81 FR 70104 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for Institutions and Programs

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 196 (October 11, 2016)

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a new information collection.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70104-70105]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24448]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

[Docket No.: ED-2016-ICCD-0035]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for Institutions and 
Programs

AGENCY: Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), Department of 
Education (ED).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is 
proposing a new information collection.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 
November 10, 2016.

ADDRESSES: To access and review all the documents related to the 
information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2016-ICCD-
0035. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted 
electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal 
mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Please note that comments 
submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period 
will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments 
submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the 
Director of the Information Collection Clearance Division, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room 2E-347, 
Washington, DC 20202-4537.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions related to 
collection activities, please contact Herman Bounds, 202-453-6128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Education (ED), in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with 
an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing 
collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact 
of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's 
reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's 
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in 
the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed 
information collection request (ICR) that is described below. The 
Department of Education is especially interested in public comment 
addressing the following issues: (1) Is this collection necessary to 
the proper functions of the Department; (2) will this information be 
processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden 
accurate; (4) how might the Department enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the 
Department minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, 
including through the use of information technology. Please note that 
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered 
public records.
    Title of Collection: Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for 
Institutions and Programs.
    OMB Control Number: 1840-NEW.
    Type of Review: A new information collection.
    Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,050.
    Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,689.
    Abstract: Sections 496(a)(7), (a)(8), (c)(7), and (c)(8) of the 
Higher Education Act (HEA), and federal regulations at 34 CFR 602.26 
and 602.27(a)(6) and (a)(7) contain certain requirements for reporting 
by recognized accrediting agencies to the Department on the 
institutions and programs the agencies accredit. The proposed 
information collection outlines categories of terminology used by 
accrediting agencies to describe actions and statuses, and provides 
guidance to federally recognized accrediting agencies on the 
information to be reported to the Department under 34 CFR 602.26 and 
602.27(a)(6) and (a)(7). Some of the reporting discussed is required; 
some is requested. This collection specifies which is which. It also 
discusses the channel for reporting this information, whether requested 
or required, and for reporting information the accrediting agency may 
wish to submit voluntarily to ensure that the Department's Database of 
Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs is accurate and 
comprehensive.


[[Page 70105]]


    Dated: October 5, 2016.
Kate Mullan,
Acting Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Office of 
the Chief Privacy Officer, Office of Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-24448 Filed 10-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4000-01-P