[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 249 (Thursday, December 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78226-78227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-22191]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request 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 71 FR 38428 
and one comment that had no significant suggestions for altering the 
data plans was received. Therefore, NSF is forwarding the proposed 
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance 
simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.

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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 email 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 
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:
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of the Research Experiences for 
Undergraduates (REU) Program in the NSF Directorate for Engineering 
(ENG).
    OMB Number: 3145-0121.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years.
    Proposed Project: NSF has supported the REU Program since 1987. The 
Program was evaluated after three and five years and as part of a 
larger study of all NSF undergraduate research opportunities (URO) in 
2003. The proposed project will enable NSF's Directorate for 
Engineering (ENG) to learn about the activities, outcomes, and impacts 
of the REU awards made by that Directorate, as well as lessons learned 
to improve the results of future REU awards. Two types of REU awards 
will be studied, REU sites and REU

[[Page 78227]]

supplements. REU Site awards fund groups of undergraduates to work with 
faculty members at an institution. Half of the undergraduates in an REU 
site must come from other institutions. ENG also makes REU Supplement 
awards to NSF-funded Engineering Research Centers and to other NSF-
funded researchers for comparable involvement of undergraduates.
    The proposed study will be similar to the 2003 URO study. It will 
focus on undergraduate ENG REU participants and the faculty members who 
are responsible for the ENG REU awards during summer 2006 through 
spring 2007, and will examine in detail for the first time the 
activities, outcomes, and impacts of REU awards made in a single NSF 
directorate--ENG. The study will evaluate the longer-term effects of 
REU experiences with a follow-up survey of the students approximately 
two years later. The REU program officers in NSF's Division of 
Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) particularly want to learn in 
depth about the EEC REU Site and ERC REU Supplement awards from former 
REU students and awardees, any differences between the Sites and ERC 
Supplements, and lessons learned for subsequent proposal review and 
advising prospective PIs. Information will also be used for ENG Program 
reporting requirements. The study will examine (1) the role of the REU 
program in aiding participating undergraduates in a decision to pursue 
graduate education or careers in engineering; and (2) the relationship 
between how REU activities are structured and managed and participants' 
subsequent education and career decisions and actions.
    The survey data collection will be done on the World Wide Web.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 5,006.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,400 hours (413 
respondents at 15 minutes per response and 4,593 respondents at 30 
minutes per response).
    Frequency of Response: One time for faculty, two times for 
students.

    Dated: December 21, 2006.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
 [FR Doc. E6-22191 Filed 12-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P