83 FR 23946 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 100 (May 23, 2018)

Page Range		23946-23947
FR Document		2018-11036

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2018, and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found at: http:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23946-23947]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11036]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register on February 21, 2018, and no comments were received. NSF is 
forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of 
this second notice. The full submission may be found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments should be addressed to: 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk 
Officer for National Science Foundation, 725 7th Street NW, Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Room 
W18000 Alexandria, Virginia 22314, or send email to [email protected]. 
Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling Ms. Plimpton at 
(703) 292-7556. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 
days a year (including federal holidays).
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to

[[Page 23947]]

the collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the NSF, including whether the information shall have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Title: Developing an Evaluation Framework and Pilot-Testing a 
Longitudinal Tracking System for REU Site Students.
    OMB Control Number: 3145-NEW.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop 
and pilot test different approaches to collecting data electronically 
from one cohort of applicants to the Research Experiences for 
Undergraduates (REU) Program and track their program and career 
outcomes over time. The intent is for the pilot tests to provide 
information for NSF to select the most effective and least burdensome 
approach to collect data needed to monitor the Program, report to NSF 
leadership, and comply with a Congressional requirement.
    The REU program was created in 1987 to strengthen the science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Building on 
research experiences as ``one of the most effective avenues for 
attracting students to and retaining them in science and engineering, 
and for preparing them for careers in these fields,'' the program is 
designed to foster student research and promote diversity.
    The main goal of the current study is to pilot test alternative 
approaches to collecting data required by Congress in the America 
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which states that students in the 
REU program must ``be tracked, for employment and continued 
matriculation in STEM fields, through receipt of the undergraduate 
degree and for at least three years thereafter'' (Section 514[a][6] of 
Public Law 111-358). The legislation also mentions specific demographic 
characteristics of participants that need to be reported, such as 
gender, ethnicity, and enrollment in a two-year college. In addition to 
needing these data to report to Congress, NSF program officers and 
leadership need a more robust data system to enhance their efforts to 
monitor participation in the program and eventually to assess its 
effectiveness.
    In addition to designing the system, the present study will pilot 
test different approaches to collecting data from a sample of REU Sites 
that volunteer to participate. By participating in this study, these 
Sites will have the opportunity to experience the data collections 
first hand and provide feedback that will be used to determine which 
approach will be the most effective, most efficient, and least 
burdensome for possible future implementation across all REU Sites.
    The pilot includes:
    1. Testing a web-based system that includes two approaches to 
obtain basic student background and participation information:
     Registration. The registration will be designed to collect 
the basic demographic and contact information needed for analysis and 
tracking purposes. Students will be asked to register at a website 
through which they will obtain a unique ID. With this unique ID, they 
will then apply directly to the REU Sites using the existing Site 
application processes. Staff at REU Sites will use the IDs provided by 
students to record application decisions and participation status of 
admitted applicants.
     Common Application. The common application will replace 
existing REU Site applications among participating Sites for the 2019 
cycle. It will enable students to apply to multiple Sites through one 
application. Students will first complete the REU Registration 
described above, and then proceed to the common application through 
which they will submit additional information commonly required by 
Sites as part of their applications, such as transcripts. Staff at REU 
Sites will use the system to provide information needed by potential 
applicants, retrieve applicant information, record application 
decisions and participation status among admitted applicants, and 
produce reports and run queries of data submitted by applicants to 
their Sites.
    2. Obtaining and integrating educational and employment 
information. The study will follow the subset of rising seniors who 
participate in the REU program in 2019 (as seniors are the large 
majority of participants) to:
     Obtain educational outcomes information from the National 
Student Clearinghouse (NSC)
     Administer a survey to obtain information on employment 
outcomes (among those not enrolled in graduate school at the time of 
the survey)
    3. Conducting site visits to a few REU Sites participating in the 
pilot to interview principal investigators and program administrators, 
and to conduct focus groups with REU students. The site visits will be 
used to elicit in-depth feedback on the registration and common 
application systems as well as the tools available for PIs to obtain 
data and reports through the REU data system.
    Estimate of Burden: At present, applications to the REU program are 
submitted yearly directly to each Site. For those participating in the 
registration pilot, it is estimated that applicants will spend 2 hours 
submitting basic information through the REU Data System and then 
complete the rest of their applications through the individual REU 
sites. For those participating in the common application pilot, it is 
estimated that each submission will take, on average, 12 hours. 
Reference writers are expected to take 0.5 hours to draft a letter in 
support of students' application to the program. It is estimated that 
REU Principal Investigators will spend 8.9 hours using the system to 
track applications.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30,455.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 96,130 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: One round of pilot data collection.

    Dated: May 18, 2018.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-11036 Filed 5-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P

23946 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2018 / Notices

we will send you a copy of the schedule records regardless of the medium in 4. Department of Veterans Affairs,
you requested. We usually prepare which it creates or maintains the Veterans Health Administration (DAA–
appraisal memoranda that contain records. Items included in schedules 0015–2018–0004, 1 item, 1 temporary
additional information concerning the submitted to NARA on or after item). Records documenting the
records covered by a proposed schedule. December 17, 2007, are media neutral completion of agency-provided
You may also request these. If you do, unless the item is expressly limited to professional health care training.
we will also provide them once we have a specific medium. (See 36 CFR
Laurence Brewer,
completed the appraisal. You have 30 1225.12(e).)
days after we send to you these Chief Records Officer for the U.S.
Agencies may not destroy Federal Government.
requested documents in which to records without Archivist of the United
[FR Doc. 2018–10984 Filed 5–22–18; 8:45 am]
submit comments. States’ approval. The Archivist approves
BILLING CODE 7515–01–P
ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of destruction only after thoroughly
any records schedule identified in this considering the records’ administrative
notice by contacting Records Appraisal use by the agency of origin, the rights
and Agency Assistance (ACRA) using of the Government and of private people NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
one of the following means: directly affected by the Government’s
Agency Information Collection
Mail: NARA (ACRA), 8601 Adelphi activities, and whether or not the
Activities: Comment Request
Road, College Park, MD 20740–6001. records have historical or other value.
Email: request.schedule@nara.gov. In addition to identifying the Federal AGENCY:National Science Foundation.
FAX: 301–837–3698. agencies and any subdivisions Submission for OMB review;
ACTION:
You must cite the control number, requesting disposition authority, this comment request.
which appears in parentheses after the notice lists the organizational unit(s)
name of the agency that submitted the accumulating the records (or notes that SUMMARY: The National Science
schedule, and a mailing address. If you the schedule has agency-wide Foundation (NSF) has submitted the
would like an appraisal report, please applicability when schedules cover following information collection
include that in your request. records that may be accumulated requirement to OMB for review and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: throughout an agency); provides the clearance under the Paperwork
Margaret Hawkins, Director, by mail at control number assigned to each Reduction Act of 1995. This is the
Records Appraisal and Agency schedule, the total number of schedule second notice for public comment; the
Assistance (ACRA), National Archives items, and the number of temporary first was published in the Federal
and Records Administration, 8601 items (the records proposed for Register on February 21, 2018, and no
Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740– destruction); and includes a brief comments were received. NSF is
6001, by phone at 301–837–1799, or by description of the temporary records. forwarding the proposed renewal
email at request.schedule@nara.gov. The records schedule itself contains a submission to the Office of Management
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NARA full description of the records at the file and Budget (OMB) for clearance
publishes notice in the Federal Register unit level as well as their disposition. If simultaneously with the publication of
for records schedules they no longer NARA staff has prepared an appraisal this second notice. The full submission
need to conduct agency business. NARA memorandum for the schedule, it also may be found at: http://
invites public comments on such includes information about the records. www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
records schedules, as required by 44 You may request additional information FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
U.S.C. 3303a(a). about the disposition process at the Comments should be addressed to:
Each year, Federal agencies create addresses above. Office of Information and Regulatory
billions of records on paper, film, Schedules Pending Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer
magnetic tape, and other media. To for National Science Foundation, 725
control this accumulation, agency 1. Department of Energy, Federal 7th Street NW, Room 10235,
records managers prepare schedules Energy Regulatory Commission (DAA– Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne
proposing records retention periods and 0138–2018–0006, 1 item, 1 temporary H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer,
submit these schedules for NARA’s item). Records relating to the oversight National Science Foundation, 2415
approval. These schedules provide for of regional electricity providers Eisenhower Avenue, Room W18000
timely transfer into the National including orders, notices, comments, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, or send
Archives of historically valuable records general correspondence, and associated email to splimpto@nsf.gov. Copies of the
and authorize the agency to dispose of documents. submission may be obtained by calling
all other records after the agency no 2. Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Plimpton at (703) 292–7556.
longer needs them to conduct its Transportation Security Administration Individuals who use a
business. Some schedules are (DAA–0560–2016–0006, 1 item, 1 telecommunications device for the deaf
comprehensive and cover all the records temporary item). Records related to (TDD) may call the Federal Information
of an agency or one of its major passenger complaints, including Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–
subdivisions. Most schedules, however, discrimination allegations, arising 8339, which is accessible 24 hours a
cover records of only one office or during security screening. day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
program or a few series of records. Many 3. Department of the Treasury, Bureau (including federal holidays).
of these update previously approved of Fiscal Service (DAA–0425–2017– NSF may not conduct or sponsor a
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

schedules, and some include records 0003, 9 items, 7 temporary items). Office collection of information unless the
proposed as permanent. of Fiscal Accounting records related to collection of information displays a
The schedules listed in this notice are routine financial reporting, accounting, currently valid OMB control number
media neutral unless otherwise and program management. Proposed for and the agency informs potential
specified. An item in a schedule is permanent retention are significant persons who are to respond to the
media neutral when an agency may policy directives and high-level collection of information that such
apply the disposition instructions to consolidated financial reports. persons are not required to respond to

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 23, 2018 / Notices 23947

the collection of information unless it characteristics of participants that need • Obtain educational outcomes
displays a currently valid OMB control to be reported, such as gender, ethnicity, information from the National Student
number. and enrollment in a two-year college. In Clearinghouse (NSC)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: addition to needing these data to report • Administer a survey to obtain
Comments: Comments are invited on to Congress, NSF program officers and information on employment outcomes
(a) whether the proposed collection of leadership need a more robust data (among those not enrolled in graduate
information is necessary for the proper system to enhance their efforts to school at the time of the survey)
performance of the functions of the monitor participation in the program 3. Conducting site visits to a few REU
NSF, including whether the information and eventually to assess its Sites participating in the pilot to
shall have practical utility; (b) the effectiveness. interview principal investigators and
accuracy of the NSF’s estimate of the In addition to designing the system, program administrators, and to conduct
burden of the proposed collection of the present study will pilot test different focus groups with REU students. The
information; (c) ways to enhance the approaches to collecting data from a site visits will be used to elicit in-depth
quality, utility, and clarity of the sample of REU Sites that volunteer to feedback on the registration and
information on respondents, including participate. By participating in this common application systems as well as
through the use of automated collection study, these Sites will have the the tools available for PIs to obtain data
techniques or other forms of information opportunity to experience the data and reports through the REU data
technology; and (d) ways to minimize collections first hand and provide system.
the burden of the collection of feedback that will be used to determine Estimate of Burden: At present,
information on those who are to which approach will be the most applications to the REU program are
respond, including through the use of effective, most efficient, and least submitted yearly directly to each Site.
appropriate automated, electronic, burdensome for possible future For those participating in the
mechanical, or other technological implementation across all REU Sites. registration pilot, it is estimated that
collection techniques or other forms of The pilot includes: applicants will spend 2 hours
information technology. 1. Testing a web-based system that submitting basic information through
Title: Developing an Evaluation includes two approaches to obtain basic the REU Data System and then complete
Framework and Pilot-Testing a student background and participation the rest of their applications through the
Longitudinal Tracking System for REU information: individual REU sites. For those
Site Students. • Registration. The registration will participating in the common application
OMB Control Number: 3145–NEW. be designed to collect the basic pilot, it is estimated that each
Abstract: The National Science demographic and contact information submission will take, on average, 12
Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and needed for analysis and tracking hours. Reference writers are expected to
pilot test different approaches to purposes. Students will be asked to take 0.5 hours to draft a letter in support
collecting data electronically from one register at a website through which they of students’ application to the program.
cohort of applicants to the Research will obtain a unique ID. With this It is estimated that REU Principal
Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) unique ID, they will then apply directly Investigators will spend 8.9 hours using
Program and track their program and to the REU Sites using the existing Site the system to track applications.
career outcomes over time. The intent is application processes. Staff at REU Sites Respondents: Individuals.
for the pilot tests to provide information will use the IDs provided by students to Estimated Number of Respondents:
for NSF to select the most effective and record application decisions and 30,455.
least burdensome approach to collect participation status of admitted Estimated Total Annual Burden on
data needed to monitor the Program, applicants. Respondents: 96,130 hours.
report to NSF leadership, and comply • Common Application. The common Frequency of Responses: One round of
with a Congressional requirement. application will replace existing REU pilot data collection.
The REU program was created in 1987 Site applications among participating Dated: May 18, 2018.
to strengthen the science, technology, Sites for the 2019 cycle. It will enable Suzanne H. Plimpton,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students to apply to multiple Sites Reports Clearance Officer, National Science
workforce. Building on research through one application. Students will Foundation.
experiences as ‘‘one of the most first complete the REU Registration [FR Doc. 2018–11036 Filed 5–22–18; 8:45 am]
effective avenues for attracting students described above, and then proceed to BILLING CODE 7555–01–P
to and retaining them in science and the common application through which
engineering, and for preparing them for they will submit additional information
careers in these fields,’’ the program is commonly required by Sites as part of POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
designed to foster student research and their applications, such as transcripts.
promote diversity. Staff at REU Sites will use the system to [Docket Nos. CP2018–221; CP2018–222;
The main goal of the current study is provide information needed by potential MC2018–154 and CP2018–223]
to pilot test alternative approaches to applicants, retrieve applicant
New Postal Products
collecting data required by Congress in information, record application
the America COMPETES decisions and participation status AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
Reauthorization Act of 2010, which among admitted applicants, and ACTION: Notice.
states that students in the REU program produce reports and run queries of data
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

must ‘‘be tracked, for employment and submitted by applicants to their Sites. SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a
continued matriculation in STEM fields, 2. Obtaining and integrating recent Postal Service filing for the
through receipt of the undergraduate educational and employment Commission’s consideration concerning
degree and for at least three years information. The study will follow the negotiated service agreements. This
thereafter’’ (Section 514[a][6] of Public subset of rising seniors who participate notice informs the public of the filing,
Law 111–358). The legislation also in the REU program in 2019 (as seniors invites public comment, and takes other
mentions specific demographic are the large majority of participants) to: administrative steps.

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Document Created: 2018-05-22 23:49:25
Document Modified: 2018-05-22 23:49:25

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Submission for OMB review; comment request.
FR Citation		83 FR 23946