[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 3]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR602.32]

[Page 212]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
                         DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
PART 602--THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart C--The Recognition Process
 
Sec. 602.32  What is the role of the Advisory Committee and the senior Department official in the review of an agency's application?

    (a) The Advisory Committee considers an agency's application for 
recognition at a public meeting and invites Department staff, the 
agency, and other interested parties to make oral presentations at the 
meeting. A transcript is made of each Advisory Committee meeting.
    (b) When it concludes its review, the Advisory Committee recommends 
that the Secretary either approve or deny recognition or that the 
Secretary defer a decision on the agency's application for recognition.
    (1)(i) The Advisory Committee recommends approval of recognition if 
the agency complies with the criteria for recognition listed in subpart 
B of this part and if the agency is effective in its performance with 
respect to those criteria.
    (ii) If the Advisory Committee recommends approval, the Advisory 
Committee also recommends a recognition period and a scope of 
recognition.
    (iii) If the recommended scope or period of recognition is less than 
that requested by the agency, the Advisory Committee explains its 
reasons for recommending the lesser scope or recognition period.
    (2)(i) If the agency fails to comply with the criteria for 
recognition in subpart B of this part, or if the agency is not effective 
in its performance with respect to those criteria, the Advisory 
Committee recommends denial of recognition, unless the Advisory 
Committee concludes that a deferral under paragraph (b)(3) of this 
section is warranted.
    (ii) If the Advisory Committee recommends denial, the Advisory 
Committee specifies the reasons for its recommendation, including all 
criteria the agency fails to meet and all areas in which the agency 
fails to perform effectively.
    (3)(i) The Advisory Committee may recommend deferral of a decision 
on recognition if it concludes that the agency's deficiencies do not 
warrant immediate loss of recognition and if it concludes that the 
agency will demonstrate or achieve compliance with the criteria for 
recognition and effective performance with respect to those criteria 
before the expiration of the deferral period.
    (ii) In its deferral recommendation, the Advisory Committee states 
the bases for its conclusions, specifies any criteria for recognition 
the agency fails to meet, and identifies any areas in which the agency 
fails to perform effectively with respect to the criteria.
    (iii) The Advisory Committee also recommends a deferral period, 
which may not exceed 12 months, either as a single deferral period or in 
combination with any expiring deferral period in which similar 
deficiencies in compliance or performance were cited by the Secretary.
    (c) At the conclusion of its meeting, the Advisory Committee 
forwards its recommendations to the Secretary through the senior 
Department official.
    (d) For any Advisory Committee recommendation not appealed under 
Sec. 602.33, the senior Department official includes with the Advisory 
Committee materials forwarded to the Secretary a memorandum containing 
the senior Department official's recommendations regarding the actions 
proposed by the Advisory Committee.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b and 1145)

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