Notice2025-01459
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; Notice of 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 22, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to access or participate in the February 19-20, 2025 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 22, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7677-7679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01459]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity; Notice of Meeting
AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (NACIQI or Committee), Office of Postsecondary Education,
U.S. 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 19-20, 2025 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.
DATES: The NACIQI meeting will be held on February 19-20, 2025 from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern standard time.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Barnard Auditorium, Washington, DC 20202 [Only NACIQI members and
Department of Education staff will participate in the meeting at this
address]. There is a possibility that the meeting could shift to a
virtual meeting for all participants. If that happens, the published
registration link and supporting information described in this notice
for public attendees will remain the same.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Alan Smith, Executive Director/
Designated Federal Official (DFO), NACIQI, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202, telephone:
(202) 453-7757, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9eeccc6dbcecc87e8c5c8c787fac4c0ddc1e9cccd87cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2463414b5643410a6548454a0a77494d504c6441400a434b52">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Statutory Authority and Function: NACIQI is established under
Section 114 of the Higher Education Act (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;
<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.
The notice of this meeting is required under 5 U.S.C. chapter 10
(commonly known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act) and section
114(d)(1)(B) of the HEA of 1965, as amended.
Meeting Agenda
The purpose of the meeting is to conduct a review of compliance
reports submitted by the following agencies.
Compliance Reports
1. American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council
for Occupational Therapy Education. Scope of Recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation of occupational therapy educational
programs offering the professional master's degree and occupational
therapy doctorate (OTD) degree; the accreditation of occupational
therapy assistant programs offering a baccalaureate degree and
associate degree; and the accreditation of these programs offered via
distance education. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The
United States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance
with certain criteria in 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 602
identified in the October 19, 2022, letter from the senior Department
official (SDO) following the July 19, 2022, NACIQI meeting. The SDO
letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 7/19/2022, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
2. Accrediting Council for Pharmacy Education. Scope of
Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation of professional
degree programs in pharmacy leading to the degree of Doctor of
Pharmacy, including those programs offered via distance education.
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States. The
compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with certain
criteria in 34 CFR part 602 identified in the November 7, 2022, letter
from the SDO following the July 19, 2022, NACIQI meeting. The SDO
letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 7/19/2022, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
3. Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools. Scope of
Recognition: The accreditation of institutions with postsecondary, non-
degree granting career and technology programs, to include the
accreditation of postsecondary, non-degree granting institutions that
offer all or part of their educational programs via distance education
modalities. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United
[[Page 7678]]
States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with
certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 identified in the October 19, 2022,
letter from the SDO following the July 19, 2022, NACIQI meeting. The
SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 7/19/2022, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
4. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on
Colleges. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation
(``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting institutions of
higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and
Virginia, including the accreditation of educational programs offered
via distance and correspondence education, and direct assessment within
these institutions. The accreditation status of these institutions and
their recognition extends to the SACSCOC Board of Trustees, Executive
Council, and the Appeals Committee of the Collegiate College Delegate
Assembly on cases of initial candidacy or initial accreditation and for
continued accreditation or candidacy. The compliance report includes
findings of noncompliance with certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602
identified in the November 7, 2022, letter from the SDO following the
July 19, 2022, NACIQI meeting. The SDO letter is available under NACIQI
meeting date 7/19/2022, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
To ensure sufficient time for all agency reviews, including NACIQI
questions and discussion, the Department requests that the agencies
limit their opening statements to 10 minutes (total for one or more
statements), and that the agencies avoid extended discussions about
agency representatives and their backgrounds. Following the brief
opening statement, the agency's presentation should focus on the
regulatory criteria, and in particular, responses to areas where the
staff has recommended a finding of noncompliance or substantial
compliance, or where other concerns have been raised that the agency
would like to address. However, the agency should expect that questions
from NACIQI members may focus on other areas.
Policy Discussion
In addition to its review of accrediting agencies and State
approval agencies for Secretarial recognition, there will be time for
Committee discussions regarding any of the categories within NACIQI's
statutory authority in its capacity as an advisory committee.
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 two-day
meeting no later than 8 a.m. eastern standard time on February 19,
2025.
Registration Link
https://events.zoomgov.com/ev/
AkUnUrmMegceMmqd0BBblHaDGCqw5xwkYhy7XdPs2bDUwoDZXDJx~AgNwP68fGGyDttDmaZQ
Kfk65rIXCitGkp4r-TJkFVvAEgODt55SEmBafYw
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 November 6, 2023 (88 FR 76194; Document
Number 2023-24434). 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 be accepted at
this time. However, members of the public may submit written statements
regarding other issues within the scope of NACIQI's authority, as
outlined under section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c).
Members of the public may make oral comments regarding a specific
accrediting agency under review and/or other issues within the scope of
NACIQI's authority. Oral comments may not exceed three minutes. Oral
comments about an agency's recognition when a compliance report has
been required by the SDO or the Secretary must relate to the criteria
for recognition cited in the SDO'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="https://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html">https://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html</a>.
Instructions on Requesting To Make Public Comment
To request to make oral comments of three minutes or less during
the February 19-20, 2025 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 an email to the <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#792d11100b1d29180b0d003a1614141c170d0a391c1d571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aefac6c7dccafecfdcdad7edc1c3c3cbc0daddeecbca80c9c1d8">[email protected]</span></a>
mailbox. Please do not send material directly to NACIQI members. In
order to be considered for the current cycle review, written statements
and requests to make oral comment must be received by February 12, 2025
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 19, 2025, between 7:45 a.m.-8:45
a.m. eastern standard time to the <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#db8fb3b2a9bf8bbaa9afa298b4b6b6beb5afa89bbebff5bcb4ad"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97c3fffee5f3c7f6e5e3eed4f8fafaf2f9e3e4d7f2f3b9f0f8e1">[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/
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 19,
2025 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 5
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U.S.C. 1009, the public may request to inspect records of the meeting
at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC, by emailing
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a9c8dac5dbcccac6dbcddac4c8c7c8ceccdbe9cccd87cec6df"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0e6f7d627c6b6d617c6a7d636f606f696b7c4e6b6a20696178">[email protected]</span></a> or by calling (202) 453-7415 to schedule an
appointment. The SDO'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).
Nasser Paydar,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2025-01459 Filed 1-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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