[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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