[Federal Register: August 1, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 147)]
[Notices]
[Page 42065-42067]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au07-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for the
Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational 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 and State approval agencies whose applications to
the Secretary for renewed recognition, requests for an expansion of the
scope of recognition, or reports will be reviewed at the Advisory
Committee meeting to be held on December 17-19, 2007, in the Mt. Vernon
Rooms A and B at The Madison, 1177 15th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20005, telephone: 202-862-1600.
Where Should I Submit My Comments?
Please submit your written comments by mail, fax, or e-mail no
later than August 31, 2007 to Ms. Robin Greathouse, Accreditation and
State Liaison. You may contact her at the U.S. Department of Education,
Room 7126, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006,
telephone: (202) 219-7011, fax: (202) 219-7005, or e-mail:
Robin.Greathouse@ed.gov. 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. Sec. 1011c. 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
comments.
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 Section 496 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, and the Secretary's Criteria
for Recognition of Accrediting Agencies and State Approval Agencies.
The Criteria are regulations found in 34 CFR part 602 (for accrediting
agencies) and in 34 CFR part 603 (for State approval agencies) and are
found at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
.
We will also include your comments with the staff analyses we
present to the Advisory Committee at its December 2007 meeting.
Therefore, in order for us to give full consideration to your comments,
it is important that we receive them by (August 31, 2007. In all
instances, your comments about agencies seeking continued recognition
and/or an expansion of an agency's scope of recognition must relate to
the Criteria 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.
What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?
We will review any comments received after the deadline. If such
comments, upon investigation, reveal that the accrediting agency or
State approval agency is not acting in accordance with the Criteria for
Recognition, we will take action either before or after the meeting, as
appropriate.
What Agencies Will the Advisory Committee Review at 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 it accredits that are
encompassed within the scope of recognition she grants to the agency.
The following agencies will be reviewed during the December 2007
meeting of the Advisory Committee:
Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies
Petition for Renewal of Recognition That Includes a Contraction of the
Scope of Recognition
1. American Optometric Association, Accreditation Council on
Optometric Education (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation
in the United States of professional optometric degree programs,
optometric technician (associate degree) programs, and optometric
residency programs and for the preaccreditation categories of
Preliminary Approval and Reasonable Assurance for professional
optometric
[[Page 42066]]
degree programs and Candidacy Pending for optometric residency programs
in Veterans' Administration facilities.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation in the United
States of professional optometric degree programs, optometric
technician (associate degree) programs, and optometric residency
programs and for the preaccreditation categories of Preliminary
Approval for professional optometric degree programs and Candidacy
Pending for optometric residency programs in Department of Veterans'
Affairs facilities.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition That Include an Expansion of the
Scope of Recognition
1. National Association of Schools of Art and Design, Commission on
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of institutions and units within
institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs
in art and design and art and design-related disciplines.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of free-standing institutions and units offering art/
design and art/design-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-
granting) including those offered via distance education.)
2. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of institutions and units within
institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs
in dance and dance-related disciplines.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of free-standing institutions and units offering dance
and dance-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting)
including those offered via distance education.)
3. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on
Accreditation, Commission on Community/Junior College Accreditation
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the United
States of institutions and units within institutions offering degree-
granting programs in music and music-related disciplines, including
community/junior colleges and independent degree-granting and non-
degree-granting institutions.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of free-standing institutions and units offering music
and music-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting)
including those offered via distance education.)
4. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on
Accreditation (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of institutions and units within
institutions offering degree-granting and non-degree-granting programs
in theatre and theatre-related disciplines.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of free-standing institutions and units offering theatre
and theatre-related programs (both degree- and non-degree-granting)
including those offered via distance education.)
5. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Institutions of Higher Education (Current scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of
institutions of higher education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont that award bachelor's,
master's, and/or doctoral degrees and associate degree-granting
institutions in those states that include degrees in liberal arts or
general studies among their offerings, including the accreditation of
programs offered via distance education within these institutions. This
recognition extends to the Board of Trustees of the Association jointly
with the Commission for decisions involving preaccreditation, initial
accreditation, and adverse actions.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of institutions of higher
education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont that award associate's, bachelor's, master's, and/
or doctoral degrees, including the accreditation of programs offered
via distance education within these institutions. 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. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher
Learning Commission (Current scope of recognition: The accreditation
and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-
granting institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, including schools of the
Navajo Nation and the accreditation of programs offered via distance
education within these institutions. This recognition extends to the
Institutional Actions Committee jointly with the Board of Trustees of
the Commission for decisions on cases for continued accreditation or
reaffirmation, and continued candidacy. This recognition also extends
to the Review Committee of the Accreditation Review Council jointly
with the Board of Trustees of the Commission for decisions on cases for
continued accreditation or candidacy and for initial candidacy or
initial accreditation when there is a consensus decision by the Review
Committee.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting
institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, West
Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, including the tribal institutions and
the accreditation of programs offered via distance education within
these institutions. This recognition extends to the Institutional
Actions Committee jointly with the Board of Trustees of the Commission
for decisions on cases for continued accreditation or reaffirmation,
and continued candidacy. This recognition also extends to the Review
Committee of the Accreditation Review Council jointly with the Board of
Trustees of the Commission for decisions on cases for continued
accreditation or candidacy and for initial candidacy or initial
accreditation when there is a consensus decision by the Review
Committee.)
Petitions for Renewal of Recognition
1. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of institutions of
higher education throughout the United States that offer non-collegiate
continuing education programs and those that offer occupational
associate degree programs and those that offer such programs via
distance education.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of institutions of higher education that offer continuing
education coursework and vocational programs that confer certificates
or occupational associate degrees, including those programs offered via
distance education.)
2. American Academy for Liberal Education (Current and requested
scope of recognition: The accreditation and
[[Page 42067]]
preaccreditation (``Candidacy for Accreditation'') of institutions of
higher education and programs within institutions of higher education
throughout the United States that offer liberal arts degree(s) at the
baccalaureate level or a documented equivalency.)
3. Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (Current and requested
scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation throughout
the United States of direct-entry midwifery educational institutions
and programs conferring degrees and certificates, including the
accreditation of such programs offered via distance education.)
4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Current scope
of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy
status'') of postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington and the accreditation of
such programs offered via distance education within these
institutions.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (``Candidacy status'') of postsecondary degree-
granting educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, and Washington and the accreditation of such programs
offered via distance education within these institutions.)
5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (Current scope of
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for
Accreditation'') of community and junior colleges located in
California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American
Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, and the accreditation of such programs offered via
distance education at these colleges.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of two-year,
Associate degree granting institutions located in California, Hawaii,
the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic
of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and
the accreditation of such programs offered via distance education at
these colleges.)
Interim Reports (An interim report is a follow-up report on an
accrediting agency's compliance with specific criteria for
recognition.)
1. Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.
2. Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.
3. American College of Nurse-Midwives, Division of Accreditation
4. The Council on Chiropractic Education, Commission on
Accreditation.
5. National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and
Sciences.
6. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Colleges.
Interim Report With a Request for an Expansion of Scope
1. Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
(Current scope of recognition: The accreditation of educational
programs in radiography, including magnetic resonance, radiation
therapy, and medical dosimetry, at the certificate, associate, and
baccalaureate levels.)
(Requested scope of recognition: The accreditation of educational
programs in radiography, magnetic resonance, radiation therapy, and
medical dosimetry, including those offered via distance education, at
the certificate, associate, and baccalaureate levels.)
State Agency Recognized for the Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational Education
Petition for Renewal of Recognition
1. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs
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. United States Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Maryland
(request to award a Master's of Science in Flight Test Engineering
Degree.)
Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and After
the Meeting?
All petitions and those third-party comments received in advance of
the meeting will be available for public inspection at the U.S.
Department of Education, Room 7126, MS 8509, 1990 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20006, telephone (202) 219-7011 between the hours of 8
a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, until November 19, 2007. They
will be available again after the December 17-19, 2007 Advisory
Committee meeting. An appointment must 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: July 26, 2007.
James F. Manning,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. E7-14912 Filed 7-31-07; 8:45 am]
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