Meeting, National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, 54803-54806 [2024-14342]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
project could result in significant effects
on air quality due to the duration of
dredging operations, including time and
distance required to transport sediment
from Surfside-Sunset to San Clemente
Beach. Therefore, a SEIS is needed to
evaluate potential significant impacts to
air quality associated with further use of
Surfside-Sunset to complete initial
construction. Furthermore, the 2024
SEA only evaluated use of SurfsideSunset to complete initial construction
but not further use of the borrow area
for future renourishments. The SEIS
will also evaluate use of Surfside-Sunset
for future renourishments.
2. Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action: The purpose of the proposed
action is to identify borrow sites with
sufficient beach compatible sediment
required to complete all the planned
beach nourishments for the authorized
coastal storm risk management project.
The need for the project is to protect
public properties and private structures
currently susceptible to damages caused
by erosion (including land loss and
undermining of structures), inundation
(structures), and wave attack (structures,
railroad).
3. Proposed Action: The proposed
action is to identify suitable location(s)
containing enough beach compatible
sediment required to nourish San
Clemente Beach and complete the
coastal storm risk management project.
4. Alternatives: The alternatives
currently identified include the
preferred alternative and the no-action
alternative. The preferred alternative
includes the use of Surfside-Sunset
borrow area in addition to the
Oceanside borrow area to nourish San
Clemente Beach on the average of every
6 years over the 50-year period of
federal participation. The No Action
Alternative is defined as continued use
of only the Oceanside borrow area to
complete the coastal storm risk
management project; the SurfsideSunset borrow area would not be used
further. During scoping and
development of the SEIS, USACE will
determine if there are any additional
borrow areas with suitable sediment in
the general vicinity of the San Clemente
Beach placement site in addition to
Oceanside and Surfside-Sunset borrow
areas that should be evaluated in the
SEIS.
5. Summary of Potential Impacts.
Air Quality: Continued use of the
Surfside-Sunset borrow area would
result in emissions within the South
Coast Air Basin where the borrow area,
vessel transit corridor, and placement
sites are located. The South Coast Air
Basin is in extreme nonattainment for
ozone. Pursuant to 40 CFR 93.153(b)(1),
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the applicability rates for ozone
precursors volatile organic carbon
(VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are
each 10 tons per year. The total of direct
and indirect emissions of NOX for the
continued use of the borrow area to
complete construction and for future
renourishments would exceed the
applicability rate for NOX.
Biological Resources: The SurfsideSunset borrow area as well as the vessel
transit corridor for the hopper dredge to
the San Clemente Beach placement site
is located within a larger area identified
by the National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) as essential for transit
of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), a
species protected under the Endangered
Species Act. Potential effects include
entrainment and vessel collision. The
borrow area and vessel transit corridor
are also located within a proposed
critical habitat for the species which is
expected to be finalized in the summer
of 2024. Significant adverse effects to
the forthcoming designated critical
habitat are not expected.
6. Scoping Process.
a. Scoping will afford all interested
parties an opportunity to provide
comment on the proposed scope of
analysis in the draft document. A
scoping meeting will not be held.
Comments on scoping, including
potential alternatives, pertinent
information, studies, and/or analyses,
relevant to the proposed action may be
submitted to the contacts listed above.
If any reasonable alternatives are
identified during the scoping period,
USACE will evaluate those alternatives
in the draft SEIS, along with the No
Action Alternative.
b. This NOI commences the public
scoping process to identify issues and
potential alternatives for consideration
in the SEIS. Throughout the scoping
process, federal agencies; tribal, state,
and local governments; and the public
can help USACE identify significant
resources and issues, impact-producing
factors, reasonable alternatives, and
potential mitigation measures to be
analyzed in the SEIS, as well as to
provide additional information.
Comments received in response to this
NOI, including names and addresses of
those who comment, will be part of the
public record. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, be
advised that your entire comment—
including your personal identifying
information—may be made publicly
available at any time. While
commenters can request their personal
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54803
identifying information be withheld
from public review, it cannot be
guaranteed that this will be able to be
accomplished.
7. Anticipated Permits and Other
Authorizations. The USACE is
anticipating that the proposed action
would require a permit pursuant to
section 401 of the Clean Water Act and
application of section 404(b)(1)
guidelines. Other environmental review
and consultation requirements include,
but are not limited to, the National
Historic Preservation Act, Clean Air Act,
Endangered Species Act, Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act, Coastal Zone
Management Act, Magnuson-Steven
Fisheries Conservation Management
Act, Marine Protection Research and
Sanctuaries Act, and the Marine
Mammal Protection Act.
8. Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process. After the draft SEIS is
completed, the USACE will publish a
notice of availability (NOA) and request
public comments on the draft SEIS.
USACE anticipates issuing the NOA in
July 2024. After the public comment
period ends, the USACE will review and
respond to comments received and will
develop the final SEIS. USACE
anticipates making the final SEIS
available to the public in September or
October 2024. A ROD will be completed
no sooner than 30 days after the final
SEIS is released, in accordance with 40
CFR 1506.11(b)(2).
David R. Hibner,
Programs Director.
[FR Doc. 2024–14552 Filed 7–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Meeting, National Advisory Committee
on Institutional Quality and Integrity
National Advisory Committee
on Institutional Quality and Integrity
(NACIQI or Committee), Office of
Postsecondary Education, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Announcement of an open
meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
agenda, time, and instructions to access
or participate in the August 6–8, 2024,
hybrid 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 while accrediting agency
representatives and public attendees
will participate virtually. The notice of
this meeting is required under U.S.
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 10
(Federal Advisory Committees) and
section 114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher
Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as
amended.
ADDRESSES: Potomac Center Plaza, 10th
Floor Auditorium, 550 12th Street SW,
Washington, DC 20024 [Only NACIQI
members and Department of Education
staff will participate in the meeting at
this address].
DATES: The hybrid NACIQI meeting will
be held on August 6–8, 2024, from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time.
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, or
email: George.Alan.Smith@ed.gov.
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:
• The establishment and enforcement
of the standards of accrediting agencies
or associations under subpart 2, part H,
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,
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; and
• Any other advisory function
relating to accreditation and
institutional eligibility that the
Secretary of Education may prescribe by
regulation.
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Meeting Agenda
The purpose of the meeting is to
conduct a review of the following
applications for renewals of recognition.
Applications for Renewal of Recognition
1. WASC Accrediting Commission for
Community and Junior Colleges. Scope
of Recognition: The accreditation and
pre-accreditation (‘‘Candidate for
Accreditation’’) of community and other
colleges which have as a primary
mission the granting of associate
degrees, but which may also award
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certificates and other credentials, not to
exceed the bachelor degree level, 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, and the Appeals
Panel. Geographic Area of Accrediting
Activities: Throughout the United
States.
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 V.M.D.) in veterinary
medicine. Geographic Area of
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the
United States.
3. 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.
Geographic Area of Accrediting
Activities: Throughout the United
States.
4. Council on Education for Public
Health. Scope of Recognition: The
accreditation 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. Geographic Area of
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the
United States.
5. National Association of Schools of
Dance, Commission on Accreditation.
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of
freestanding institutions that offer dance
and dance-related programs (both
degree and non-degree-granting),
including those offered via distance
education. Geographic Area of
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the
United States.
6. National Association of Schools of
Music, Commission on Accreditation.
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of
freestanding institutions that offer
music and music related programs (both
degree and non-degree-granting)
including those offered via distance.
This recognition also extends to the
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Commission on Community College
Accreditation. Geographic Area of
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the
United States.
7. National Association of Schools of
Theatre, Commission on Accreditation.
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation
throughout the United States of
freestanding institutions that offer
theatre and theatre-related programs
(both degree and non-degree-granting),
including those offered via distance
education. Geographic Area of
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the
United States.
8. Puerto Rico State Agency for the
Approval of Public Postsecondary
Vocational, Technical Institutions and
Programs. Scope of Recognition: State
agency for the approval of vocational
education.
9. Maryland State Board of Nursing.
Scope of Recognition: State agency for
the approval of nursing education.
10. New York State Board of Regents
(nursing education). Scope of
Recognition: State approval agency for
nursing education.
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 the
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.
Administration Policy Update
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary
Education, Dr. Nasser Paydar, will
provide an update on the
Administration’s postsecondary
education policy priorities.
Accreditor Dashboards Updates
The Committee will refer to the
Accreditor Dashboards for accrediting
agencies up for review. These
dashboards will include information
about post-completion earnings and
cumulative loan debt.
Policy Discussion
In addition to its review of accrediting
agencies and State approval agencies for
Secretarial recognition, there will be
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
time for Committee discussions
regarding any of the categories within
NACIQI’s statutory authority in its
capacity as an advisory committee.
Instructions for Accessing the Meeting
Registration
Committee members will meet inperson while agency representatives and
public attendees will participate
virtually.
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 each
day of the three-day meeting no later
than 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time
on August 6, 2024.
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Registration Link
https://cvent.me/N7blbg.
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 a previous Federal Register
notice published on May 3, 2023 (88 FR
27876; Document Number 2023–09362).
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 for consideration by NACIQI
in the manner described below.
Members of the public may make oral
comments regarding a specific
accrediting agency under review and/or
other agenda topics. 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
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Recognition of Accrediting Agencies,
which are available at https://
www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/
index.html.
Written statements and oral
comments concerning NACIQI’s work
outside of a specific accrediting agency
under review must be limited to matters
within the scope of NACIQI’s authority,
as outlined under Section 114 of the
HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c), and written
comments of any kind submitted after
the deadline will not be considered by
the Department or provided to NACIQI
for purposes of the current cycle review.
Instructions on Requesting To Make
Public Comment
To request to make oral comments of
three minutes or less during the August
6–8, 2024, meeting, please follow either
Method One or Method Two below. To
submit a written statement to NACIQI
concerning its work outside a specific
accrediting agency under review, 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.
Written statements to NACIQI
concerning its work outside of a specific
accrediting agency under review and
requests to make oral comment must be
received by July 30, 2024, 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, 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. Written statements of any kind
submitted after the deadline will not be
considered by the Department or
provided to NACIQI for purposes of the
current cycle review.
Method Two (Only available to those
seeking to make oral comments): Submit
a request by email on August 6, 2024,
between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Eastern
Standard Time to the
ThirdPartyComments@ed.gov mailbox.
The email must include the subject on
which the requestor wishes to comment,
in addition to his or her name, title,
organization/affiliation, mailing
address, email address, and telephone
number. If you intend to make your
comments by dialing into the meeting
rather than using a computer, please be
sure to include that information in your
email request. A total of up to fifteen
minutes for each agenda item will be
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allotted for oral commenters who
register on August 6, 2024, between 7:45
a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard
Time. 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
https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/archive-ofmeetings/ within 90 days after the
meeting. In addition, pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 1009(b), the public may request
to inspect records of the meeting at 400
Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC,
by emailing aslrecordsmanager@ed.gov
or by calling (202) 453–7415 to schedule
an appointment. Senior Department
Official’s (as defined in 34 CFR 602.3)
decisions, pursuant to 34 CFR 602.36,
associated with all NACIQI meetings
can be found at the following website:
https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/
#/public-documents.
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: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically,
through the advanced search feature at
this site, you can limit your search to
documents published by the
Department.
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 127 / Tuesday, July 2, 2024 / Notices
Authority: Section 114 of the HEA of
1964, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1011c).
Antoinette Flores,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy,
Planning and Innovation, Office of
Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024–14342 Filed 7–1–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
President’s Advisory Commission on
Advancing Educational Equity,
Excellence, and Economic Opportunity
for Hispanics
Department of Education,
President’s Advisory Commission on
Advancing Educational Equity,
Excellence, and Economic Opportunity
for Hispanics.
ACTION: Announcement of an open
meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice sets forth the
agenda for the July 25, 2024, meeting of
the President’s Advisory Commission
on Advancing Educational Equity,
Excellence, and Economic Opportunity
for Hispanics (Commission), and how
members of the public may attend the
meeting and submit written comments
pertaining to the work of the
Commission.
DATES: The meeting of the Commission
will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024,
from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight
Time.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be
conducted virtually.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emmanuel Caudillo, Designated Federal
Official, President’s Advisory
Commission on Advancing Educational
Equity, Excellence, and Economic
Opportunity for Hispanics, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue SW, Room 7E220, Washington,
DC 20202, telephone: (202) 377–4988, or
email: Emmanuel.Caudillo@ed.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Commission’s Statutory
Authority and Function: The
Commission is established by Executive
Order 14045 (September 13, 2021) and
continued by Executive Order 14109
(September 29, 2023). The Commission
is also governed by the provisions of 5
U.S.C. chapter 10 (Federal Advisory
Committees), which sets forth standards
for the formation and use of advisory
committees. The Commission’s duties
are to advise the President, through the
Secretary of Education, on matters
pertaining to educational equity and
economic opportunity for the Hispanic
and Latino community in the following
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SUMMARY:
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areas: (i) what is needed for the
development, implementation, and
coordination of educational programs
and initiatives at the U.S. Department of
Education (Department) and other
agencies to improve educational
opportunities and outcomes for
Hispanics and Latinos; (ii) how to
promote career pathways for in-demand
jobs for Hispanic and Latino students,
including registered apprenticeships,
internships, fellowships, mentorships,
and work-based learning initiatives; (iii)
ways to strengthen the capacity of
institutions, such as Hispanic-serving
Institutions, to equitably serve Hispanic
and Latino students and increase the
participation of Hispanic and Latino
students, Hispanic-serving school
districts, and the Hispanic community
in the programs of the Department and
other agencies; (iv) how to increase
public awareness of and generate
solutions for the educational and
training challenges and equity
disparities that Hispanic and Latino
students face and the causes of these
challenges; and (v) approaches to
establish local and national partnerships
with public, private, philanthropic, and
nonprofit stakeholders to advance the
mission and objectives of this order,
consistent with applicable law. Notice
of this meeting is required by section
1009(a)(2) of 5 U.S.C. chapter 10
(Federal Advisory Committees).
Meeting Agenda: The agenda for the
Commission meeting builds upon
conversations and information shared in
the Commission’s six prior meetings
and continues their engagement on
advancing educational equity and
economic opportunity for Hispanics.
Specifically, during the meeting, the
Commission will (1) receive updates
and discuss recommendations from the
Commission’s four subcommittees:
Advancing PreK–12 Educational Equity;
Advancing Higher Education and
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs);
Strengthening Economic Opportunity &
Workforce Development; and
Strengthening Public Partnerships and
Public Awareness; (2) hear
presentations from federal and
community leaders on topics related to
Executive Order 14045; and (3) and
discuss strategies and next steps
towards advancing duties of the
Commission, as outlined by Executive
Order 14045.
Access to the Meeting: Members of the
public may register to attend the
meeting virtually by accessing the link
at https://www.ed.gov/hispanicinitiative
or emailing
WhiteHouseHispanicInitiative@ed.gov
by 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 24,
2024. Instructions on how to access the
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meeting will be emailed to members of
the public that register to attend and
will be posted to https://www.ed.gov/
hispanicinitiative no later than
Wednesday, July 24, 2024, by 6 p.m.
EDT.
Public Comment: Written comments
pertaining to the work of the
Commission may be submitted
electronically to
WhiteHouseHispanicInitiative@ed.gov
by 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 24,
2024. Include in the subject line:
‘‘Written Comments: Public Comment.’’
The email must include the name(s),
title, organizations/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 the electronic mail
message (email) or is provided in the
body of an email message. Please do not
send material directly to members of the
Commission.
Reasonable Accommodations: The
meeting platform and access code are
accessible to individuals with
disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary
aid or service for 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 one week before
the 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.
Access to Records of the Meeting: The
Department will post the official report
of the meeting on the Commission’s
website, at https://sites.ed.gov/hispanicinitiative/presidential-advisorycommission no later than 90 days after
the meeting. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C.
1009(b), the public may request to
inspect records of the meeting, and
other Commission records, at 400
Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC,
by emailing Emmanuel.Caudillo@ed.gov
or by calling (202) 377–4988, to
schedule an appointment.
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 PDF. To use PDF, you must have
Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 2, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54803-54806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14342]
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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Meeting, National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity
AGENCY: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and
Integrity (NACIQI or Committee), Office of Postsecondary Education,
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 August 6-8, 2024, hybrid 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 while accrediting agency
representatives and public attendees will participate virtually. The
notice of this meeting is required under U.S.
[[Page 54804]]
Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 10 (Federal Advisory Committees)
and section 114(d)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as
amended.
ADDRESSES: Potomac Center Plaza, 10th Floor Auditorium, 550 12th Street
SW, Washington, DC 20024 [Only NACIQI members and Department of
Education staff will participate in the meeting at this address].
DATES: The hybrid NACIQI meeting will be held on August 6-8, 2024, from
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
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, or email: [email protected].
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:
The establishment and enforcement of the standards of
accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2, part H, 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, 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; and
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 the following
applications for renewals of recognition.
Applications for Renewal of Recognition
1. WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Scope of Recognition: The accreditation and pre-accreditation
(``Candidate for Accreditation'') of community and other colleges which
have as a primary mission the granting of associate degrees, but which
may also award certificates and other credentials, not to exceed the
bachelor degree level, 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, and the
Appeals Panel. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout
the United States.
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 V.M.D.) in veterinary
medicine. Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the
United States.
3. 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.
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United
States.
4. Council on Education for Public Health. Scope of Recognition:
The accreditation 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.
Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United
States.
5. National Association of Schools of Dance, Commission on
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of freestanding institutions that offer dance and dance-
related programs (both degree and non-degree-granting), including those
offered via distance education. Geographic Area of Accrediting
Activities: Throughout the United States.
6. National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of freestanding institutions that offer music and music
related programs (both degree and non-degree-granting) including those
offered via distance. This recognition also extends to the Commission
on Community College Accreditation. Geographic Area of Accrediting
Activities: Throughout the United States.
7. National Association of Schools of Theatre, Commission on
Accreditation. Scope of Recognition: The accreditation throughout the
United States of freestanding institutions that offer theatre and
theatre-related programs (both degree and non-degree-granting),
including those offered via distance education. Geographic Area of
Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States.
8. Puerto Rico State Agency for the Approval of Public
Postsecondary Vocational, Technical Institutions and Programs. Scope of
Recognition: State agency for the approval of vocational education.
9. Maryland State Board of Nursing. Scope of Recognition: State
agency for the approval of nursing education.
10. New York State Board of Regents (nursing education). Scope of
Recognition: State approval agency for nursing education.
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 the
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.
Administration Policy Update
Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, Dr. Nasser Paydar,
will provide an update on the Administration's postsecondary education
policy priorities.
Accreditor Dashboards Updates
The Committee will refer to the Accreditor Dashboards for
accrediting agencies up for review. These dashboards will include
information about post-completion earnings and cumulative loan debt.
Policy Discussion
In addition to its review of accrediting agencies and State
approval agencies for Secretarial recognition, there will be
[[Page 54805]]
time for Committee discussions regarding any of the categories within
NACIQI's statutory authority in its capacity as an advisory committee.
Instructions for Accessing the Meeting
Registration
Committee members will meet in-person while agency representatives
and public attendees will participate virtually.
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 each day of the three-
day meeting no later than 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on August 6,
2024.
Registration Link
https://cvent.me/N7blbg.
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 a previous Federal
Register notice published on May 3, 2023 (88 FR 27876; Document Number
2023-09362). 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 for
consideration by NACIQI in the manner described below.
Members of the public may make oral comments regarding a specific
accrediting agency under review and/or other agenda topics. 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 https://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/.
Written statements and oral comments concerning NACIQI's work
outside of a specific accrediting agency under review must be limited
to matters within the scope of NACIQI's authority, as outlined under
Section 114 of the HEA (20 U.S.C. 1011c), and written comments of any
kind submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the
Department or provided to NACIQI for purposes of the current cycle
review.
Instructions on Requesting To Make Public Comment
To request to make oral comments of three minutes or less during
the August 6-8, 2024, meeting, please follow either Method One or
Method Two below. To submit a written statement to NACIQI concerning
its work outside a specific accrediting agency under review, please
follow Method One.
Method One: Submit a request by email to the
[email protected] mailbox. Please do not send material directly
to NACIQI members. Written statements to NACIQI concerning its work
outside of a specific accrediting agency under review and requests to
make oral comment must be received by July 30, 2024, 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, 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. Written statements of any kind
submitted after the deadline will not be considered by the Department
or provided to NACIQI for purposes of the current cycle review.
Method Two (Only available to those seeking to make oral comments):
Submit a request by email on August 6, 2024, between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45
a.m. Eastern Standard Time to the [email protected] mailbox.
The email must include the subject on which the requestor wishes to
comment, in addition to his or her name, title, organization/
affiliation, mailing address, email address, and telephone number. If
you intend to make your comments by dialing into the meeting rather
than using a computer, please be sure to include that information in
your email request. A total of up to fifteen minutes for each agenda
item will be allotted for oral commenters who register on August 6,
2024, between 7:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
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 https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/archive-of-meetings/ within 90 days after the
meeting. In addition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1009(b), the public may
request to inspect records of the meeting at 400 Maryland Avenue SW,
Washington, DC, by emailing [email protected] or by calling
(202) 453-7415 to schedule an appointment. Senior Department Official's
(as defined in 34 CFR 602.3) decisions, pursuant to 34 CFR 602.36,
associated with all NACIQI meetings can be found at the following
website: https://surveys.ope.ed.gov/erecognition/#/public-documents.
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: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. 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:
www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search
feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published
by the Department.
[[Page 54806]]
Authority: Section 114 of the HEA of 1964, as amended (20 U.S.C.
1011c).
Antoinette Flores,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Planning and Innovation, Office
of Postsecondary Education.
[FR Doc. 2024-14342 Filed 7-1-24; 8:45 am]
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