[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2598-2599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1022]


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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 May 24-26, 2000. The notice also invites written comments 
on agencies submitting interim reports that will be reviewed at the May 
meeting.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by March 3, 2000, to Karen 
Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and State Liaison. You may 
contact her at the U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW, 8th 
Floor, Room 8131, Washington, DC 20006, telephone: (202) 708-7417. 
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 its May 2000 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 by March 
3, 2000. In all instances, your comments about agencies seeking initial 
or continued 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 during the May 2000 meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petition for Initial Recognition
    1. Midwifery Education Accreditation Commission (Requested scope of 
recognition: to accredit and preaccredit direct-entry (non-nurse) 
midwifery certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree educational 
programs and institutions).
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
    1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission 
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (Requested 
scope of recognition: the accreditation of clinical training programs 
in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and 
postgraduate levels. The agency also requests that its recognition 
include its preaccreditation status [``Candidacy''])
    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).
    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

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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. 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).
    8. New York State Board of Regents (Requested scope of recognition: 
The accreditation [registration] of collegiate degree-granting programs 
or curricula offered by institutions of higher education).
    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. Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, 
Accreditation Commission
3. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
4. American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education
5. The Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on Accreditaiton
6. Council on Education for Public Health
7. National Environmental Health Sciences and Protection Accreditation 
Council
8. National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition
    1. Puerto Rico Human Resources and Occupational Development 
Council.

Interim Report--
1. Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education
2. Utah State Board for Applied Technology Education

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition
    1. Montana State Board of Nursing

Interim Report--
1. Maryland State Board of Nursing

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, 1990 K 
Street, NW, 8th Floor, Room 8131, Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 
708-7417 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, until May 2, 2000. They will be available again after the May 
24-26 Advisory Committee meeting. It is preferred that an appointment 
be made in advance of such inspection or copying.


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

Greg Woods,
Chief Operating Officer, Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 00-1022 Filed 1-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-U