[Federal Register: August 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 169)]
[Notices]
[Page 51808]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au06-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance: Hearing
AGENCY: Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Education.
ACTION: Notice of Upcoming Hearing.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a
forthcoming hearing of the Advisory Committee on Student Financial
Assistance. Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability
in order to attend the hearing (i.e., interpreting services, assistive
listening devices, and/or materials in alternative format) should
notify the Advisory Committee no later than Monday, September 11, 2006
by contacting Ms. Hope Gray at (202) 219-2099 or via e-mail at
hope.gray@ed.gov. We will attempt to meet requests after this date, but
cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The
hearing site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. This
notice also describes the functions of the Advisory Committee. Notice
of this hearing is required under Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general
public.
DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, September 19, 2006, beginning at 9 a.m. and
ending at approximately 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW.,
Executive Room, Lower Lobby Level, Washington, DC 20001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Michelle Asha Cooper, Director of
Policy Research or Ms. Erin B. Renner, Director of Government
Relations, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, Capitol
Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite 413, Washington, DC 20202-7582, (202)
219-2099.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committee on Student Financial
Assistance is established under section 491 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 as amended by Public Law 100-50 (20 U.S.C. 1098). The Advisory
Committee serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the
Congress and the Secretary of Education on student financial aid
policy. Since its inception, the congressional mandate requires the
Advisory Committee to conduct objective, nonpartisan, and independent
analyses on important aspects of the student assistance programs under
Title IV of the Higher Education Act. In addition, Congress expanded
the Advisory Committee's mission in the Higher Education Amendments of
1998 to include several important areas: Access, Title IV
modernization, distance education, and early information and needs
assessment. Specifically, the Advisory Committee is to review, monitor
and evaluate the Department of Education's progress in these areas and
report recommended improvements to Congress and the Secretary.
The Advisory Committee has scheduled this one-day hearing to
publicly launch its new report on the impact of financial barriers on
college enrollment and the Committee's newly requested Congressional
charge, to conduct a one-year study of the rising cost of college
textbooks and make recommendations on ways to reduce the financial
barriers for all students. The proposed agenda includes expert
testimony and discussions by prominent higher education community
leaders, state representatives, and policy researchers who will address
(a) the Committee's report on the impact of financial barriers on
college enrollment and degree attainment; (b) the Congressionally
requested study of college textbooks; (c) the feasibility study for
radical simplification of federal expected family contribution (EFC)
determination, which is a part of the Committee's Innovative Pathways
Study, and (d) a roundtable discussion among Advisory Committee members
and panelists on the issues addressed in the first three sessions,
followed by a public comment session.
The Advisory Committee invites the public to submit written
comments on the agenda topics to the following e-mail address:
ACSFA@ed.gov. Information regarding the topics covered at the hearing
will also be available on the Advisory Committee's Web site at http://www.ed.gov/ACSFA.
We must receive your comments on or before September
15, 2006 to be included in the hearing materials.
Space for the hearing is limited and you are encouraged to register
early if you plan to attend. You may register by sending an e-mail to
the following address: ACSFA@ed.gov or Tracy.Deanna.Jones@ed.gov.
Please include your name, title, affiliation, complete address
(including internet and e-mail, if available), and telephone and fax
numbers. If you are unable to register electronically, you may fax your
registration information to the Advisory Committee staff office at
(202) 219-3032. You may also contact the Advisory Committee staff
directly at (202) 219-2099. The registration deadline is Tuesday,
September 12, 2006.
Records are kept for Advisory Committee proceedings, and are
available for inspection at the Office of the Advisory Committee on
Student Financial Assistance, Capitol Place, 80 F Street, NW., Suite
413, Washington, DC from the hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. Information regarding the
Advisory Committee is available on the Committee's Web site, http://www.ed.gov/ACSFA
.
Dated: August 25, 2006.
William J. Goggin,
Executive Director, Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance.
[FR Doc. 06-7273 Filed 8-30-06; 8:45 am]
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