Notice2025-17973
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
September 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Education Department
Abstract
This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to access or participate in the October 21, 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. Agency representatives have the option to meet in-person or virtually, and public attendees will participate virtually. The notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act 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 90 Issue 178 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44810-44812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17973]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
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 October 21, 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. Agency representatives have the option to
meet in-person or virtually, and public attendees will participate
virtually. The notice of this meeting is required under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act and Section 114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher Education
Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended.
DATES: The NACIQI meeting will be held on October 21, 2025, from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Barnard Auditorium, Washington, DC 20202 [Only NACIQI members,
accrediting agency representatives, and Department of Education staff
will participate in the meeting at this address].
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#e0a7858f928785cea18c818eceb38d899488a08584ce878f96"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7136141e0316145f301d101f5f221c1805193114155f161e07">[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;
<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 compliance
reports submitted by five accrediting agencies; to elect a committee
chairperson; and to share the Administration's higher education policy
priorities.
Compliance Reports
1. Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education. Scope of
Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation of basic
certificate, basic graduate nurse-midwifery, direct entry midwifery,
and pre-certification nurse-midwifery education programs, including
those programs that offer 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 May 31, 2023,
letter from the Senior Department Official (SDO) following the February
28, 2023, NACIQI meeting. The SDO letter is available under NACIQI
meeting date 2/28/2023, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
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2. American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on
Accreditation in Physical Therapy. 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. Geographic area of accrediting activities: The United
States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with
certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602</a> identified in the May 31, 2023,
letter from the SDO following the February 28, 2023, NACIQI meeting.
The SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 2/28/2023, 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 Higher Education. Scope of
Recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidacy
status'') of institutions of higher education including distance,
correspondence education programs and direct assessment programs
offered at those institutions. Recognition extends to the Executive
Committee to act on behalf of the Commission as necessary on cases of
initial, reaffirmed, and continued candidacy or initial, reaffirmed and
continued accreditation. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The
United States. The compliance report includes findings of noncompliance
with certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602</a> identified in the May
31, 2023, letter from the SDO following the February 28, 2023, NACIQI
meeting. The SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 2/28/
2023, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
4. New England Commission of Higher Education. Scope of
Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation (``Candidacy
status'') of institutions of higher education including the
accreditation of programs offered via distance education and direct
assessment within those 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.
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States. The
compliance report includes findings of noncompliance with certain
criteria in 34 CFR part 602 at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602</a> identified in the May 31, 2023, letter
from the SDO following the February 28, 2023, NACIQI meeting. The SDO
letter is available under NACIQI meeting date 2/28/2023, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
5. Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Scope of
Recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for
Accreditation'') of institutions of higher education that offer the
baccalaureate degree or above, including distance education programs
offered at those institutions. Geographic area of accrediting
activities: The United States. The compliance report includes findings
of noncompliance with certain criteria in 34 CFR part 602 at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602</a> identified
in the May 31, 2023, letter from the SDO following the February 28,
2023, NACIQI meeting. The SDO letter is available under NACIQI meeting
date 2/28/2023, at <a href="https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents">https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents</a>.
Election of a Committee Chairperson
In addition to the review of compliance reports, the DFO will
facilitate the election of a chairperson to fill the role for the
remainder of the former chairperson's term.
Administration Policy Update
The Under Secretary will share updates on the Administration's
higher education policy priorities.
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.
Instructions for Accessing the Meeting
Registration: 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 the
meeting no later than 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on October 21,
2025.
Registration Link: <a href="https://web.cvent.com/event/a62e7d6d-f613-4d90-81d0-f361a938c5bf/summary">https://web.cvent.com/event/a62e7d6d-f613-4d90-81d0-f361a938c5bf/summary</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 April 24, 2024 (89 FR 31171; Document
Number 2024-08770). 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.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602</a>?toc=1.
Instructions on Requesting to Make Public Comment: To request to
make oral comments of three minutes or less or to submit a written
statement to NACIQI concerning its work outside of a specific
accrediting agency under review during the October 21, 2025, meeting,
please follow the instructions below.
Submit an email to the <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85d1edecf7e1d5e4f7f1fcc6eae8e8e0ebf1f6c5e0e1abe2eaf3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8fcc0c1daccf8c9dadcd1ebc7c5c5cdc6dcdbe8cdcc86cfc7de">[email protected]</span></a> mailbox. Please do
not send material directly to NACIQI members. To be considered for
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the current cycle review, written statements and requests to make oral
comment must be received by October 14, 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.
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 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#7c1d0f100e191f130e180f111d121d1b190e3c1918521b130a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="29485a455b4c4a465b4d5a444847484e4c5b694c4d074e465f">[email protected]</span></a> or by calling
(202) 453-7415 to schedule an appointment. The SDO's (as defined in 34
CFR 602.3 at <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602/subpart-A/section-602.3">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602/subpart-A/section-602.3</a>) decisions, pursuant to 34 CFR
602.36 <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602/subpart-C/subject-group-ECFR21f0283b12d15ca/section-602.36">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602/subpart-C/subject-group-ECFR21f0283b12d15ca/section-602.36</a>,
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).
Signing Authority
This document of the U.S. Department of Education was signed on
September 12, 2025, by Christopher J. McCaghren, ED.D., Acting
Assistant Secretary Office of Postsecondary Education. That document
with the original signature and date is maintained by the U.S.
Department of Education. For administrative purposes only, and in
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned has been authorized to sign the document in electronic
format for publication, as an official document of the U.S. Department
of Education. This administrative process in no way alters the legal
effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.
Tracey St. Pierre,
Director, Office of Executive Secretariat, Office of the Secretary,
U.S. Department of Education.
[FR Doc. 2025-17973 Filed 9-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
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