FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

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ED - 98 - National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity	Agency Name	Department of Education
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	98
Original Establishment Date	11/8/1965	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	18
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Director/DFO
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Dr.
Current Charter Date	12/14/2015	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	George
Date Of Renewal Charter		Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	Alan
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Smith
Exempt From Renewal*	Yes	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	Not Applicable	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 453-7757
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	Not Applicable
Specific Establishment Authority*	Section 114 of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, as amended by Section 106 of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) (P.L. 110-315)	Designated Federal Officer Email*	george.alan.smith@ed.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	8/14/2008
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Yes
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The statute authorizes the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) to assess the process of accreditation and the institutional eligibility and certification of institutions of higher education (as defined in Section 102 of Title I of the HEA). The Committee: (1) Advises the Secretary with respect to establishment and enforcement of the standards of accrediting agencies or associations under subpart 2 of Part H of Title IV, HEA; (2) Advises the Secretary with respect to the recognition of a specific accrediting agency or association; (3) Advises the Secretary with respect to the preparation and publication of the list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations; (4) Advises the Secretary with respect to the eligibility and certification process for institutions of higher education under Title IV, HEA, together with recommendations for improvements in such process; (5) Advises the Secretary with respect to the relationship between— i. Accreditation of institutions of higher education and the certification and eligibility of such institutions; and ii. State licensing responsibilities with respect to such institutions; (6) Submits an annual report that covers the preceding year's activities to the Secretary, the authorizing committees, and the public not later than September 30 of each year, or not later than the last day of each fiscal year beginning in 2010; and (7) Carries out such other advisory functions relating to accreditation and institutional eligibility as the Secretary may prescribe. The Committee reviews agency applications for initial or continued recognition, and makes recommendations on recognition of accrediting agencies, degree authorizations for Federal degree-granting institutions, as well as policy recommendations. At each meeting, the agencies seeking recognition, as well as interested third parties, are invited to make oral presentations. After consideration of each agency’s written materials, any third-party written comments, and any oral testimony, the Committee discusses whether the agency meets the Secretary’s criteria and votes on a recommendation to be forwarded to the senior Department official (SDO) after the meeting. After consideration of the Committee’s recommendation, the SDO decides whether to grant recognition to an applicant accrediting agency, or State approval agency. The NACIQI's recommendations for Federal degree-granting institutions are forwarded directly to the Secretary. The Committee, informed by leaders from the higher education accreditation community, deliberate and provide accreditation policy recommendations to the Secretary of Education.
How is membership balanced?*	The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), enacted on August 14, 2008, specified five different appointment sources for the 18 NACIQI members. The House of Representatives appoints six members. Three are recommended by the Speaker of the House and three by the House Minority Leader. The Senate also appoints six members. Three are appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and three by the Senate Minority Leader. The Secretary of Education appoints six members, including a student representative. The statute provides that NACIQI members should be knowledgeable about postsecondary education and training, and that their experience be representative of all sectors and types of institutions of higher education. Given the number of appointment sources and the statutory requirements concerning their qualifications, the 18 members provide a broad and balanced view of the needs of the postsecondary accrediting community and how it could be enhanced.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	Per the authorizing legislation for the Committee, the NACIQI meets at least twice a year to carry out its statutory mandates. Meetings are typically held at six month intervals to review selected agencies in accordance with the recognition review cycle. Meetings dedicated to policy discussions are convened more frequently as appropriate, in preparation for reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	The advisory process, which involves public meetings and independent review and recommendation, aims toward a fair and impartial review of applicant accrediting agencies and other entities. While the staff conducts a paper review and provides a recommendation on recognition to the SDO, the NACIQI meetings serve as the due process hearing for accrediting agencies that serve as gatekeepers to Federal programs, including Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. All of the Committee members are from the non-Federal sector and are selected for their expertise in the higher education sector.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A - The meetings are open to the public. Meeting notices are published in the Federal Register.
Recommendation Remarks	The Annual Report of NACIQI's 2024 Activities is forwarded to the Secretary of Education and Authorizing Committees of Congress when it is completed. GSA Comment: The agency did not complete the FY24 ACR for this committee.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	No
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	No
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	No	Action Comment
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	During FY24, NACIQI reviewed the following types of applications: fifteen (15) applications for renewal of recognition from accrediting agencies; three (3) compliance reports from accrediting agencies; and one (1) request for an expansion of scope. The NACIQI heard from 9 oral commenters in FY24. More information about NACIQI's reviews of applications can be found its website: https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	None	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	NA	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	500	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	During FY24 the NACIQI forwarded 19 recommendations to the Senior Department Official. This question was first posed in 2003 and the recommendations are aggregated from 2003 forward. Since that time, the NACIQI has forwarded 500 recognition and degree approval recommendations to the Senior Department Official and/or Secretary, as appropriate (decision-maker).	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	95.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	In FY24, 18 of 19 recommendations were fully implemented (and 1 was partially implemented). The Department's decision-makers have approved recommendations made since 2003. The five recommendations from the June 2008 NACIQI meeting were subsequently acted upon after the Committee was reconstituted. Of the seven recommendations not fully implemented, six decisions (three in 2007 and three in 2012) were partially implemented; one recommendation in 2012 was not implemented. All recommendations in 2013 and 2014 were implemented. In 2015, all except one recommendation was fully implemented. In 2016, all except one recommendation was fully implemented. In 2017, all except three recommendations were fully implemented. In 2018, all except four recommendations were fully implemented. Thirteen out of the fourteen recommendations made in 2019 were implemented. Of the thirteen recommendations made in 2020, nine were fully implemented; one was partially implemented; and three were not implemented. Of the eighteen recommendations made in 2021, sixteen were fully implemented (the SDO added additional requirements to three); one was partially implemented; and one was not implemented. In 2022, 13 of 14 of the recommendations were fully implemented and 1 was partially implemented. In 2023, 14 of 19 recommendations were fully implemented and 5 were partially implemented. Many of the NACIQI's policy recommendations require statutory change, therefore, they are not included in the figure above.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	5.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	In FY24, one (1) of 19 NACIQI recommendations was partially implemented. Since 2003 Secretaries of Education have partially implemented twenty-four of the NACIQI’s recommendations: three in 2007, three in 2012, one in 2015, one in 2016, three in 2017, four in 2018, one in 2020, one in 2021, one in 2022, and five in 2023.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/
Agency Feedback Comment*	Subsequent to each NACIQI meeting, the Executive Director/ or Designated Federal Official of the NACIQI informs the Committee members of the decisions made from their recommendations of the previous meeting. Members of the public can find NACIQI materials at the official NACIQI website: https://sites.ed.gov/naciqi/ .	Narrative Description*	U.S. Department of Education's Strategic Plan (2022-2026): Strategic Objective 2.3: Support the professional growth, retention, and advancement of, talented, experienced educators and other school personnel and their capacity to meet the social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs of underserved students. The NACIQI supports this important function by advising the Secretary on whether accrediting agencies seeking recognition by the Secretary meet the regulatory criteria for such recognition and by advising the Secretary on issues and making recommendations relative to accreditation that support the delivery of quality postsecondary education.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	3/14/2025 4:29 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Education Education Schools and Academic Institutions Training

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