal Register: September 11, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 175)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51806]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11se07-47]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for the 
Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, and State 
Agencies for the Approval of Nurse Education

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, Department of Education (The Advisory Committee).

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    This notice invites written comments on the interim report and 
request for an expansion of scope of recognition submitted by The 
Association for Biblical Higher Education that will be reviewed at the 
Advisory Committee meeting to be held on December 17-19, 2007. The 
agency was not included in the list of accrediting agencies to be 
reviewed in the original notice inviting written comments published in 
the Federal Register on August 1, 2007.

Interim Report/Request for an Expansion of Scope of Recognition

    1. The Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on 
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation and 
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of Bible colleges 
and institutes in the United States offering undergraduate programs.) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
of institutions of biblical higher education in the United States 
offering undergraduate programs through both campus-based instruction 
and distance education.)

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by mail, fax, or e-mail no 
later than September 28, 2007 to Ms. Robin Greathouse, Accreditation 
and State Liaison. You may contact her at the U.S. Department of 
Education, Room 7126, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20006, telephone: (202) 219-7011, fax: (202) 219-7005, or
e-mail:Robin.Greathouse@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 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. One of the purposes of the Advisory 
Committee is to advise the Secretary of Education on the recognition of 
accrediting agencies and State approval agencies.

Will This Be My Only Opportunity to Submit Written Comments?

    Yes, this notice announces the only opportunity you will have to 
submit written comments. However, another Federal Register notice will 
announce the meeting and invite individuals and/or groups to submit 
requests to make oral presentations before the Advisory Committee on 
the agencies that the Committee will review. That notice, however, does 
not offer an opportunity to submit written comment.

What Happens to the Comments That I Submit?

    We will review your comments, in response to this notice, as part 
of our evaluation of The Association for Biblical Higher Education's 
compliance with the Secretary's Criteria for Recognition of Accrediting 
Agencies. The Criteria are regulations found in 34 CFR Part 602 (for 
accrediting agencies). We will also respond to your comments, as 
appropriate, in the staff analysis we present to the Advisory Committee 
at its December 2007 meeting. Therefore, in order for us to give full 
consideration to your comments, it is important that we receive them by 
September 28, 2007. In all instances, your comments regarding The 
Association for Biblical Higher Education must relate to the Criteria 
for the Recognition cited in the Secretary's letter that requested the 
interim report. You may obtain a copy of the Secretary's letter by 
calling (202) 219-7011.

What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?

    We will treat any negative comments received after the deadline as 
complaints. If such comments, upon investigation, reveal that the 
accrediting agency is not acting in accordance with the Criteria for 
Recognition, we will take action either before or after the meeting, as 
appropriate. We will also notify the commentors of the disposition of 
those comments.

Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and After 
the Meeting?

    All petitions and those third-party comments received in advance of 
the meeting will be available for public inspection at the U.S. 
Department of Education, Room 7126, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 219-7011 between the hours of 8 
a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, until November 19, 2007. They 
will be available again after the December 17-19, 2007 Advisory 
Committee meeting. An appointment must be made in advance of such 
inspection.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.

    Dated: September 5, 2007.
Diane Auer Jones, Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E7-17824 Filed 9-10-07; 8:45 am]

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