[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37123-37125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14876]


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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 whose applications to the

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Secretary for initial or renewed recognition will be reviewed at the 
Advisory Committee meeting to be held on December 11-13, 2000. 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 28, 2000 to Karen 
Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and State Liaison. You may 
contact her at the U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K Street, NW, 7th 
Floor, Room 7105, Washington, DC 20006-8509, telephone: (202) 219-7011. 
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. 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 (for accrediting agencies) and in 
34 CFR Part 603 (for State approval agencies).
    We will also include your comments in the staff analyses we present 
to the Advisory Committee at its December 2000 meeting. Therefore, in 
order for us to give full consideration to your comments, it is 
important that we receive them by July 28, 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 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 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.

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 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 that are encompassed 
within the scope of recognition he grants to the agency. The following 
agencies will be reviewed during the December 2000 meeting of the 
Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petition for Initial Recognition

    1. Midwifery Education Accreditation Commission (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation of direct-entry 
(non-nurse) midwifery certificate and undergraduate and graduate degree 
educational programs and institutions offering those types of programs)
    2. Teacher Education Accreditation Council (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of professional education programs in 
institutions offering baccalaureate and graduate degrees for the 
preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary 
and secondary schools)

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

    1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission 
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (Current 
scope of recognition: the accreditation of clinical training programs 
in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and 
postgraduate levels. Requested scope of recognition: the current scope 
of recognition plus the preaccreditation of clinical training programs 
in marriage and family therapy at the master's, doctoral, and 
postgraduate levels [''Candidacy''] of programs)
    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 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. Council on Occupational Education (Requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation and preaccreditation [''Candidate for 
Accreditation''] of non-degree granting postsecondary occupational/
vocational institutions and those postsecondary occupational/vocational 
education institutions that grant the applied associate degree in 
specific vocational/occupational fields)
    8. 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)
    9. New York State Board of Regents (Current scope of recognition: 
the accreditation [registration] of collegiate

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degree-granting programs or curricula offered by institutions of higher 
education located in the State of New York and of credit-bearing 
certificate and diploma programs offered by degree-granting 
institutions of higher education located in the State of New York. 
Requested scope of recognition: the preaccreditation and accreditation 
of those degree-granting institutions in New York State that designate 
the Board of Regents as their sole nationally recognized accrediting 
agency or as their primary nationally recognized accrediting agency for 
purposes of establishing eligibility for HEA Title IV funds)
    10. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Executive 
Board of the Commission on Schools (Requested scope of recognition: the 
accreditation and preaccreditation [''Candidate for Accreditation''] 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 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. Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
    2. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
    3. Accreditation Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of 
Technology
    4. Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
    5. Association of Theological Schools in the United States and 
Canada, Commission on Accrediting
    6. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education, 
Commission on Accreditation
    7. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Institutions of Higher Education
    8. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Institutions of Higher Education
    9. Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Colleges
    10. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
    11. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Schools

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

Interim Report

    1. Missouri State Board of Education

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Interim Report

    1. Missouri State Board of Nursing
    2. New Hampshire 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, 7th Floor, Room 7105, Washington, DC 20006-8509, telephone 
(202) 219-7011 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, until November 17, 2000. They will be available again 
after the December 11-13 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.

    Dated: June 8, 2000.
A. Lee Fritschler,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 00-14876 Filed 6-12-00; 8:45 am]
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