34 C.F.R. § 602.31 How does Department staff review an agency's application?
Title 34 - Education
(a) Upon receipt of an agency's application for either initial or continued recognition, Department staff— (1) Establishes a schedule for the review of the agency by Department staff, the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, and the Secretary; (2) Publishes a notice of the agency's application in the (3) Provides State licensing or authorizing agencies, all currently recognized accrediting agencies, and other appropriate organizations with copies of the (b) Department staff analyzes the agency's application to determine whether the agency satisfies the criteria for recognition, taking into account all available relevant information concerning the compliance of the agency with those criteria and any deficiencies in the agency's performance with respect to the criteria. The analysis includes— (1) Site visits, on an announced or unannounced basis, to the agency and, at the Secretary's discretion, to some of the institutions or programs it accredits or preaccredits; (2) Review of the public comments and other third-party information the Department staff receives by the established deadline, as well as any other information Department staff assembles for purposes of evaluating the agency under this part; and (3) Review of complaints or legal actions involving the agency. (c) Department staff's evaluation may also include a review of information directly related to institutions or programs accredited or preaccredited by the agency relative to their compliance with the agency's standards, the effectiveness of the standards, and the agency's application of those standards. (d) If, at any point in its evaluation of an agency seeking initial recognition, Department staff determines that the agency fails to demonstrate substantial compliance with the basic eligibility requirements in §§602.10 through 602.13, the staff— (1) Returns the agency's application and provides the agency with an explanation of the deficiencies that caused staff to take that action; and (2) Recommends that the agency withdraw its application and reapply when the agency can demonstrate compliance. (e) Except with respect to an application that is withdrawn under paragraph (d) of this section, when Department staff completes its evaluation of the agency, the staff— (1) Prepares a written analysis of the agency, which includes a recognition recommendation; (2) Sends the analysis and all supporting documentation, including all third-party comments the Department received by the established deadline, to the agency no later than 45 days before the Advisory Committee meeting; and (3) Invites the agency to provide a written response to the staff analysis and third-party comments, specifying a deadline for the response that is at least two weeks before the Advisory Committee meeting. (f) If Department staff fails to provide the agency with the materials described in paragraph (e)(2) of this section at least 45 days before the Advisory Committee meeting, the agency may request that the Advisory Committee defer acting on the application at that meeting. If Department staff's failure to send the materials at least 45 days before the Advisory Committee meeting is due to the failure of the agency to submit reports or other information the Secretary requested by the deadline the Secretary established, the agency forfeits its right to request a deferral. (g) Department staff reviews any response to the staff analysis that the agency submits. If necessary, Department staff prepares an addendum to the staff analysis and provides the agency with a copy. (h) Before the Advisory Committee meeting, Department staff provides the Advisory Committee with the following information: (1) The agency's application for recognition and supporting documentation. (2) The Department staff analysis of the agency. (3) Any written third-party comments the Department received about the agency on or before the established deadline. (4) Any agency response to either the Department staff analysis or third-party comments. (5) Any addendum to the Department staff analysis. (6) Any other information Department staff relied on in developing its analysis. (i) At least 30 days before the Advisory Committee meeting, the Department publishes a notice of the meeting in the (Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1099b)
Title 34: Education
PART 602—THE SECRETARY'S RECOGNITION OF ACCREDITING AGENCIES
Subpart C—The Recognition Process
Application and Review by Department Staff
§ 602.31 How does Department staff review an agency's application?
