83 FR 358 - National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 2 (January 3, 2018)

Page Range		358-361
FR Document		2017-28406

This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and location for the February 7-9, 2018 meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), and provides information to members of the public regarding the meeting, including requesting to make oral comments. The notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 2 (Wednesday, January 3, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 358-361]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28406]

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity Meeting

AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (NACIQI), Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department
of Education.

ACTION: Announcement of an open meeting.

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[[Page 359]]

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the agenda, time, and location for the
February 7-9, 2018 meeting of the National Advisory Committee on
Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), and provides information
to members of the public regarding the meeting, including requesting to
make oral comments. The notice of this meeting is required under the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Higher Education Act
(HEA) of 1965, as amended.

DATES: The NACIQI meeting will be held on February 7, 8, and 9, 2018,
each day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle NW, National
Ballroom, Washington, DC 20005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hong, Executive Director/
Designated Federal Official, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue SW, Room 6W250, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202)
453-7805, or email: Jennifer.Hong@ed.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
NACIQI's Statutory Authority and Function: NACIQI is established
under Sec. 114 of the HEA. NACIQI advises the Secretary of Education
with respect to:
The establishment and enforcement of the standards of
accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2, part G, Title IV
of the HEA, as amended.
The recognition of specific accrediting agencies or
associations.
The preparation and publication of the list of nationally
recognized accrediting agencies and associations.
The eligibility and certification process for institutions
of higher education under Title IV of the HEA and part C, subchapter I,
chapter 34, Title 42, together with recommendations for improvement in
such process.
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.
Any other advisory function relating to accreditation and
institutional eligibility that the Secretary of Education may prescribe
by regulation.
Meeting Agenda: Agenda items for the February 2018 meeting are
below.

Agencies Applying for Renewal of Recognition

1. Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, 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 in the United States.
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. 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, including distance and correspondence
education programs offered at those institutions.
5. Higher Learning Commission, Scope of Recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of
degree-granting institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South
Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, 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.
6. New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on
Institutions of Higher Education, Scope of Recognition: The
accreditation and pre-accreditation (``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.
7. New York State Board of Regents, and the Commission of
Education, Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of those degree-
granting institutions of higher education in New York that designate
the agency as their sole or primary nationally recognized accrediting
agency for purposes of establishing eligibility to participate in HEA
programs including accreditation of programs offered via distance
education within these institutions.
8. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Senior Colleges and
Universities, Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and
preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of senior colleges
and universities in California, Hawaii, the United States territories
of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States
of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, including distance education programs
offered at those institutions.

Application for Compliance Report

1. American Board of Funeral Service Education, Committee on
Accreditation, Compliance report includes the following: Findings
identified in the March 10, 2016 letter from the senior Department
official following the December 2015 NACIQI meeting available at:
https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That letter
identifies the following Criteria as areas of noncompliance: 34 CFR
602.15(a)(6), 602.20(b), and 602.24(f)(2). Scope of recognition: The
accreditation of institutions and programs within the United States
awarding diplomas, associate degrees and bachelor's degrees in funeral
service or mortuary science, including the accreditation of distance
learning courses and programs offered by these programs and
institutions.
2. Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, Compliance report
includes the following: Findings identified in the March 10, 2016
letter from the senior

[[Page 360]]

Department official following the December 2015 NACIQI meeting
available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That
letter identifies the following Criteria as areas of noncompliance: 34
CFR 602.19(b), 602.20(a), and 602.20(b). Scope of recognition: The
accreditation and pre-accreditation throughout the United States of
direct-entry midwifery educational institutions and programs conferring
degrees and certificates, including the accreditation of such programs
offered via distance education.
3. Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education,
Compliance report includes the following: Findings identified in the
March 10, 2016 letter from the senior Department official following the
December 2015 NACIQI meeting available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That letter identifies the following
Criteria as areas of noncompliance: 34 CFR 602.17(f), 602.19(b), and
602.20(b). Scope of recognition: The accreditation of Montessori
teacher education institutions and programs throughout the United
States, including those offered via distance education.

Applications for Renewal of Recognition--State Approval Agency for
Nurse Education

North Dakota Board of Nursing.

Compliance Report--State Approval Agency for Nurse Education

New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, Office
of the Professions, Nursing Education Compliance report includes the
following: Finding identified in the March 10, 2016 letter from the
senior Department official following the December 2015 NACIQI meeting
available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That
letter identifies the following Criterion as an area of noncompliance:
34 CFR 603.24(d).

Compliance Report--State Agency for the Approval of Public
Postsecondary Vocational Education

Oklahoma Board of Career and Technology Education, Compliance
report includes the following: Findings identified in the March 10,
2016 letter from the senior Department official following the December
2015 NACIQI meeting available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaff reports.cfm. That letter identifies the following Criteria
as areas of noncompliance: 34 CFR 603.24(a)(1)(ii),
603.24(a)(3)(ii)(A), 603.24(b)(1)(iii), 603.24(b)(1)(iv),
603.24(b)(1)(v), 603.24(b)(1)(vi), 603.24(b)(1)(vii), 603.24(b)(2)(i),
603.24(b)(2)(ii), 603.24(b)(2)(iii), 603.24(d)(1), 603.24(d)(2). Scope
of Recognition: The approval of public postsecondary vocational
education offered at institutions in the State of Oklahoma that are not
under the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma State Regents of Higher
Education, including the approval of public postsecondary vocational
education offered via distance education.

Panel on Student-Level Data Network

NACIQI will continue its discussion of the availability and
accessibility of quality data to inform its review of accrediting
agencies and its policy recommendations. NACIQI will hear from a panel
of experts regarding key issues to consider toward a federal
postsecondary student-level data network.

Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform

The Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform will report out on its
activities and on any draft recommendations to the full Committee.

Meeting Discussion Regarding Individual Agencies

In addition to following the HEA, the FACA, implementing
regulations, and the NACIQI charter, as well as its customary
procedural protocols, NACIQI inquiries will include the questions and
topics listed in the pilot plan it adopted at its December 2015
meeting. A document entitled ``June 2016 Pilot Plan'' and available at:
http://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/naciqi-dir/2016-spring/pilot-project-march-2016.pdf, provides further explanation and context framing
NACIQI's work. As noted in this document, NACIQI's reviews of
accrediting agencies will include consideration of data and information
available on the accreditation data dashboards, https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/2017/09/Institutional-Performance-by-Accreditor-June-2017-Corrected.pdf. Accrediting agencies that will be reviewed for renewal
of recognition will not be on the consent agenda and are advised to
come prepared to answer questions related to the following:
Decision activities of and data gathered by the agency.
[cir] NACIQI will inquire about the range of accreditation
activities of the agency since its prior review for recognition,
including discussion about the various favorable, monitoring, and
adverse actions taken. Information about the primary standards cited
for the monitoring and adverse actions that have been taken will be
sought.
[cir] NACIQI will also inquire about what data the agency routinely
gathers about the activities of the institutions it accredits and about
how that data is used in their evaluative processes.
Standards and practices with regard to student
achievement.
[cir] How does the agency address ``success with respect to student
achievement'' in the institutions it accredits?
[cir] Why was this strategy chosen? How is this appropriate in the
agency's context?
[cir] What are the student achievement challenges in the
institutions accredited by the agency?
[cir] What has changed/is likely to change in the standards about
student achievement for the institutions accredited by the agency?
[cir] In what ways have student achievement results been used for
monitoring or adverse actions?
Agency activities in improving program/institutional
quality.
[cir] How does this agency define ``at risk?''
[cir] What tools does this agency use to evaluate ``at risk''
status?
[cir] What tools does this agency have to help ``at risk''
institutions improve?
[cir] What can the agency tell us about how well these tools for
improvement have worked?

To the extent NACIQI's questions go to improvement of institutions and
programs that are not at risk of falling into noncompliance with agency
requirements, the responses will be used to inform NACIQI's general
policy recommendations to the Department rather than its
recommendations regarding recognition of any individual agency.

The discussions and issues described above are in addition to,
rather than substituting for, exploration by Committee members of any
topic relevant to recognition.
Submission of requests to make an oral comment regarding a specific
accrediting agency or state approval agency under review, or an oral or
written statement regarding other issues within the scope of NACIQI's
authority: Opportunity to submit a written comment regarding a specific
accrediting agency or state approval agency under review was provided
by a previous Federal Register notice published on July 25, 2017 (82 FR
34511). The comment period for submission of such written comments
closed on August 13, 2017. Additional written comments regarding a
specific

[[Page 361]]

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 for
consideration by the Committee in the manner described below. No
individual in attendance or making oral presentations may distribute
written materials at the meeting. Oral comments may not exceed three
minutes.
Oral comments about an agency's recognition after review of a
compliance report must relate to issues identified in the compliance
report and 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 based on a review of the agency's
petition must relate to its compliance with the Criteria for the
Recognition of Accrediting Agencies, or the Criteria and Procedures for
Recognition of State Agencies for Approval of Nurse Education, as
appropriate, which are available at: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. Written statements and oral comments, besides those
regarding a specific accrediting agency under review, must be limited
to the scope of NACIQI's authority as outlined under section 114 of the
HEA.
There are two methods the public may use to request to make a
third-party oral comment of three minutes at the February 7-9, 2018
meeting. To submit a written statement to NACIQI in accordance with the
parameters stated above, please follow Method One.
Method One: Submit a request by email to the
ThirdPartyComments@ed.gov mailbox. Please do not send material directly
to NACIQI members. Requests must be received by January 26, 2018, 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, telephone number, of the
person(s) submitting a written statement or requesting to speak, and a
brief summary (not to exceed one page) of the principal points to be
made during the oral presentation, if applicable. All individuals
submitting a request in accordance with the deadlines and instructions
contained in this notice will be afforded an opportunity to speak.
Method Two: Register at the meeting location on February 7, 2018,
from 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., to make an oral comment during NACIQI's
deliberations. The requestor must provide the subject on which he or
she wishes to comment, in addition to his or her name, title,
organization/affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone
number. A total of up to fifteen minutes for each agenda item will be
allotted for oral commenters who register on February 7, 2018 by 8:30
a.m. 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 within 90 days
after the meeting. Pursuant to the FACA, the public may also inspect
the materials at 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC, by emailing
aslrecordsmanager@ed.gov or by calling (202) 453-7110 to schedule an
appointment.
Reasonable Accommodations: The meeting site is 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: www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys . At this site you can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this 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 may also access documents of the Department published in the
Federal Register by using the article search feature at:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.

Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1011c.

Kathleen A. Smith,
Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, Delegated Authority of
Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2017-28406 Filed 1-2-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 2 / Wednesday, January 3, 2018 / Notices 359

SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the offer a certificate, diploma, or a 6. New England Association of
agenda, time, and location for the recognized professional degree Schools and Colleges, Commission on
February 7–9, 2018 meeting of the including clinical doctorate, masters, Institutions of Higher Education, Scope
National Advisory Committee on baccalaureate, associate, diploma, and of Recognition: The accreditation and
Institutional Quality and Integrity practical nursing programs in the pre-accreditation (‘‘Candidacy
(NACIQI), and provides information to United States and its territories, Status’’)of institutions of higher
members of the public regarding the including those offered via distance education in Connecticut, Maine,
meeting, including requesting to make education. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
oral comments. The notice of this 2. Accreditation Commission for Island, and Vermont that award
meeting is required under the Federal Midwifery Education, Scope of bachelor’s, master’s, and/or doctoral
Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and Recognition: The accreditation and degrees and associate degree-granting
the Higher Education Act (HEA) of preaccreditation of basic certificate, institutions in those states that include
1965, as amended. basic graduate nurse-midwifery, direct degrees in liberal arts or general studies
DATES: The NACIQI meeting will be entry midwifery, and pre-certification among their offerings, including the
held on February 7, 8, and 9, 2018, each nurse-midwifery education programs, accreditation of programs offered via
day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. including those programs that offer distance education within these
ADDRESSES: Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 distance education in the United States. institutions.
3. American Physical Therapy 7. New York State Board of Regents,
Thomas Circle NW, National Ballroom,
Association, Commission on and the Commission of Education,
Washington, DC 20005.
Accreditation in Physical Therapy Scope of Recognition: The accreditation
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of those degree-granting institutions of
Jennifer Hong, Executive Director/ Education, Scope of Recognition: The
accreditation and preaccreditation higher education in New York that
Designated Federal Official, NACIQI, designate the agency as their sole or
U.S. Department of Education, 400 (‘‘Candidate for Accreditation’’) in the
United States of physical therapist primary nationally recognized
Maryland Avenue SW, Room 6W250, accrediting agency for purposes of
Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202) education programs leading to the first
professional degree at the master’s or establishing eligibility to participate in
453–7805, or email: Jennifer.Hong@ HEA programs including accreditation
ed.gov. doctoral level and physical therapist
assistant education programs at the of programs offered via distance
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: education within these institutions.
associate degree level and for its
NACIQI’s Statutory Authority and 8. Western Association of Schools and
accreditation of such programs offered
Function: NACIQI is established under Colleges, Senior Colleges and
via distance education. Universities, Scope of Recognition: The
§ 114 of the HEA. NACIQI advises the 4. Middle States Commission on
Secretary of Education with respect to: accreditation and preaccreditation
Higher Education, Scope of Recognition:
• The establishment and enforcement (‘‘Candidate for Accreditation’’) of
The accreditation and preaccreditation senior colleges and universities in
of the standards of accrediting agencies
(‘‘Candidacy Status’’) of institutions of California, Hawaii, the United States
or associations under subpart 2, part G,
higher education in Delaware, the territories of Guam and American
Title IV of the HEA, as amended.
District of Columbia, Maryland, New
• The recognition of specific Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the
Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Federated States of Micronesia, the
accrediting agencies or associations.
• The preparation and publication of Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
the list of nationally recognized including distance and correspondence Islands and the Republic of the Marshall
accrediting agencies and associations. education programs offered at those Islands, including distance education
• The eligibility and certification institutions. programs offered at those institutions.
process for institutions of higher 5. Higher Learning Commission,
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation Application for Compliance Report
education under Title IV of the HEA and
part C, subchapter I, chapter 34, Title and preaccreditation (‘‘Candidate for 1. American Board of Funeral Service
42, together with recommendations for Accreditation’’) of degree-granting Education, Committee on Accreditation,
improvement in such process. institutions of higher education in Compliance report includes the
• The relationship between (1) Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, following: Findings identified in the
accreditation of institutions of higher Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, March 10, 2016 letter from the senior
education and the certification and Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Department official following the
eligibility of such institutions, and (2) Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, December 2015 NACIQI meeting
State licensing responsibilities with South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/
respect to such institutions. and Wyoming, including the tribal aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That letter
• Any other advisory function institutions and the accreditation of identifies the following Criteria as areas
relating to accreditation and programs offered via distance education of noncompliance: 34 CFR 602.15(a)(6),
institutional eligibility that the and correspondence education within 602.20(b), and 602.24(f)(2). Scope of
Secretary of Education may prescribe by these institutions. This recognition recognition: The accreditation of
regulation. extends to the Institutional Actions institutions and programs within the
Meeting Agenda: Agenda items for the Council jointly with the Board of United States awarding diplomas,
February 2018 meeting are below. Trustees of the Commission for associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees
decisions on cases for continued
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

in funeral service or mortuary science,
Agencies Applying for Renewal of accreditation or reaffirmation, and including the accreditation of distance
Recognition continued candidacy, and to the learning courses and programs offered
1. Accreditation Commission for Appeals Body jointly with the Board of by these programs and institutions.
Education in Nursing, Scope of Trustees of the Commission for 2. Midwifery Education Accreditation
Recognition: Accreditation of nursing decisions related to initial candidacy or Council, Compliance report includes the
education programs and schools, both accreditation or reaffirmation of following: Findings identified in the
postsecondary and higher degree, which accreditation. March 10, 2016 letter from the senior

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360 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 2 / Wednesday, January 3, 2018 / Notices

Department official following the 603.24(b)(1)(vi), 603.24(b)(1)(vii), monitoring and adverse actions that
December 2015 NACIQI meeting 603.24(b)(2)(i), 603.24(b)(2)(ii), have been taken will be sought.
available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/ 603.24(b)(2)(iii), 603.24(d)(1), Æ NACIQI will also inquire about
aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That letter 603.24(d)(2). Scope of Recognition: The what data the agency routinely gathers
identifies the following Criteria as areas approval of public postsecondary about the activities of the institutions it
of noncompliance: 34 CFR 602.19(b), vocational education offered at accredits and about how that data is
602.20(a), and 602.20(b). Scope of institutions in the State of Oklahoma used in their evaluative processes.
recognition: The accreditation and pre- that are not under the jurisdiction of the • Standards and practices with regard
accreditation throughout the United Oklahoma State Regents of Higher to student achievement.
States of direct-entry midwifery Education, including the approval of Æ How does the agency address
educational institutions and programs public postsecondary vocational ‘‘success with respect to student
conferring degrees and certificates, education offered via distance achievement’’ in the institutions it
including the accreditation of such education. accredits?
programs offered via distance education. Æ Why was this strategy chosen? How
3. Montessori Accreditation Council Panel on Student-Level Data Network is this appropriate in the agency’s
for Teacher Education, Compliance NACIQI will continue its discussion context?
report includes the following: Findings of the availability and accessibility of Æ What are the student achievement
identified in the March 10, 2016 letter quality data to inform its review of challenges in the institutions accredited
from the senior Department official accrediting agencies and its policy by the agency?
following the December 2015 NACIQI recommendations. NACIQI will hear Æ What has changed/is likely to
meeting available at: https:// from a panel of experts regarding key change in the standards about student
opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/final issues to consider toward a federal achievement for the institutions
staffreports.cfm. That letter identifies postsecondary student-level data accredited by the agency?
the following Criteria as areas of network. Æ In what ways have student
noncompliance: 34 CFR 602.17(f), achievement results been used for
602.19(b), and 602.20(b). Scope of Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform monitoring or adverse actions?
recognition: The accreditation of The Subcommittee on Regulatory • Agency activities in improving
Montessori teacher education Reform will report out on its activities program/institutional quality.
institutions and programs throughout and on any draft recommendations to Æ How does this agency define ‘‘at
the United States, including those the full Committee. risk?’’
offered via distance education. Æ What tools does this agency use to
Meeting Discussion Regarding evaluate ‘‘at risk’’ status?
Applications for Renewal of Individual Agencies
Recognition—State Approval Agency Æ What tools does this agency have to
for Nurse Education In addition to following the HEA, the help ‘‘at risk’’ institutions improve?
FACA, implementing regulations, and Æ What can the agency tell us about
North Dakota Board of Nursing. the NACIQI charter, as well as its how well these tools for improvement
Compliance Report—State Approval customary procedural protocols, have worked?
Agency for Nurse Education NACIQI inquiries will include the To the extent NACIQI’s questions go to
New York State Board of Regents, questions and topics listed in the pilot improvement of institutions and
State Education Department, Office of plan it adopted at its December 2015 programs that are not at risk of falling
the Professions, Nursing Education meeting. A document entitled ‘‘June into noncompliance with agency
Compliance report includes the 2016 Pilot Plan’’ and available at: http:// requirements, the responses will be
following: Finding identified in the sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/naciqi-dir/2016- used to inform NACIQI’s general policy
March 10, 2016 letter from the senior spring/pilot-project-march-2016.pdf, recommendations to the Department
Department official following the provides further explanation and rather than its recommendations
December 2015 NACIQI meeting context framing NACIQI’s work. As regarding recognition of any individual
available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/ noted in this document, NACIQI’s agency.
aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm. That letter reviews of accrediting agencies will The discussions and issues described
identifies the following Criterion as an include consideration of data and above are in addition to, rather than
area of noncompliance: 34 CFR information available on the substituting for, exploration by
603.24(d). accreditation data dashboards, Committee members of any topic
https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/files/2017/ relevant to recognition.
Compliance Report—State Agency for 09/Institutional-Performance-by- Submission of requests to make an
the Approval of Public Postsecondary Accreditor-June-2017-Corrected.pdf. oral comment regarding a specific
Vocational Education Accrediting agencies that will be accrediting agency or state approval
Oklahoma Board of Career and reviewed for renewal of recognition will agency under review, or an oral or
Technology Education, Compliance not be on the consent agenda and are written statement regarding other issues
report includes the following: Findings advised to come prepared to answer within the scope of NACIQI’s authority:
identified in the March 10, 2016 letter questions related to the following: Opportunity to submit a written
from the senior Department official • Decision activities of and data comment regarding a specific
following the December 2015 NACIQI gathered by the agency. accrediting agency or state approval
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

meeting available at: https:// Æ NACIQI will inquire about the agency under review was provided by a
opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaff range of accreditation activities of the previous Federal Register notice
reports.cfm. That letter identifies the agency since its prior review for published on July 25, 2017 (82 FR
following Criteria as areas of recognition, including discussion about 34511). The comment period for
noncompliance: 34 CFR 603.24(a)(1)(ii), the various favorable, monitoring, and submission of such written comments
603.24(a)(3)(ii)(A), 603.24(b)(1)(iii), adverse actions taken. Information about closed on August 13, 2017. Additional
603.24(b)(1)(iv), 603.24(b)(1)(v), the primary standards cited for the written comments regarding a specific

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Document Created: 2018-10-26 09:28:56
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 09:28:56

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Announcement of an open meeting.
Dates		The NACIQI meeting will be held on February 7, 8, and 9, 2018, each day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact		Jennifer Hong, Executive Director/ Designated Federal Official, NACIQI, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 6W250, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202) 453-7805, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 358