[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3743-3744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1385]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

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    Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed continuing information collection. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register at 69 FR 64114 and one comment was received. NSF is forwarding 
the proposed submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second 
notice.

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received by OMB within 30 days 
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) 
the accuracy of NSF's estimate of burden including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; or (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology should be addressed to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for 
National Science Foundation, 725--17th Street, NW. Room 10235, 
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Copies of 
the submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports 
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7556 or send e-mail to [email protected].
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information

[[Page 3744]]

unless the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number and the agency informs potential persons who are to 
respond to the collection of information that such persons are not 
required to respond to the collection of information unless it displays 
a currently valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 3, 2004, we published in the 
Federal Register (69 FR 64113) a 60-day notice of our intent to request 
renewal of this information collection authority from OMB. In that 
notice, we solicited public comments for 60 days ending January 3, 
2005. We received one comment regarding this notice.
    Comment: One commenter wrote about the value of the program.
    Response: NSF believes that in order to continue funding, program 
evaluations are necessary.
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of NSF Support for Undergraduate 
Research Opportunities (URO).
    OMB Number: 3145-0121.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to continue an existing 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: Follow-up Research on Undergraduate Research 
Opportunities (URO-2).
    Proposed Project: The National Science Foundation (NSF) manages a 
number of programs that provide meaningful research experiences for 
undergraduate students. This suite of programs includes: Research 
Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), both the Site and Supplement 
components; Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI); the 
undergraduate research components in several of NSF's large research 
centers programs, e.g., Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Programs, 
Science and Technology Centers (STCs); and several institution-wide 
resources development programs in which undergraduate research 
experiences are often one component.
    These Programs provide a wide range of US undergraduate students 
with opportunities to conduct hands-on research under the mentorship of 
graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty in various types 
of higher education institutions, including small liberal arts 
colleges, minority-serving institutions, research universities, as well 
as non-profit institutions in which science or engineering research is 
conducted.
    The purpose of the proposed evaluation is to follow-up on 
undergraduate participants in research experiences supported by NSF who 
were surveyed in 2003. The 2003 survey collected information about why 
participants chose to participate in research, the nature of the 
research activities, effects of research on participants' knowledge, 
skills, confidence, awareness, and academic career interests and 
aspirations. The proposed survey will provide information about 
participants' current academic and employment status (in 2003, most of 
the respondents were in their senior year of college) and participants' 
current perceptions of the effects of their undergraduate research 
experiences on their career and academic decisions. The survey database 
will be linked to that of the 2003 survey to access differences on a 
number of dimensions, including NSF program, academic major, type of 
academic institution, and sex and race/ethnicity of the participant.
    Use of the Information: NSF and others who design undergraduate 
research programs will be able to use the information to help design 
programs that meet the needs of different kinds of students in 
different kinds of settings.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2900.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1450 hours--2900 
respondents at 30 minutes each.
    Frequency of response: One time.
    Comments: 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; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond.

    Dated: January 19, 2005
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 05-1385 Filed 1-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M