[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36041-36042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17348]


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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: Department of Education.

ACTION: Request for Comments on Agencies applying to the Secretary for 
Initial Recognition or Renewal of Recognition.

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DATES: Commentors should submit their written comments by August 23, 
1996, to the address below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen W. Kershenstein, Director, Accreditation and State Liaison 
Division, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Room 3915 ROB-3, Washington, DC 20202-5244, 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.

SUBMISSION OF THIRD-PARTY COMMENTS: The Secretary of Education 
recognizes, as reliable authorities as to the qualify of education 
offered by institutions or programs within their scope, accrediting 
agencies and State approval agencies for public postsecondary 
vocational education and nurse education that meet certain criteria for 
recognition. The purpose of this notice is to invite interested third 
parties to present written comments on the agencies listed in this 
notice that have applied for initial or continued recognition. All 
comments received in response to this notice will be reviewed by 
Department staff as part of its evaluation of the agencies' compliance 
with the criteria for recognition. In order for Department staff to 
give full consideration to the comments received, the comments must 
arrive at the address listed above not later than August 23 1996. 
Comments must relate to the Secretary's Criteria for the Recognition of 
Accrediting Agencies. Comments pertaining to agencies whose Interim 
Reports will be reviewed must be restricted to the concerns raised in 
the Secretary's letter for which the report is requested.
    The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity (the ``Advisory Committee'') advises the Secretary of 
Education on the recognition of accrediting agencies and State approval 
agencies. The Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet November 20-22, 
1996 in Washington, DC. All written comments received by the Department 
in response to this notice will be considered by both the Advisory 
Committee and the Secretary. A subsequent Federal Register notice will 
announce the meeting and invite individuals and/or groups to submit 
requests for oral presentation before the Advisory Committee on the 
agencies being reviewed. That notice, however, does not constitute 
another call for written comment. This notice is the only call for 
written comment.
    The following agencies will be reviewed during the November 1996 
meeting of the Advisory Committee:

Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations

Petitions for Renewal of Recognition

1. Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of bible colleges and institutes 
offering undergraduate programs)
2. American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of generic nurse anesthesia educational 
programs/schools)
3. Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass 
Communications (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
units within institutions offering professional undergraduate and 
graduate (master's) degree programs)
4. The American Dietetic Association (requested scope of recognition: 
The accreditation of coordinated undergraduate programs in dietetics 
and post-baccalaureate dietetics internships)
5. American Physical Therapy Association (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of professional programs for the 
physical therapist and programs for the physical therapy assistant)
6. Distance Education and Training Council (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation of home study schools, including 
associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree-granting home study 
schools)
7. Liaison Committee on Medical Education (requested scope of 
recognition: the accreditation programs leading to the M.D. degree)
8. Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Higher Education (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
higher education institutions in Delaware, District of Columbia, 
Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico and the 
Virgin Islands)
9. National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation 
Council (requested scope of recognition: the accreditation of 
baccalaureate programs in environmental health science and protection)
10. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools 
(requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of Christian 
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 
recognition to the agency)--

1. American Academy for Liberal Education
2. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
3. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education 
and Admission to the Bar
4. American Optometric Association
5. American Podiatric Medical Association
6. Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
7. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education
8. National Accreditation Commission for Schools and Colleges of 
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
9. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences
10. National Association of Schools of Dance
11. National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
12. New York State Board of Regents

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary 
Vocational Education

Petition for Renewal of Recognition

1. Oklahoma State Board of Regents for Higher Education

Interim Report

1. New York State Board of Regents (Vocational Education Unit)

[[Page 36042]]

State Agencies Recognized for the Approval of Nurse Education

Interim Report

1. New York State Board of Regents (Nursing Education Unit)

    In accordance with the Federal policy governing the granting of 
academic degrees by Federal agencies (approved by letter from the 
Director, Bureau of the Budget, to the Secretary, Health, Education, 
and Welfare, dated December 23, 1954), the Secretary of Education is 
required to establish a review committee to advise the Secretary 
concerning any legislation that may be proposed which 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 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 its November meeting:

Proposed Bachelor's Degree-Granting Authority

1. Joint Military Intelligence College, Bolling Air Force Base (for 
Bachelor of Science in Intelligence)

Public Inspection of Petitions and Third-Party Comments

    All petitions and interim reports, and those third-party comments 
received in advance of this 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. It is preferred that an appointment be made in advance 
of such inspection or copying.

    Dated: July 2, 1996.
David A. Longanecker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 96-17348 Filed 7-8-96; 8:45 am]
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