[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30967-30968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14574]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for Approval
of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, and State Agencies for
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 whose applications to the Secretary for initial or
renewed recognition will be reviewed at the Advisory Committee meeting
to be held on December 6-8, 1999. The notice also invites written
comments on agencies submitting interim reports that will be reviewed
at the December meeting.
Where Should I Submit My Comments?
Please submit your written comments by July 26, 1999 to Nami
Randolph, Chief of the Accrediting Agency Evaluation Branch. You may
contact her at the US Department of Education, 7th & D Streets, SW,
Room 3915, ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone: (202) 708-8481.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8
a.m. and 7 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
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. 1011. 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, 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 Committee will review. That notice,
however, does not offer a second 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 agencies' compliance with the Secretary's
Criteria for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. The Criteria are
regulations found in 34 CFR part 602.
We will also include your comments in the staff analyses that we
present to the Advisory committee at the December 1999 meeting.
Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to the comments
we receive, it is important that we receive your comments on all
agencies except the council of the Section of Legal Education and
Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA) by July 26,
1999. The deadline for receiving comments about the ABA is September 3,
1999 because that cited agency's interim report is not due to us until
August 15, 1999. In all instances, your comments about agencies seeking
initial or renewed recognition must relate to the Criteria for the
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 in the Secretary's letter that requested the
interim report.
What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?
We will review 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
notify the commentors of the disposition of those comments.
What Agencies Are on the Agenda for the Meeting?
The Secretary of Education recognizes accrediting agencies and
State approval agencies for public postsecondary vocational education
and nurse education if he 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 that are encompassed within the scope of
recognition he grants to the agency. The following agencies will be
reviewed
[[Page 30968]]
during the December 1999 meeting of the Advisory Committee:
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies
Petition for Initial Recognition
1. Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (Requested scope of
recognition: Baccalaureate Degree Programs in Nursing Education and
Graduate Degree Programs in Nursing Education.
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of
Technology (Requested scope of recognition: the Accreditation of
private, postsecondary, non-degree-granting institutions and degree-
granting institution, including those granting associate and
baccalaureate degrees, that are predominantly organized to educate
students for occupation, trade and technical careers).
2. American Psychological Association, Committee on Accreditation
(Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of doctoral programs
in clinical, counseling, school and combined professional-scientific
psychology, predocotral internship programs in professional psychology,
and postdoctoral residency programs in professional psychology.
3. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (Requested scope of
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation (Candidate for
Accreditation) of institutions and graduate programs in Naturopathy
that lead to the degree of Doctor of Naturopathy (N.D.) or Doctor of
Naturopathic Medicine (N.M.D.).
4. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
(Scope of recognition: the accreditation of postsecondary schools and
departments of costmetology arts and sciences).
5. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools,
Accrediting Commission (Requested scope of recognition: the
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of
postsecondary institutions that offer certificates, diplomas, and
associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees).
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. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal
Education and Admissions to the Bar.
2. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., Accreditation
Commission.
3. Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass
Communciations.
4. American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation.
5. American Physical Therapy Association, Committee on
Accreditation.
6. Commission on Opticianry Accreditation.
7. National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive
Health, Council on Accreditation.
8. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Schools.
State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Eduation
Interim Report
1. Kansas State Department of Education.
State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education
Interim Report
1. New York State Board of Regents, Nursing Education Unit.
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 Associate Degree-Granting Authority
1. Defense Language Institute (Accrdited by: Western Association of
Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior
Colleges).
Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and
After the Meeting?
All petitions and interim reports, and those third-party comments
received in advance of the meeting, will be available for public
inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of Education, ROB-3, Room
3915, 7th and D Streets, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5244, telephone (202)
708-7417 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, until November 22, 1999. They will be available again after the
December 6-8 Advisory Committe meeting. It is preferred that an
appointment be made in advance of such inspection or copying.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.
Dated: June 3, 1999.
Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer, Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-14574 Filed 6-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-M
