[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 193 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51722-51723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25346]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Proposed Data Collection: Common Request; Title of Proposed 
Collection: National Survey of Recent College Graduates

    In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(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 to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Proposed Project: The National Survey of Recent College Graduates 
(NSRCG), formerly called the New Entrants Survey, has been conducted 
biennially since 1974. For the 1997 cycle, bachelor's and master's 
degree recipients in science and engineering from the academic years 
1994-95 and 1995-96 will be surveyed. The purpose of the study is to 
provide national estimates describing the relationship between 
education and employment for new science and engineering graduates. The 
study is one of three components of the Scientists and Engineers 
Statistical Data System (SESTAT), formerly called the Scientific and 
Technical Personnel Data System (STPDS). In 1997, the NSRCG survey 
effort will also include a Follow-up panel survey of graduates that 
received their degrees between 1991 and 1994, inclusive. The purpose of 
the Follow-up panel survey is to create a historical data set on the 
same individuals permitting longitudinal analysis.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``* * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The National Survey of Recent College Graduates is 
designed to comply with these mandates by providing information on the 
supply and utilization of newly qualified scientists and engineers. 
Collected data will be used to produce estimates of the characteristics 
of new graduates entering the science and engineering labor force. They 
will also provide necessary input into the SESTAT labor force model, 
which produces national estimates of the size and characteristics of 
the country's science and engineering population. The Foundation uses 
this information to prepare congressionally mandated reports such as 
Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering and Science and 
Engineering Indicators. A public release file of collected data, 
designed to protect respondent confidentiality, will be made available 
to researchers on CD-ROM and on the World Wide Web.
    To conduct the study, lists of 1994-95 and 1995-96 science and 
engineering bachelor's and master's degree recipients will be collected 
from a nationally representative sample of 275 institutions awarding 
such degrees. The United States Department of Education's Family Policy 
Compliance Office has reviewed the study's goals and procedures and 
concluded that postsecondary institutions may provide these lists 
without violating the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1976 
(FERPA). From the collected lists, a sample of approximately 13,500 
graduates will be selected for the NSRCG and 14,000 graduates will be 
selected for the Follow-up panel survey. The sample design includes 
oversampling of minority graduates and varying sampling rates to 
represent specific fields of science and engineering. Sample members 
will be requested to complete a 30 minute interview conducted by 
telephone and/or mail. The survey will be collected in conformance with 
the Privacy Act of 1974. Each graduate's participation will be entirely 
voluntary. NSF will insure that all information collected will be keep 
strictly confidential and will be used only for research or statistical 
purposes, analyzing data, and preparing scientific reports and 
articles.
    The graduate sample size for the NSRCG for two academic years 
covered by this survey cycle (1994-95 and 1995-96) is estimated to be 
13,500. An unweighed graduate response rate of 85 percent is 
anticipated (86 percent was obtained on the previous cycle). The 
graduate sample size for the Follow-up panel survey is estimated to be 
14,000. An unweighted graduate response rate

[[Page 51723]]

of 95 percent is anticipated for the Follow-up panel survey. The amount 
of time required to complete the questionnaire is estimated to be 30 
minutes for both the NSRCG and the Follow-up panel survey.
    Send comments to Herman Fleming, National Science Foundation 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 485, Arlington, VA 22230.
    Written comments should be received by December 1, 1996.

    Dated: September 30, 1996.
Herman G. Fleming,
NSF Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 96-25346 Filed 10-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M