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

Publication Date: March 3, 2008
FRPart:

Page Numbers: 11404-11405

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

Posted on 03-03-2008


[Federal Register: March 3, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 42)]
[Notices]              
[Page 11404-11405]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03mr08-50]                        

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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?

    The purpose of this notice is to invite written comments on
accrediting agencies and State approval agencies whose applications to
the Secretary for renewed recognition, requests for an expansion of the
scope of recognition, or reports will be reviewed at the Advisory
Committee meeting to be held Spring 2008, in Washington, DC.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by mail, fax, or e-mail no
later than April 2, 2008 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 Role of the Advisory Committee?

    The Advisory Committee is established under Section 114 of the HEA,
as amended, and is composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of
Education from among individuals who are representatives of, or
knowledgeable concerning, education and training beyond secondary
education, including representatives of all sectors and type of
institutions of higher education.
    The Advisory Committee meets at least twice a year and provides
recommendations to the Secretary of Education pertaining to:
    The establishment and enforcement of 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.
    As the Advisory Committee deems necessary or on request, the
Advisory Committee also advises the Secretary about:
    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.

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, a subsequent 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 Advisory Committee will review. That
notice, however, does not offer a second opportunity to submit written
comments.

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 agencies' compliance with Section 496 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Secretary's Criteria
for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies.
The Criteria are regulations found in 34 CFR Part 602 (for accrediting
agencies) and in 34 CFR part 603 (for State approval agencies) and are
found at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/
index.html
.
    We will also include your comments with the staff analyses we
present to the Advisory Committee at its Spring 2008 meeting.
Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to your comments,
it is important that we receive them by April 2, 2008. In all
instances, your comments about agencies seeking continued recognition
and/or an expansion of an agency's scope of recognition must relate to
the Criteria 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.

What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?

    We will review any comments received after the deadline. If such
comments, upon investigation, reveal that the accrediting agency or
State approval agency is not acting in accordance with the Criteria for
Recognition, we will take action either before or after the meeting, as
appropriate.

What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at the Meeting?

    The Secretary of Education recognizes accrediting agencies and
State approval agencies for public postsecondary vocational education
and nurse education if the Secretary determines that they meet the Criteria for Recognition. Recognition means that the Secretary considers the agency to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education offered by institutions or programs it accredits that are encompassed within the scope of recognition she grants to the
agency.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the Spring 2008
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petitions for an Expansion of the Scope of Recognition

    1. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (Current
scope of recognition: The accreditation in the United States of
programs in practical nursing, and diploma, associate, baccalaureate
and higher degree nurse education programs.) (Requested scope of
recognition: The accreditation in the United States of programs in
practical nursing, and diploma, associate, baccalaureate and higher
degree nurse education programs, including those offered via distance
education.)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal
Education and Admissions to the Bar (Current and requested scope of
recognition: The accreditation throughout the United States of programs
in legal education that lead to the first professional degree in law,
as well as freestanding law schools offering such programs. This
recognition also extends to the Accreditation Committee of the Section
of Legal Education (Accreditation Committee) for decisions involving
continued accreditation (referred to by the agency as ``approval'') of
law schools.)
    2. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on
Accreditation (Current and requested 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, including accreditation of distance
learning courses and programs offered by these programs and
institutions.)
    3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on
Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
(Current and requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and pre-
accreditation (Accreditation Candidate) throughout the United States of
education programs in audiology and speech-language pathology leading
to the first professional or clinical degree at the master's or
doctoral level, and the accreditation of these programs offered via
distance education.)
    4. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (Current and requested
scope of recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation
throughout the United States of graduate-level, four-year naturopathic
medical education programs leading to the Doctor of Naturopathic
Medicine (N.M.D.) or Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.)
    5. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education,
Commission on Accreditation (Current and requested scope of
recognition: The accreditation of Montessori teacher education
institutions and programs throughout the United States.)
    6. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
(Current and requested scope of recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of postsecondary schools and departments
of cosmetology arts and sciences and massage therapy.)
    Interim Reports (An interim report is a follow-up report on an
accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for
recognition.)
    1. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation
Commission.
    2. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Colleges.
    3. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting
Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.

State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Education

Interim Reports

    1. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools.
    2. Pennsylvania State Board of Vocational Education.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Montana State Board of Nursing.
    2. North Dakota Board of Nursing.

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 May 16, 2008. They will
be available again after the Spring 2008 Advisory Committee meeting. An
appointment must 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: February 14, 2008.
Diane Auer Jones, Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E8-4011 Filed 2-29-08; 8:45 am]

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