[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25360-25361]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11840]



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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institute of Health


Propsoed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the NIDCD 
Partnership Program

SUMMARY: 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 Institute on 
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), will publish periodic summaries of proposed 
projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval.

Proposed Collection:

    Title: Evaluation of the NIDCD Partnership Program. Type of 
Information Collection Request: NEW. Need and Use of Information 
Collection: The NIDCD was established to support biomedical and 
behavioral research and research training in hearing, smell, balance, 
taste, voice, speech and language. Although minorities and women will 
dominate the work force within the next decade, both groups are 
underrepresented in the science and health professional field. Because 
of this concern, the NIDCD, with assistance from the Office of Research 
on Minority Health, established the Partnership Program in 1994 to 
increase the number of minority scientists and health care 
professionals doing research on communication and communication 
disorders. The proposed survey will yield data about: (1) Reasons for 
participation in the program; (2) satisfaction of participants with the 
program and (3) how participation in the program has lead to the 
pursuit of a career in the health field. The survey will track the 
Partnership Program's success at increasing the number of women and 
minorities who are scientists. Frequency of Response: One. Affected 
Public: Individuals. Type of Respondent: Partnership Program 
Participants. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated 
Number of Respondents: 76; Estimated Number of Responses per 
Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per Response: 0.5; and Estimated 
Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 38. The annualized cost to 
respondents is estimated at: $380. There are no Capital Costs to 
report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report.

    (Note: The following table is acceptable for the Respondent and 
Burden Estimate Information, if appropriate, instead of the text as 
shown above.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Estimated
                                                                            Estimated     Average       total
                                                               Estiamted    number of      burden       annual
                     Type of respondents                       number of    responses    hours per      burden
                                                              respondents      per        response      hours
                                                                            respondent                requested
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial program participant survey..........................           16            1          0.5            8
Follow up survey of participant.............................           60            1          0.5           30
    Total...................................................           76  ...........  ...........           38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Comments

    Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
fulfillment of the NIDCD mission, including whether the information 
will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the estimate of the 
burden of the proposed data collection, including the validity of the 
methodology; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the data collection and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on the respondents, including appropriate use 
of automated collection techniques and information technology.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the 
proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, contact Ms. Kay Johnson, EEO Officer, Office of Equal 
Employment Opportunity, NIDCD, NIH, Building 31, Room 3C08, 31 Center 
Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 402-6415 
or E-mail your request, including your address to: 
[email protected]

COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are 
best assured of having their full effect if received on or before July 
12, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that the public 
submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. 
Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies to provide a 
60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning proposed collections 
of information before submitting the collection of OMB for approval. To 
comply with this requirement, NIDCD is publishing notice of the 
proposed collection of information listed below.
    With respect to the following collection of information, NIDCD 
invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information 
is necessary for fulfillment of the NIDCD mission, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the 
estimate of the burden of the proposed data collection, including the 
validity of the methodology; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, 
and clarity of the data collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden 
of the collection of information on the respondents, including 
appropriate use of automated collection techniques and information 
technology.
    The NIDCD Partnership Program was designed to maximize research and 
research training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate and 
professional students, and faculty from populations that are 
underrepresented in the biomedical professions. Participants are 
recruited from four academic institutions that developed partnerships 
with the NIDCD: The University of Alaska System, The Atlanta University 
Center, Gallaudent University, and the University of Puerto Rico.
    Anecdotal feedback indicates that program participants, mentors, 
and liaisons find the program to provide interesting and unique 
opportunities. However, there is little systematic evidence evaluating 
the level of the Program's success or failure. The proposed surveys 
will attempt to assess

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how participants' experiences with the Partnership Program have 
influenced career and educational choices; current activities of 
participants (e.g., courses of study, jobs); benefits and costs of 
program participation to the program participants, mentors, and 
liaisons; and suggestions for improving the Program. This information 
will provide concrete evidence for continued funding of the Program.
    Two separate surveys are proposed. The first survey will collect 
baseline information from participants as they enter the program. The 
baseline survey will explore participants' expectations and goals on 
entering the program, their current career and/or educational plans, 
and reasons for choosing to participate. The second survey will gather 
Follow up and tracking information of past participants and will be 
administered annually. This survey will ask about current contact 
information, current career and/or educational activities, satisfaction 
with the program, and whether expectations were met.
    Potential respondents of either survey will be asked to participate 
in a telephone survey that should take less than 30 minutes to 
complete. Respondents who cannot schedule 30 minutes of time or have 
communications disorders which make telephone conversations difficult 
will be given the opportunity to respond by alternate means such as fax 
and e-mail. All participants from the inception of the program will be 
included in this evaluation process. Participants for 1999 have not yet 
been chosen, but it is anticipated that the total number of 
participants since 1994 will not exceed 70.

    Dated: May 4, 1999.
David Kerr,
Executive Officer, National Institutes on Deafness and Other 
Communication Disorders.
[FR Doc. 99-11840 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M