[Federal Register: April 2, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 63)]
[Notices]               
[Page 17540-17541]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ap01-41]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, State Agencies for the 
Approval of Public Postsecondary Vocational Education, and State 
Agencies for the Approval of Nurse Education

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and 
Integrity, Department of Education (The Advisory Committee).

What Is the Purpose of This Notice?

    On January 18, 2001, we published a notice in the Federal Register 
to invite written comments on accrediting agencies that had submitted 
interim reports for review by Advisory Committee at their May 23-25, 
2001 meeting. The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges 
of Technology was inadvertently omitted from the list of accrediting 
agencies in our January 18, 2001 notice. This notice invites written 
comments on the interim report submitted by the Accrediting Commission 
of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology that will be reviewed at 
the Advisory Committee meeting to be held on May 23-25, 2001.

Where Should I Submit My Comments?

    Please submit your written comments by May 4, 2001 to Carol 
Griffiths, Chief, Accrediting Agency Evaluation, Accreditation and 
State Liaison. You may contact her at the U.S. Department of Education, 
1990 K Street, NW, 7th Floor, Room 7105, Washington, DC 20006-8509, 
telephone: (202) 219-7011. 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. 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, another 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 an opportunity to submit written comment.

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 Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and 
Colleges of Technology's compliance with the Secretary's Criteria for 
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies. The Criteria are regulations found 
in 34 CFR part 602 (for accrediting agencies). We will also respond to 
your comments, as appropriate, in the staff analysis we present to the 
Advisory Committee at its May 2001 meeting. Therefore, in order for us 
to give full consideration to your comments, it is important that we 
receive them by May 4, 2001. In all instances, your comments regarding 
the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology 
must relate to the Criteria for the Recognition cited in the 
Secretary's letter that requested the interim report. You may obtain a 
copy of the Secretary's letter by calling (202) 219-7011.

What Happens to Comments Received After the Deadline?

    We will treat any negative comments received after the deadline as 
complaints. If such comments, upon investigation, reveal that the 
accrediting

[[Page 17541]]

agency is not acting in accordance with the Criteria for Recognition, 
we will take action either before or after the meeting, as appropriate. 
We will also notify the commentors of the disposition of those 
comments.

Where Can I Inspect Petitions and Third-Party Comments Before and 
After the Meeting?

    Subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 522, petitions, interim 
reports, and those third-party comments received in advance of the 
meeting, will, upon written request, be made available, on appointment, 
for inspection and copying at the U.S. Department of Education, 1990 K 
Street, NW, 7th Floor, Room 7105, Washington, DC 20006-8509, telephone 
(202) 219-7011 until May 4, 2001. They will be available again after 
the May 23-25 Advisory Committee meeting.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2.

Maureen A. McLaughlin,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning, and Innovation, Office 
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 01-7965 Filed 3-30-01; 8:45 am]
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