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[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 47 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10999-11002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4448]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

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 
(3-5 minutes) before the Committee. In all instances, your comments 
about agencies seeking initial recognition, continued recognition and/
or an expansion of an agency's scope of recognition must relate to the 
Criteria

[[Page 11000]]

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. 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 Wednesday, May 30, 2007, from 
8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m.; on Thursday, May 31, 2007, 
from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m., and on Friday, June 1, 
2007, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 3:30 p.m. in the Mt. Vernon 
Rooms A and B at The Madison, 1177 Fifteenth Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20005. You may call the hotel at (202) 862-1600 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. Francesca Paris-Albertson, 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 7110, 1990 K St., NW., Washington, 
DC 20006, telephone: (202) 219-7009, fax: (202) 219-7008, e-mail: 
[email protected]. 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 renewal of recognition and/or an expansion of 
an agency's scope of recognition, and the review of agencies that have 
submitted an interim report.

What Agencies Will the National Advisory Committee Review at the 
Meeting?

    The following agencies will be reviewed during the May 30-June 1, 
2007 meeting of the National Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies

Petition for an Expansion of Scope
    1. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (Current scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions 
in the United States offering predominantly allied health education 
programs and the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, 
medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs, leading 
to a certificate, diploma, or the Associate of Applied Science and 
Associate of Occupational Science degrees.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions 
in the United States offering predominantly allied health education 
programs and the programmatic accreditation of medical assistant, 
medical laboratory technician and surgical technology programs, leading 
to a certificate, diploma, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of 
Occupational Science, or Academic Associate degree, including those 
offered via distance education.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition That Include an Expansion of the 
Scope of Recognition
    1. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on 
Accreditation (Current 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.) (Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of 
institutions and programs within the United States awarding diplomas, 
associate degrees and bachelor degrees in funeral service and/or 
mortuary science, including the accreditation of Distance Learning 
courses and programs offered by these programs and institutions.)
    2. American Dietetic Association, Commission on Accreditation for 
Dietetics Education (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation 
within the United States of Didactic and Coordinated Programs in 
Dietetics at both the undergraduate and graduate level, post 
baccalaureate Dietetic Internships, and Dietetic Technician Programs at 
the associate degree level and for its accreditation of such programs 
offered via distance education.) (Requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation within the United States of Didactic 
and Coordinated Programs in Dietetics at both the undergraduate and 
graduate level, post baccalaureate Dietetic Internships, and Dietetic 
Technician Programs at the associate degree level and for its 
accreditation of such programs offered via distance education.)
    3. Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational 
Programs (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of 
institutions and programs of nurse anesthesia within the United States 
at the post-master's certificate, master's, or doctoral degree levels.) 
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions and

[[Page 11001]]

programs of nurse anesthesia within the United States at the post 
master's certificate, master's, or doctoral degree levels, including 
programs offering distance education.)
    4. Council on Education for Public Health (Current scope of 
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Preaccreditation 
status'') within the United States of graduate schools of public 
health, graduate programs in community health education outside schools 
of public health, and graduate programs in community health/preventive 
medicine outside schools of public health.) (Requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation within the United States of schools of 
public health and public health programs outside schools of public 
health at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including those 
offered via distance education.)
    5. Council on Occupational Education (Current scope of recognition: 
The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') 
throughout the United States of non-degree granting postsecondary 
occupational/vocational institutions and those postsecondary 
occupational/vocational education institutions that have state 
authorization to grant the applied associate degree in specific 
vocational/occupational fields.) (Requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy Status'') throughout 
the United States of postsecondary occupational education institutions 
offering non-degree and applied associate degree programs in specific 
career and technical education fields, including institutions that 
offer programs via distance education.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
    1. Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, 
Accreditation Commission (Current and requested scope of recognition: 
The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Correspondent'' and 
``Candidate'') within the United States of advanced rabbinical and 
Talmudic schools.)
    2. Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education 
(Current and requested scope of recognition: The accreditation 
throughout the United States of graduate programs in health services 
administration.)
    3. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (Current and requested 
scope of recognition: The accreditation of medical education programs 
within the United States leading to the M.D. degree.)
    4. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Higher Education (Current and requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of 
institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, 
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, including distance education programs offered at those 
institutions.)
    5. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on 
Technical and Career Institutions (Current and requested scope of 
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate 
status'') of secondary institutions with vocational-technical programs 
at the 13th and 14th grade level, postsecondary institutions, and 
institutions of higher education that provide primarily vocational/
technical education at the certificate, associate, and baccalaureate 
degree levels in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
Rhode Island, and Vermont. This recognition extends to the Board of 
Trustees of the Association jointly with the Commission for decisions 
involving preaccreditation, initial accreditation, and adverse 
actions.)
    6. New York State Board of Regents, and the Commissioner of 
Education (Current and requested scope of recognition: The 
accreditation of those degree-granting institutions of higher education 
in New York that designate the agency as their sole or primary 
nationally recognized accrediting agency for purposes of establishing 
eligibility to participate in HEA programs.)
    Interim Reports (An interim report is a follow-up report on an 
accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for 
recognition.)
    1. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Commission 
on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
    2. American Osteopathic Association, Commission on Osteopathic 
College Accreditation.
    3. American Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric 
Medical Education.

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Petition for Initial Recognition
    1. Kansas State Board of Nursing.
Petition for Renewal of Recognition
    1. Missouri State Board of Nursing.

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 Master's Degree-Granting Authority
    1. Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (request to 
award a Master's of Science in Flight Test Engineering Degree.)

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 
identified earlier in this notice so that the request is received via 
mail, fax, or e-mail no later than April 18, 2007.
    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

[[Page 11002]]

are considered by the Committee in its deliberations. Documents 
received after the April 18, 2007 deadline will not be distributed to 
the National 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. Requests for written comments on agencies that are being 
reviewed during this meeting were published in the Federal Register on 
January 30, 2007. The National Advisory Committee will receive and 
consider only written comments submitted by the deadline specified in 
the above-referenced 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 National Advisory 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. Paris-Albertson 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 
(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: March 2, 2007.
James F. Manning,
Delegated the Authority of the Assistant Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E7-4448 Filed 3-9-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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