80 FR 53611 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: INTERNational Connections

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 172 (September 4, 2015)

The U.S. Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53611-53612]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22032]


[Public Notice: 9256]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: INTERNational 
Connections

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State is seeking Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described 
below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals 
and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 
November 3, 2015.
    You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web: Persons with access to the Internet may comment on 
this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the 
document by entering ``Docket Number: DOS-2015-0044'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to: U.S. Department of 
State, 2401 E St. NW., SA1-518H, Washington, DC 20520. Attn.: Heather 
Rudow.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents, to Heather Rudow, 2401 E Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20520, who may be reached on 202-261-8953 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: INTERNational 
Connections.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0190.
     Type of Request: Extension of an Approved Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Human Resources, Office of 
Recruitment, Examination and Employment (HR/REE).
     Form Number: DS-5103.
     Respondents: Current and former interns of the U.S. 
Department of State's student programs, including internships, 
Pickerings, Rangels, Pathways, etc., and Department employees.

[[Page 53612]]

     Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 1,000.
     Average Time per Response: 15 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 250 hours.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The Department's student internship programs provide a key source 
of potential candidates who have an interest in, and are competitive, 
to become future Department employees. Naturally, HR/REE wants to 
strengthen and maintain its connections to this group, fostering and 
mentoring a pool of candidates from which to obtain successful 
recruits.
    In June 2008, HR/REE surveyed over 3,500 former interns who served 
from 2005 through spring 2008. The intern alumni were queried as to 
their motivation in seeking an internship, whether or not they had 
pursued a career with either the Foreign Service or Civil Service, and 
what their recommendations would be for the best ways for the 
Department to maintain contact after the conclusion of their 
internships. Intern alumni endorse continued contact with Department 
representatives mainly through electronic means and Web site reminders 
of career opportunities.
    In an effort to address these findings and provide viable solutions 
to improving student engagement prior to, during and following an 
internship, the Department developed an intern engagement strategy that 
will potentially result in a measurable conversion of interns into 
Department hires for the Foreign or Civil Service. The foundation of 
this strategy is INTERNational Connections, a Web-based career 
networking site for current and former interns as well as Department 
employees that collects pertinent information about them, their 
experiences and their career goals.

Methodology

    Users register online at https://internconnect.careers.state.gov 
and create a profile that includes: Full name, program status, names of 
colleges you've attended, major/minor, where you're from, current post, 
year graduated, career goals and interests, personal interests, twitter 
handle, career path, bureau, job title, professional experience and 
languages you can speak. The sources of information are current and 
former interns, as well as Department employees.

    Dated: August 26, 2015.
Derwood Staeben,
Director, HR/REE, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-22032 Filed 9-3-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-05-P