[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1854-1855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-716]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institute of Health

[OMB 0925-0479]


Proposed 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: EXTENSION. 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. This 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.)


[[Page 1855]]



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                                                                     Estimated                       Estimated
                                                     Estimated       number of        Average      total annual
               Type of respondents                   number of     responses per   burden hours    burden hours
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response      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: To request more information on the proposed 
project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and 
instruments, contact Ms. Kay Johnson Graham, 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) 
496-3403 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 within 60-days 
of the date of this publication.

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 to 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 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 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: January 6, 2003.
David Kerr,
Executive Officer, NIDCD.
[FR Doc. 03-716 Filed 1-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M