Notice2023-01632
Notice of Open Meeting
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 27, 2023
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to access or participate in the February 28-March 2, 2023, hybrid meeting of NACIQI, and provides information to members of the public regarding the meeting, including requesting to make written or oral comments. Committee members will meet in-person while accrediting agency representatives and public attendees will participate virtually. The notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and section 114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 18 (Friday, January 27, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5320-5322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01632]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Open Meeting
AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (NACIQI or Committee), Office of Postsecondary Education,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Announcement of an open meeting.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to
access or participate in the February 28-March 2, 2023, hybrid meeting
of NACIQI, and provides information to members of the public regarding
the meeting, including requesting to make written or oral comments.
Committee members will meet in-person while accrediting agency
representatives and public attendees will participate virtually. The
notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and section 114(d)(1)(B) of the
Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended.
ADDRESSES: Potomac Center Plaza, 10th Floor Auditorium, 550 12th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20024 [Only NACIQI members and Department of
Education staff will participate in the meeting at this address].
DATES: The hybrid NACIQI meeting will be held on February 28-March 2,
2023. On February 28 and March 1, the meeting will be held from 9:00
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. On March 2, the meeting will
be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Alan Smith, Executive Director
and Designated Federal Official (DFO), NACIQI, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 2C-159, Washington, DC 20202,
telephone: (202) 453-7757, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8ec9ebe1fce9eba0cfe2efe0a0dde3e7fae6ceebeaa0e9e1f8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4502202a3722206b0429242b6b16282c312d0520216b222a33">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Statutory Authority and Function: NACIQI is established under
Section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c). NACIQI advises the Secretary
of Education with respect to:
<bullet> The establishment and enforcement of the standards of
accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2, part H, Title IV
of the HEA, as amended;
<bullet> The recognition of specific accrediting agencies or
associations;
<bullet> The preparation and publication of the list of nationally
recognized accrediting agencies and associations;
<bullet> The eligibility and certification process for institutions
of higher education under Title IV of the HEA, together with
recommendations for improvement in such process;
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<bullet> The relationship between (1) accreditation of institutions
of higher education and the certification and eligibility of such
institutions, and (2) State licensing responsibilities with respect to
such institutions; and
<bullet> Any other advisory function relating to accreditation and
institutional eligibility that the Secretary of Education may prescribe
by regulation.
Meeting Agenda
The purpose of the meeting is to conduct a review of the following
applications for renewal of recognition and compliance reports, in
addition to discussing relevant policy issues and electing a new
chairperson and a new vice-chairperson for the Committee:
Applications for Renewal of Recognition
1. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. Scope of
recognition: Accreditation of nursing education programs and schools,
both postsecondary and higher degree, which offer a certificate,
diploma, or a recognized professional degree, including clinical
doctorate, masters, baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and practical
nursing programs in the United States and its territories, including
those offered via distance education.
2. Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. Scope of
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation of basic
certificate, basic graduate nurse-midwifery, direct entry midwifery,
and pre-certification nurse-midwifery education programs, including
those programs that offer distance education.
3. American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') in
the United States of physical therapist education programs leading to
the first professional degree at the master's or doctoral level and
physical therapist assistant education programs at the associate degree
level and for its accreditation of such programs offered via distance
education.
4. Higher Learning Commission. Scope of recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of
degree-granting institutions of higher education in the United States,
including the tribal institutions, and the accreditation of programs
offered via distance education and correspondence education within
these institutions. This recognition extends to the Institutional
Actions Council jointly with the Board of Trustees of the Commission
for decisions on cases for continued accreditation or reaffirmation,
and continued candidacy, and to the Appeals Body jointly with the Board
of Trustees of the Commission for decisions related to initial
candidacy or accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation.
5. Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Scope of
recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy
status'') of institutions of higher education in Delaware, the District
of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and any other geographic areas in which
the Commission elects to conduct accrediting activities within the
United States including distance and correspondence education programs
offered at those institutions.
6. New England Commission of Higher Education. 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. Jointly with the Commission, this recognition extends to
its Executive Committee and also to the Appeals Body for decisions
related to the appeal of denial or withdrawal of candidacy; probation;
and denial or withdrawal of accreditation.
7. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior College and
University Commission. Scope of recognition: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of institutions of
higher education in the United States that offer the baccalaureate
degree or above, including distance education programs offered at those
institutions.
Compliance Reports
1. New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department,
Office of the Professions (Nursing Education). The compliance report
relates to findings of noncompliance with the Department's criteria for
recognition of state agencies for approval of nurse education, set
forth in a Federal Register notice published on January 16, 1969. 34 FR
587, 644-645 (January 16, 1969). The Senior Department official's (SDO)
decision letter, dated October 28, 2020, is available under NACIQI
meeting date 07/29/2020 at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
2. Maryland Board of Nursing. The compliance report relates to
findings of noncompliance with the Department's criteria for
recognition of state agencies for approval of nurse education, set
forth in a Federal Register notice published on January 16, 1969. 34 FR
587, 644-645 (January 16, 1969). The Acting Secretary's Order, dated
January 19, 2021, is available under NACIQI meeting date 02/27/2020 at
<a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
Committee Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson Elections
The DFO will facilitate the election of a new chairperson and a new
vice-chairperson for the Committee.
Administration Policy Update
A representative from the Administration will share an update on
the Administration's higher education policy priorities.
Policy Discussion
The NACIQI Accreditation Dashboard Subcommittee will provide a
progress report.
Instructions for Accessing the Meeting
Registration
Committee members will meet in-person while agency representatives
and public attendees will participate virtually. You may register for
the meeting on your computer using the link below. After you register,
you will receive a confirmation email containing personalized
participation links for each day of the three-day meeting.
Registration Address
<a href="https://2023NACIQIWINTER.eventbrite.com">https://2023NACIQIWINTER.eventbrite.com</a>.
Public Comment
Submission of requests to make an oral comment regarding a specific
accrediting agency under review, or to make an oral comment or written
statement regarding other issues within the scope of NACIQI's
authority:
Opportunity to submit a written statement regarding a specific
accrediting agency under review was solicited by a previous Federal
Register notice published on December 15, 2021 (86 FR 71251; Document
Number 2021-27095). The period for submission of such statements is now
closed. Additional written statements regarding a specific accrediting
agency or state approval agency under review will not
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be accepted at this time. However, members of the public may submit
written statements regarding other issues within the scope of NACIQI's
authority for consideration by NACIQI in the manner described below.
Members of the public may make oral comments regarding a specific
accrediting agency under review and/or other agenda topics. Oral
comments may not exceed three minutes. Oral comments about an agency's
recognition when a compliance report has been required by the Senior
Department Official or the Secretary must relate to the criteria for
recognition cited in the Senior Department Official's letter that
requested the report, or in the Secretary's appeal decision, if any.
Oral comments about an agency seeking expansion of scope must be
directed to the agency's ability to serve as a recognized accrediting
agency with respect to the kinds of institutions or programs requested
to be added. Oral comments about the renewal of an agency's recognition
must relate to its compliance with the criteria for the Recognition of
Accrediting Agencies, which are available at <a href="http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html">www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html</a>.
Written statements and oral comments concerning NACIQI's work
outside of a specific accrediting agency under review must be limited
to matters within the scope of NACIQI's authority as outlined under
Section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c).
Instructions on Requesting To Make Public Comment
To request to make oral comments of three minutes or less during
the February 28-March 2, 2023, meeting, please follow either Method One
or Method Two below. To submit a written statement to NACIQI concerning
its work outside a specific accrediting agency under review, please
follow Method One.
Method One: Submit a request by email to the
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c591adacb7a195a4b7b1bc86aaa8a8a0abb1b685a0a1eba2aab3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eabe8283988eba8b989e93a98587878f849e99aa8f8ec48d859c">[email protected]</span></a> mailbox. Please do not send material directly
to NACIQI members. Written statements to NACIQI concerning its work
outside of a specific accrediting agency under review and requests to
make oral comment must be received by February 21, 2023, and include
the subject line ``Oral Comment Request: (agency name),'' ``Oral
Comment Request: (subject)'' or ``Written Statement: (subject).'' The
email must include the name(s), title, organization/affiliation,
mailing address, email address, and telephone number, of the person(s)
submitting a written statement or requesting to speak. All individuals
submitting an advance request in accordance with this notice will be
afforded an opportunity to speak.
Method Two (Only available to those seeking to make oral comments):
Submit a request by email on February 28, 2023, between 7:45 a.m.-8:45
a.m. Eastern Standard Time to the <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ecaf6f7ecfaceffeceae7ddf1f3f3fbf0eaeddefbfab0f9f1e8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="acf8c4c5dec8fccdded8d5efc3c1c1c9c2d8dfecc9c882cbc3da">[email protected]</span></a> mailbox.
The email must include the subject on which the requestor wishes to
comment, in addition to his or her name, title, organization or
affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone number. If
you intend to make your comments by dialing into the meeting rather
than using a computer, please be sure to include that information in
your email request. A total of up to fifteen minutes for each agenda
item will be allotted for oral commenters who register on February 28,
2023, between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Individuals will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. If
selected, each commenter may not exceed three minutes.
Access to Records of the Meeting: The Department will post the
official report of the meeting on the NACIQI website <a href="https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/archive-of-meetings/">https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/archive-of-meetings/</a> within 90 days after the
meeting. In addition, pursuant to the FACA, the public may request to
inspect records of the meeting at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington,
DC, by sending an email message to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8feefce3fdeaece0fdebfce2eee1eee8eafdcfeaeba1e8e0f9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2a4b5946584f4945584e59474b444b4d4f586a4f4e044d455c">[email protected]</span></a> or by
calling (202) 453-7415 to schedule an appointment. Senior Department
Official's (as defined in 34 CFR 602.3) decisions, pursuant to 34 CFR
602.36, associated with all NACIQI meetings can be found at the
following website: <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
Reasonable Accommodations: The dial-in information and weblink
access to the meeting are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
If you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the
meeting (e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or
materials in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in
this notice at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting date.
Although we will attempt to meet a request received after that date, we
may not be able to make available the requested auxiliary aid or
service because of insufficient time to arrange it.
Electronic Access to This Document: 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 via the Federal Digital System
at: <a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys">www.gpo.gov/fdsys</a>. At this site you can view this document, as well
as all other documents of the Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF,
you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the
site. You also may access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
<a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
Authority: Section 114 of the HEA of 1964, as amended (20 U.S.C.
1011c).
Annmarie Weisman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation, Office
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2023-01632 Filed 1-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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