[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 17 (Thursday, January 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4382-4383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-712]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request establishment and 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.
    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 colleciton 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; 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.

DATES: Written comments should be received by March 27, 2006 to be

[[Page 4383]]

assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding the information collection and 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection request 
should be addressed to Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, 
National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Rm. 295, Arlington, VA 
22230, or by e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton on (703) 292-7556 or 
send e-mail to [email protected]. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Request for Clearance for Program Evaluation of the National 
Science Foundation's (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) 
Program.
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of the National Science 
Foundation's (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-(NEW).
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests a three-
year clearance for research, evaluation and data collection (e.g., 
surveys and interviews) from actual and potential applicants to and 
other stakeholders in the Faculty Early Career Development Program 
(CAREER). CAREER stakeholders typically are limited to PhD scientists 
and engineers and faculty and administrators from universities and not-
for-profit institutions (e.g., museums, non-degree granting educational 
or research institutions), and former NSF employees and 
intergovernmental personnel act (IPA) appointees. A preliminary, 
predecessor study to this new evaluation research was approved through 
September 2001 as an external (third-party) program evaluation under 
the EHR Generic Clearance (OMB 345-0136). The earlier CAREER study was 
conducted by Abt Associates, Inc., Cambridge, MA, and it examined only 
the first three years that NSF provided CAREER grants to eligible 
institutions in Fiscal Years (FY) 1995 through 1997. A copy of Abt's 
final report to NSF entitled Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) 
Program: External Evaluation Summary Report (NSF 01-134) was posted in 
August 2001 on NSF's Web site and remains available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2001/nsf01134/pdf. The new CAREER program evaluation 
is estimated to cover from FY 1995 through FY 2005.
    NSF established the CAREER Program to support career-development 
for beginning teacher-scholars in Science, Technology, Engineering and 
Mathematics (STEM), within the context of the mission of their 
employing organization. CAREER typically awards a grant to support the 
research and educational activities conducted by individual scientists 
and engineers with PhDs (or the equivalent). For specific details and 
the most updated information regarding CAREER program operations, 
please visit the NSF Web site at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5262&from-fund.
    NSF has contracted a new program evaluation of CAREER, to be 
conducted by Abt Associates Inc. Through this new evaluation of the 
CAREER Program NSF aims to identify, measure and document:
    (1) The longer-term impacts of this program on the research 
activities, educational activities and career advancement of CAREER 
awardees;
    (2) the program's impacts on the integration of research and 
education by individual STEM faculty;
    (3) the impacts of the CAREER program on the institutions 
(including at the department or other sub-institutional level) that 
administer the NSF funding to a CAREER scientist or engineer; and
    (4) changes within NSF that may be attributed to the CAREER 
program's operations, benefiting scientists and engineers, and other 
CAREER stake holders.
    The primary methods of data collection will include meta-data 
collection from open sources and from records at NSF and grantee 
institutions; surveys, institutional site visits, and in-person and 
telephone interviews. There is a bounded (or limited) number of 
respondents within the general public who will be affected by this 
research, including current and former CAREER awardees, scientists and 
engineers currently or once eligible to apply to CAREER, other 
scientists and engineers and the STEM research and education 
committees. NSF will use the CAREER program evaluation data and 
analyses to respond to requests from Committees of Visitors (COV), 
Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, particularly as 
related to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the 
Program Effectiveness Rating Tool (PART). NSF will also use the program 
evaluation to improve communication with CAREER stakeholders and to 
share the broader impacts of the CAREER program with the general 
public.
    Respondents: Individuals or households, Business or other for 
profit, Federal Government, State, Local or Tribal Government and not-
for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,000.
    Burden on the Public: 2,000 hours.

    Dated: January 20, 2006.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 06-712 Filed 1-25-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-M