83 FR 44869 - Office of Postsecondary Education; Call for Written Third-Party Comments

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 171 (September 4, 2018)

Page Range		44869-44870
FR Document		2018-19003
This notice provides information to members of the public on submitting written comments for accrediting agencies currently undergoing review for purposes of recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44869-44870]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19003]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Postsecondary Education; Call for Written Third-Party 
Comments

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Education, Accreditation Group, Office of 
Postsecondary Education.

ACTION: Call for written third-party comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides information to members of the public on 
submitting written comments for accrediting agencies currently 
undergoing review for purposes of recognition by the U.S. Secretary of 
Education.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Herman Bounds, Director, Accreditation 
Group, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 
400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 270-01, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: 
(202) 453-7615, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This solicitation of third-party comments 
concerning the performance of accrediting agencies under review by the 
Secretary of Education is required by Sec.  496(n)(1)(A) of the Higher 
Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended. These accrediting agencies 
will be on the agenda for the Winter 2019 National Advisory Committee 
on Institutional Quality and Integrity meeting. The meeting date has 
not been determined, but will be announced in a separate Federal 
Register notice.
    Agencies Under Review and Evaluation: Below is a list of agencies 
currently undergoing review and evaluation by the Accreditation Group, 
including their current and requested scopes of recognition:

Applications for Renewal of Recognition

    1. Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training. Scope 
of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the United States of 
institutions of higher education that offer continuing education and 
vocational programs that confer certificates or occupational associate 
degrees, including those programs offered via distance education.
    2. American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Education. 
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation 
(``Provisional Accreditation'') in the United States of programs 
leading to professional degrees (D.V.M. or D.M.D.) in veterinary 
medicine.
    3. Council on Education for Public Health. Scope of Recognition: 
The accreditation within the United States of schools of public health 
and public health programs outside schools of public health, at the 
baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including those offered via 
distance education.
    4. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Scope of Recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of 
community and other colleges with a primarily pre-baccalaureate mission 
located 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, which offer certificates, associate 
degrees, and the first baccalaureate degree by means of a substantive 
change review offered by institutions that are already accredited by 
the agency, and such programs offered via distance education and 
correspondence education at these colleges. This recognition also 
extends to the Committee on Substantive Change of the Commission, for 
decisions on substantive changes, and the Appeals Panel.

Compliance Report

    1. The Council on Chiropractic Education compliance report includes 
the following: finding identified in the May 25, 2017 letter from the 
senior Department official following the February 22, 2017 NACIQI 
meeting available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm, with respect to recognition requirements found 
at 34 CFR 602.20(a). Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of

[[Page 44870]]

programs leading to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree and single-
purpose institutions offering the Doctor of Chiropractic program.
    2. Commission on English Language Program Accreditation Compliance 
report includes the following: Finding identified in the May 25, 2017 
letter from the senior Department official following the February 22, 
2017 NACIQI meeting available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm, with respect to recognition requirements found 
at 34 CFR 602.20(b). Scope of Recognition: The accreditation of 
postsecondary, non-degree-granting English language programs and 
institutions in the United States.

Application for an Expansion of Scope

    1. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting 
Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Scope of Recognition: The 
accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for Accreditation'') of 
community and other colleges with a primarily pre-baccalaureate mission 
located 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, which offer certificates, associate 
degrees, and the first baccalaureate degree by means of a substantive 
change review offered by institutions that are already accredited by 
the agency, and such programs offered via distance education and 
correspondence education at these colleges. This recognition also 
extends to the Committee on Substantive Change of the Commission, for 
decisions on substantive changes, and the Appeals Panel.

Requested Scope of Recognition

    The accreditation and preaccreditation (``Candidate for 
Accreditation'') of community and other colleges 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 Marianas, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which have 
as a primary mission the granting of associate degrees, but which may 
also award certificates and other credentials, including bachelor's 
degrees, where the provision of such credentials is within the 
institution's mission and, if applicable, is authorized by their 
governmental authorities, and the accreditation of such programs 
offered via distance education and correspondence education at these 
colleges. This recognition also extends to the Committee on Substantive 
Change of the Commission, for decisions on substantive changes.

Submission of Written Comments Regarding a Specific Accrediting Agency 
or State Approval Agency Under Review

    Written comments about the recognition of a specific accrediting or 
State agency must be received by September 30, 2018, in the 
[email protected] mailbox and include the subject line 
``Written Comments: (Agency name).'' The email must include the 
name(s), title, organization/affiliation, mailing address, email 
address, and telephone number of the person(s) making the comment. 
Comments should be submitted as a Microsoft Word document or in a 
medium compatible with Microsoft Word (not a PDF file) that is attached 
to an electronic mail message (email) or provided in the body of an 
email message. Comments about an agency that has submitted a compliance 
report scheduled for review by the Department 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. Comments about an agency that has submitted a 
petition for renewal of recognition must relate to the agency's 
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.
    Only written material submitted by the deadline to the email 
address listed in this notice, and in accordance with these 
instructions, become part of the official record concerning agencies 
scheduled for review and are considered by the Department and NACIQI in 
their deliberations.
    A later Federal Register notice will describe how to register to 
provide oral comments at the meeting regarding the recognition of a 
specific accrediting agency or State approval agency.
    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.

Lynn B. Mahaffie,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning, Policy, and Innovation.
[FR Doc. 2018-19003 Filed 8-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 4, 2018 / Notices 44869

Information Collection Clearance discretionary grants must submit an Applications for Renewal of
Division, U.S. Department of Education, APR demonstrating that that substantial Recognition
550 12th Street SW, PCP, Room 9088, progress has been made towards 1. Accrediting Council for Continuing
Washington, DC 20202–0023. meeting the approved objectives. The Education and Training. Scope of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For HEP office staff requests to continue a Recognition: The accreditation
specific questions related to collection customized APR that goes beyond the throughout the United States of
activities, please contact Lisa Gillette, generic 524B APR to facilitate the institutions of higher education that
202–260–1426. collection of more standardized and offer continuing education and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The comprehensive data to inform GPRA, to vocational programs that confer
Department of Education (ED), in improve the overall quality of data certificates or occupational associate
accordance with the Paperwork collected, and to increase the quality of degrees, including those programs
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. data that can be used to inform policy offered via distance education.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general decisions. 2. American Veterinary Medical
public and Federal agencies with an Dated: August 29, 2018. Association, Council on Education.
opportunity to comment on proposed, Stephanie Valentine, Scope of Recognition: The accreditation
revised, and continuing collections of Acting Director, Information Collection and preaccreditation (‘‘Provisional
information. This helps the Department Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy Accreditation’’) in the United States of
assess the impact of its information Officer, Office of Management. programs leading to professional
collection requirements and minimize [FR Doc. 2018–19075 Filed 8–31–18; 8:45 am] degrees (D.V.M. or D.M.D.) in veterinary
the public’s reporting burden. It also BILLING CODE 4000–01–P medicine.
helps the public understand the 3. Council on Education for Public
Department’s information collection Health. Scope of Recognition: The
requirements and provide the requested DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION accreditation within the United States of
data in the desired format. ED is schools of public health and public
soliciting comments on the proposed Office of Postsecondary Education; health programs outside schools of
information collection request (ICR) that Call for Written Third-Party Comments public health, at the baccalaureate and
is described below. The Department of AGENCY: U.S. Department of Education, graduate degree levels, including those
Education is especially interested in Accreditation Group, Office of offered via distance education.
public comment addressing the Postsecondary Education. 4. Western Association of Schools and
following issues: (1) Is this collection Colleges, Accrediting Commission for
ACTION: Call for written third-party
necessary to the proper functions of the Community and Junior Colleges. Scope
Department; (2) will this information be comments. of Recognition: The accreditation and
processed and used in a timely manner; SUMMARY: This notice provides preaccreditation (‘‘Candidate for
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; information to members of the public on Accreditation’’) of community and other
(4) how might the Department enhance submitting written comments for colleges with a primarily pre-
the quality, utility, and clarity of the accrediting agencies currently baccalaureate mission located in
information to be collected; and (5) how undergoing review for purposes of California, Hawaii, the United States
might the Department minimize the recognition by the U.S. Secretary of territories of Guam and American
burden of this collection on the Education. Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the
respondents, including through the use Federated States of Micronesia, the
of information technology. Please note FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
that written comments received in Herman Bounds, Director, Accreditation Islands, and the Republic of the
response to this notice will be Group, Office of Postsecondary Marshall Islands, which offer
considered public records. Education, U.S. Department of certificates, associate degrees, and the
Title of Collection: High School Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, first baccalaureate degree by means of a
Equivalency Program (HEP) Annual Room 270–01, Washington, DC 20202, substantive change review offered by
Performance Report. telephone: (202) 453–7615, or email: institutions that are already accredited
OMB Control Number: 1810–0684. herman.bounds@ed.gov. by the agency, and such programs
Type of Review: A revision of an SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This offered via distance education and
existing information collection. solicitation of third-party comments correspondence education at these
Respondents/Affected Public: State, concerning the performance of colleges. This recognition also extends
Local, and Tribal Governments. accrediting agencies under review by to the Committee on Substantive Change
Total Estimated Number of Annual the Secretary of Education is required of the Commission, for decisions on
Responses: 51. by § 496(n)(1)(A) of the Higher substantive changes, and the Appeals
Total Estimated Number of Annual Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as Panel.
Burden Hours: 1,173. amended. These accrediting agencies
Abstract: The High School will be on the agenda for the Winter Compliance Report
Equivalency Program (HEP) office staff 2019 National Advisory Committee on 1. The Council on Chiropractic
collects information for the HEP Annual Institutional Quality and Integrity Education compliance report includes
Performance Report (APR) in meeting. The meeting date has not been the following: finding identified in the
compliance with Higher Education Act determined, but will be announced in a May 25, 2017 letter from the senior
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

of 1965, as amended, Title IV, Sec. separate Federal Register notice. Department official following the
418A; 20 U.S.C. 1070d-2 (special Agencies Under Review and February 22, 2017 NACIQI meeting
programs for students whose families Evaluation: Below is a list of agencies available at: https://opeweb.ed.gov/
are engaged in migrant and seasonal currently undergoing review and aslweb/finalstaffreports.cfm, with
farmwork), and the Code of Federal evaluation by the Accreditation Group, respect to recognition requirements
Regulations (CFR), 2 CFR 200.238. CFR including their current and requested found at 34 CFR 602.20(a). Scope of
states that recipients of multi-year scopes of recognition: Recognition: The accreditation of

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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		Call for written third-party comments.
Contact		Herman Bounds, Director, Accreditation Group, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 270-01, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202) 453-7615, or email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 44869