[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 16282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8592]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Title 
of Collection: Outcomes and Impacts of the State/Industry-University 
Cooperative Research Centers (S/IUCRC) Program

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995, we are providing opportunity for public comment on this action. 
After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF will prepare the 
submission requesting OMB clearance of this collection for no longer 
than 3 years.

SEND COMMENTS TO: Gail A. McHenry, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 245, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Written comments 
should be received within 60 days of the date of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may also obtain a copy of the data 
collection instrument and instructions from Mrs. McHenry, see address 
above.
    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: Outcomes and Impacts of the State/Industry-
University Cooperative Research Centers (S/IUCRC) Program. NSF's 
Directorate for Engineering established the S/IUCRC Program in 1990. 
The S/IUCRC Program was built on the model established by NSF's 
Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) Program. The 
NSF's Engineering Education and Centers Division (EEC) is seeking to 
identify (1) the extent to which the program has accomplished its 
goals; (2) lessons learned for continuous improvement of program 
performance; and (3) lessons learned that can inform planning for 
future NSF-state partnership. To achieve these objectives, data will be 
collected from representatives in organizations that are members of the 
nine active oldest centers (award cohorts 1991 and 1992) about the 
results in their organization from involvement with the center. Data 
will not be used to evaluate individual centers, but, rather, to study 
the program as a whole. Since the S/IUCRC Program shares some common 
program elements with the older I/UCRC Program, the project will also 
include collection of similar data from organizational representatives 
to 20 of the I/UCRCs as well.
    Use of the Information: The I/UCRC data will be compared with the 
S/IUCRC data to enable identification of results from the S/IUCRC 
program that emanate from the program's distinctive elements.
    Burden on the Public: The Foundation estimates about 560 one-time 
responses at 30 minutes per response; this computes to approximately 
280 hours.

    Dated: March 25, 1998.
Gail A. McHenry
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-8592 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M