National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity; Notice of Meeting

Issuing agencies

Abstract

This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and instructions to access or participate in the September 23 & 24, 2026 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 5 U.S.C. Chapter 10 (commonly known as 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 91 Issue 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54315-54317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17135]


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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 September 23 & 24, 2026 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 5 
U.S.C. Chapter 10 (commonly known as 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 September 23 & 24, 2026, 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; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#84c3e1ebf6e3e1aac5e8e5eaaad7e9edf0ecc4e1e0aae3ebf2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e6a18389948183c8a78a8788c8b58b8f928ea68382c8818990">[email&#160;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 applications 
for renewal of recognition submitted by six accrediting agencies, as 
well as a compliance report submitted by one accrediting agency.

Applications for Renewal of Recognition

    1. American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal 
Education and Admissions to the Bar. Scope of Recognition: The 
accreditation of programs in legal education that lead to the first 
professional degree in law, including those offered via distance 
education, as well as freestanding law schools offering such programs. 
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States.
    2. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Scope of 
Recognition: The accreditation of private, postsecondary institutions 
offering predominantly allied health education programs leading to a 
certificate, diploma, and degree at the level of the Associate of 
Applied Science, Associate of Occupational Science, Academic Associate, 
Baccalaureate, and Master's, including those offered via distance 
education and the programmatic accreditation of medical assisting, 
medical laboratory technology, and surgical technology programs, 
through the Associate degree, including those offered via distance 
education. The scope extends to the Substantive Change Committee, 
jointly with the Commission for decisions on substantive change. 
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States.
    3. Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. 
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation 
(``Candidacy'') of professional non-degree and graduate degree 
programs, including professional doctoral programs, in the field of 
acupuncture and/or herbal medicine, as well as freestanding 
institutions and colleges of acupuncture and/or herbal medicine that 
offer such programs, including programs offered via distance education. 
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The United States.
    4. American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation. 
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of doctoral programs in 
clinical, counseling, school, and combined professional-scientific 
psychology; doctoral internship programs in health service psychology; 
and postdoctoral residency programs in health service psychology; as 
well as the pre-accreditation of doctoral internship programs in health 
service psychology and postdoctoral residency programs in health 
service psychology. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: The 
United States. Requested Scope of Recognition: The pre-accreditation 
and accreditation of master's programs and doctoral programs in 
clinical, counseling, school psychology (and combinations of two or 
more of these practice areas); doctoral internship programs in health 
service psychology; and postdoctoral residency programs in health 
service psychology, including programs that use distance education and 
traditional educational methods. Geographic Area of Accrediting 
Activities: The United States.
    5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on 
Colleges (SACSCOC). Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and pre-
accreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of degree-granting 
institutions of higher education 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 College Delegate Assembly on cases of initial candidacy or 
initial accreditation and for continued accreditation or candidacy. 
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United 
States.
    6. Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, 
Accreditation Commission. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and 
pre-accreditation (``Candidate'' status) of Christian postsecondary 
institutions in the United States that offer certificates, diplomas, 
and associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees, including

[[Page 54316]]

institutions that offer distance education. Geographic Area of 
Accrediting Activities: The United States.

Compliance Report

    1. Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Scope 
of Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation (``Candidate 
for Accreditation'') 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: Throughout the 
United States.
    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 
Department 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 Time on September 23, 2026.

Registration Link

    <a href="https://cvent.me/nNeEgY">https://cvent.me/nNeEgY</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 previous Federal 
Register notices published on April 04, 2025 (90 FR 14815; Document 
Number 2025-05853) and May 12, 2026 (91 FR 25871; Document Number 2026-
09432). 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 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="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602?toc=1">https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-VI/part-602?toc=1</a>.

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 September 23 & 24, 
2026 meeting, please follow the instructions below.
    Submit an email to the <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7f2b17160d1b2f1e0d0b063c1012121a110b0c3f1a1b51181009"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="95c1fdfce7f1c5f4e7e1ecd6faf8f8f0fbe1e6d5f0f1bbf2fae3">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> mailbox. Please do 
not send material directly to NACIQI members. To be considered for the 
current cycle review, written statements and requests to make oral 
comment must be received by September 16, 2026, and include in 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 20202, by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#68091b041a0d0b071a0c1b050906090f0d1a280d0c460f071e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e687958a948385899482958b878887818394a68382c8818990">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, or by 
calling (202) 453-7415 to schedule an appointment. The senior 
Department official'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.

[[Page 54317]]

    Authority: Section 114 of the HEA of 1964, as amended (20 U.S.C. 
1011c).

David Barker,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2026-17135 Filed 8-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P


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