04-6758. 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 June 10, 2004, from 8:45 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m., and on June 11, 2004, from 8 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m. at the Hotel Monaco, 700 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20004. You may call the hotel on [phone] to inquire about rooms.

What Assistance Will Be Provided to 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, 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., NW, Washington, DC 20006, telephone: [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail].

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 the review of agencies that have submitted petitions for initial recognition or renewal of recognition, as well as 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 June 10-11, 2004, meeting.

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petitions for Initial Recognition

1. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions with postsecondary, non-degree granting career and technology programs, in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary allied health education institutions and institutions that offer predominantly allied health programs, private medical assistant programs, and public and private medical laboratory technician programs leading to the Associate of Applied Science and the Associate of Occupational Science degrees.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions in the United States offering predominantly allied health education, medical assistant programs, and medical laboratory technician programs leading to a certificate, diploma or the Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Occupational Science degrees, including those offered via distance education.)

2. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, Commission on Accrediting (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (“Candidate for Accredited Status”) of freestanding institutions, as well as schools affiliated with larger institutions, that offer graduate professional education for ministry and graduate study of theology in the United States) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (“Candidate for Accredited Membership”) of theological schools and seminaries, as well as schools or programs that are parts of colleges or universities, in the United States, offering post baccalaureate degrees in professional and academic theological education, including delivery via distance education.)

3. Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions in the United States, that award postsecondary certificates or diplomas in the practice of massage therapy and bodywork.) (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of institutions in the United States, that award postsecondary certificates, postsecondary diplomas, and Associates degrees, in the practice of massage therapy and bodywork.)

4. North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees (Requested scope of recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation [“Candidacy status”] 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 in 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. American Academy for Liberal Education.

2. American Optometric Association, Accreditation Council on Optometric Education.

3. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

4. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences.

5. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on Accreditation.

6. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on Accreditation.

7. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation, Commission on Non-Degree-Granting Accreditation, Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation.

8. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on Accreditation.

9. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

10. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Technical and Career Institutions.

11. New York State Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Education.

12. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission.

13. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education

Petition for Initial Recognition

1. Pennsylvania State Board for Vocational Education.

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

1. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs.

Interim Reports

1. Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology 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.

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 via mail, fax, or e-mail no later than May 21, 2004. Your request (no more than 6 pages maximum) must include:

1. The names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses of all persons seeking an appearance,

2. The organization they represent, and

3. 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 send materials directly to Committee members. Only materials submitted by the deadline to the contact person listed in this notice 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 May 21, 2004 deadline will not be distributed to the Advisory Committee for their consideration. Individuals making oral presentations may not distribute written materials at the meeting.

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 February 5, 2004. The Advisory Committee will receive and consider only written comments submitted by the deadline 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, 1990 K St., NW., Washington, DC 20006 between the hours of 9 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.

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 [phone].

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/​nara/​index.html.

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

Dated: March 19, 2004.

Sally L. Stroup,

Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.