Accrediting Agency Currently Undergoing Review During the Period of Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education, 70594-70595 [2020-24595]

Download as PDF 70594 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 215 / Thursday, November 5, 2020 / Notices Defense Acquisition Regulations System [Docket Number DARS–2020–0043; OMB Control Number 0704–0259] Information Collection Requirement; Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement; Part 216, Types of Contracts Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Notice and request for comments regarding a proposed extension of an approved information collection requirement. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, DoD announces the proposed extension of a public information collection requirement and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. DoD invites comments on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DoD, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved this information collection for use through January 31, 2021. DoD proposes that OMB extend its approval for use for three additional years beyond the current expiration date. SUMMARY: DoD will consider all comments received by January 4, 2021. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by OMB Control Number 0704–0259, using any of the following methods: o Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Email: osd.dfars@mail.mil. Include OMB Control Number 0704–0259 in the subject line of the message. Mail: Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Attn: Ms. Carrie Moore, OUSD(A&S)DPC(DARS), 3060 Defense Pentagon, Room 3B938, Washington, DC 20301–3060. Comments received generally will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:36 Nov 04, 2020 Jkt 253001 Ms. Carrie Moore, 571–372–6093. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title and OMB Number: Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 216, Types of Contracts, and associated clauses at Part 252.216; OMB Control Number 0704–0259. Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit and not-for profit institutions. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits. Type of Request: Extension. Reporting Frequency: On occasion. Number of Respondents: 132. Responses per Respondent: Approximately 4. Annual Responses: 533. Average Burden per Response: 4 hours. Annual Burden Hours: 2,132. Needs and Uses: The clauses at DFARS 252.216–7000, Economic Price Adjustment—Basic Steel, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze, or Copper Mill Products; DFARS 252.216–7001, Economic Price Adjustment—Nonstandard Steel Items; and DFARS 252.216–7003, Economic Price Adjustment—Wage Rates or Material Prices Controlled by a Foreign Government, require contractors with fixed-price economic price adjustment contracts to submit information to the contracting officer regarding changes in established material prices or wage rates. The contracting officer uses this information to make appropriate adjustments to contract prices. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Jennifer D. Johnson, Regulatory Control Officer, Defense Acquisition Regulations System. [FR Doc. 2020–24563 Filed 11–4–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 5001–06–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Accrediting Agency Currently Undergoing Review During the Period of Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education Accreditation Group, Office of Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, ACTION: Call for written third-party comments. AGENCY: This notice provides information to members of the public on submitting written comments for accrediting agencies currently undergoing review during the period of recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Herman Bounds, Director, Accreditation Group, Office of Postsecondary PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 270–01, Washington, DC 20202, telephone: (202) 453–7615, or email: herman.bounds@ed.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This request for written third-party comments concerning the performance of accrediting agencies during their period of recognition is pursuant to 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 602.33(c)(4)(iii)(B). This accrediting agency will be added to the agenda for the Winter 2021 National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) meeting, notice of which was published May 28, 2020 (85 FRN 32031). The meeting date and location have not been determined but will be announced in a later Federal Register notice. Agencies Under Review and Evaluation The Department requests written comments from the public on the following accrediting agency, which is currently undergoing review and evaluation during its period of recognition by the Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education Accreditation Group, in accordance with the procedures set forth in 34 CFR 602.33. Inquiries Under 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 602.33: Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) a. 34 CFR 602.33 review in response to ACICS monitoring report. Pursuant to the November 21, 2018 Decision of the Secretary, Docket No. 16–44–0 (available at https://opeweb.ed.gov/eRecognition/PublicDocuments under NACIQI meeting date: 06/23/2016 for ACICS), ACICS submitted a monitoring report on issues identified in the Decision related to the agency’s compliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1), 602.16(a)(1)(i), 602.16(a)(1)(vii), and 602.19(b). In its review of the monitoring report, the Department staff noted that one or more deficiencies may exist in the agency’s compliance with the Secretary’s Criteria for Recognition or the agency’s effective application of those Criteria, and therefore processed the monitoring report in accordance with the review procedures set forth in 34 CFR 602.33. The review has identified noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1) and 602.19(b). b. 34 CFR 602.33 review initiated by inquiry letter dated June 19, 2019 (letter available at https://www.ed.gov/ accreditation/acics). The initiation of E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 215 / Thursday, November 5, 2020 / Notices the review was based on information from media coverage of ACICS’s presentation to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation concerning its financial situation and its review of two institutions, Virginia International University and San Diego University for Integrative Studies. The review has identified noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1), 602.16(c), 602.17(c), and 602.17(e). It should be noted that the new accreditation regulations effective July 1, 2020 changed 602.16(c) to 602.16(d). There are no substantive changes to the regulations, just a change in numbering. c. 34 CFR 602.33 review initiated by inquiry letter dated February 24, 2020 (letter available at https://www.ed.gov/ accreditation/acics). The initiation of the review was based on information from media coverage alleging that ACICS accredited Reagan National University, an institution not actually in operation. The review has identified noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1), 602.15(a)(2), 602.17(c), 602.18(c), and 602.19(b). It should be noted that the new regulations effective July 1, 2020 changed 602.18(c) to 602.18(b)(3). There are no substantive changes to the regulations, just a change in numbering. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Submission of Written Comments Regarding a Specific Accrediting Agency Under Review 20:36 Nov 04, 2020 Jkt 253001 Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1011c. Robert L. King, Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education. [FR Doc. 2020–24595 Filed 11–4–20; 8:45 am] Written comments about the recognition of a specific accrediting agency must be received by November 20, 2020 in the ThirdPartyComments@ ed.gov 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 must relate to the Criteria cited in in the Secretary’s appeal decision, or to the agency’s compliance with the Criteria identified in the inquiry findings specifically listed above. The Criteria are available at https://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/ accred/. 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 by the Department and NACIQI in their deliberations. A later Federal Register notice will describe how to register to provide oral comments at the Winter 2021 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.gpo.gov/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. BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Notice of Waiver Granted Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, Department of Education. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In this notice, we announce a waiver that the U.S. Department of Education (Department) granted, within the last 30 days, under the CARES Act. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hugh Reid, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 11114, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 245–7491. Email: Hugh.Reid@ ed.gov. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) or a text telephone (TTY), call the Federal Relay Service (FRS), toll free, at 1–800–877– 8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3511(d)(3) of the CARES Act requires SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70595 the Secretary to publish, in the Federal Register and on the Department’s website, a notice of the Secretary’s decision to grant a waiver. The Secretary must publish this notice no later than 30 days after granting the waiver and the notice must include which waiver was granted and the reason for granting the waiver. This notice is intended to fulfill the Department’s obligation to publicize its waiver decisions by identifying the waivers granted under section 3511. The Department has approved waivers of the following requirement: Section 421(b) of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) to extend the period of availability of fiscal year (FY) 2018 funds for programs in which the State educational agency (SEA) participates as the eligible agency until September 30, 2021. On April 17, 2020, the Secretary delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education (Assistant Secretary), for programs over which the Assistant Secretary has administrative authority, the authority to grant waivers under section 3511 of the CARES Act. On May 15, 2020, the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) published a notice in the Federal Register (85 FR 29440) announcing 41 waivers that were granted to SEAs. Twenty-eight of those waivers were for State grants authorized by Title I of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins), and 13 of those waivers were for State grants authorized by Title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (i.e., the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA)). On June 15, 2020, OCTAE published a notice in the Federal Register (85 FR 36195) announcing six waivers that were granted to SEAs. Three of those waivers were for State grants authorized by Title I of Perkins, and the remaining three waivers were for State grants authorized by Title II of WIOA (AEFLA). On August 6, 2020, OCTAE published a notice in the Federal Register (85 FR 47774) announcing two waivers that were granted to SEAs. One of those waivers was for a State grant authorized by Title I of Perkins, and the other waiver was for a State grant authorized by Title II of WIOA (AEFLA). On September 3, 2020, OCTAE published a notice in the Federal Register (85 FR 55001) announcing two waivers that were granted to SEAs. Those waivers were for State grants authorized by Title II of WIOA (AEFLA). In the last 30 days, OCTAE granted one waiver to an SEA. E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 215 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70594-70595]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24595]


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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Accrediting Agency Currently Undergoing Review During the Period 
of Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education

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

ACTION: Call for written third-party comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice provides information to members of the public on 
submitting written comments for accrediting agencies currently 
undergoing review during the period 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 request for written third-party 
comments concerning the performance of accrediting agencies during 
their period of recognition is pursuant to 34 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Sec.  602.33(c)(4)(iii)(B).
    This accrediting agency will be added to the agenda for the Winter 
2021 National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity 
(NACIQI) meeting, notice of which was published May 28, 2020 (85 FRN 
32031). The meeting date and location have not been determined but will 
be announced in a later Federal Register notice.

Agencies Under Review and Evaluation

    The Department requests written comments from the public on the 
following accrediting agency, which is currently undergoing review and 
evaluation during its period of recognition by the Department's Office 
of Postsecondary Education Accreditation Group, in accordance with the 
procedures set forth in 34 CFR 602.33.

Inquiries Under 34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Sec.  602.33:

Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
    a. 34 CFR 602.33 review in response to ACICS monitoring report. 
Pursuant to the November 21, 2018 Decision of the Secretary, Docket No. 
16-44-0 (available at https://opeweb.ed.gov/e-Recognition/PublicDocuments under NACIQI meeting date: 06/23/2016 for ACICS), ACICS 
submitted a monitoring report on issues identified in the Decision 
related to the agency's compliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 
602.15(a)(1), 602.16(a)(1)(i), 602.16(a)(1)(vii), and 602.19(b). In its 
review of the monitoring report, the Department staff noted that one or 
more deficiencies may exist in the agency's compliance with the 
Secretary's Criteria for Recognition or the agency's effective 
application of those Criteria, and therefore processed the monitoring 
report in accordance with the review procedures set forth in 34 CFR 
602.33. The review has identified noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 
CFR 602.15(a)(1) and 602.19(b).
    b. 34 CFR 602.33 review initiated by inquiry letter dated June 19, 
2019 (letter available at https://www.ed.gov/accreditation/acics). The 
initiation of

[[Page 70595]]

the review was based on information from media coverage of ACICS's 
presentation to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation 
concerning its financial situation and its review of two institutions, 
Virginia International University and San Diego University for 
Integrative Studies. The review has identified noncompliance with the 
Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1), 602.16(c), 602.17(c), and 602.17(e). 
It should be noted that the new accreditation regulations effective 
July 1, 2020 changed 602.16(c) to 602.16(d). There are no substantive 
changes to the regulations, just a change in numbering.
    c. 34 CFR 602.33 review initiated by inquiry letter dated February 
24, 2020 (letter available at https://www.ed.gov/accreditation/acics). 
The initiation of the review was based on information from media 
coverage alleging that ACICS accredited Reagan National University, an 
institution not actually in operation. The review has identified 
noncompliance with the Criteria in 34 CFR 602.15(a)(1), 602.15(a)(2), 
602.17(c), 602.18(c), and 602.19(b). It should be noted that the new 
regulations effective July 1, 2020 changed 602.18(c) to 602.18(b)(3). 
There are no substantive changes to the regulations, just a change in 
numbering.

Submission of Written Comments Regarding a Specific Accrediting Agency 
Under Review

    Written comments about the recognition of a specific accrediting 
agency must be received by November 20, 2020 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 must relate to the Criteria 
cited in in the Secretary's appeal decision, or to the agency's 
compliance with the Criteria identified in the inquiry findings 
specifically listed above. The Criteria are available at https://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/.
    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 Winter 2021 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.gpo.gov/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.

Robert L. King,
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education.

[FR Doc. 2020-24595 Filed 11-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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