[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 11065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6303]



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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Proposed Collection of Information; Comment Request; Proposed 
Data Collection Available for Public Comment and Recommendations

Title of Proposed Collection. Assessment of the Minority Research 
Centers of Excellence (MRCE) and Research Improvement in Minority 
Institutions (RIMI) Programs
    In compliance with the requirement of Section 2506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request 
more information on the proposed project or to obtain a copy of the 
data collection plans and instruments, call the NSF Clearance Officer 
on (703) 306-1243.
    Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency'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.
    Proposed Project: Assessment of the Minority Research Centers of 
Excellence (MRCE) and Research Improvement in Minority Institutions 
(RIMI) Programs. The MRCE program is designated to increase the number 
of minorities in science and engineering by making substantial 
resources available to upgrade the research capabilities of the most 
research-productive minority institutions. The RIMI program is designed 
to strengthen the research capacity of science and engineering 
departments at colleges and universities with significant proportions 
of minority students.
    The objective of this project is to assess how effectively NSF is 
enabling the MRCE and RIMI centers/projects to achieve the program 
goals of increasing minority participation in science and engineering 
and enhancing the contributions of minority institutions to the 
nation's scientific and engineering research activities. The study's 
focus is on the two programs as a whole rather than on the individual 
centers and projects.
    The project has three main components:
      Review of existing NSF program materials and MRCE annual 
reports.
      Site visits to each of the eight MRCEs. The purpose of 
the site visits is to interview the center directors, other core 
faculty, students, and university administrators to better understand 
the center's history, dynamics, and achievements, and expectations 
regarding future funding.
      Mail surveys, using structured questionnaires, of the 
following groups:

--MRCE and RIMI directors or principal investigators.
--All other faculty who have received MRCE or RIMI funds.
--All students who have received MRCE or RIMI financial support.

    The surveys include all eight current MRCEs and those RIMI projects 
that received their initial award after January 1, 1985 (when the award 
level increased to it current annual maximum) and that will have 
completed at least one full funding cycle by June 1996. The survey 
results are intended to provide quantitative, comparable information 
about the extent and nature of support respondents have received from 
the RIMI/MRCE program, their professional achievements(e.g., 
publications, presentations), experiences, and opinions about the 
program.
    Burden estimates: 500 respondents; 250 total burden hours.
    Send comments to Herman Fleming, Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 485, Arlington, VA 
22230. Written comments should be received within 60 days of 
publication.

    Dated: March 11, 1996.
Herman G. Fleming,
NSF Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-6303 Filed 3-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M