[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11912-11913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4619]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of a revision to this currently approved 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. While obtaining and considering public 
comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting OMB clearance of 
this collection for no longer than three 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 collection 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 of respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments should be received by May 14, 2007, to be 
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 Boulevard,

[[Page 11913]]

Room 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: 
    Title of Collection: Data Collection for the Evaluation of the 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities--University (HBCU-UP) 
Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-0204.
    Expiration Date of Approval: October 31, 2009.
    Abstract: The National Science Foundation (NSF) requests revision 
and extension of a currently approved data collection (e.g., 
interviews, surveys, focus groups, site visits protocols) measuring 
NSF's contribution to the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities (HBCU) enterprise and overall science and engineering 
workforce. This continuation expands the data collection most recently 
approved through October 2009 (OMB 3145-0204) beyond the student 
respondents to administrators, faculty and other participants, 
observers, or beneficiaries in undergraduate programs in Science, 
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities. NSF is reissuing this notice because the 
first notice did not make clear that there would be both individual and 
institutional respondents to these data collections.
    NSF funds a program, called Historically Black Colleges and 
Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP), designed to help 
institutions strengthen the quality of their undergraduate STEM 
programs. For more information about HBCU-UP please visit the NSF Web 
site at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5481&org=HRD&from=home.
    The Urban Institute (UI) is conducting an evaluation of the HBCU-UP 
program which received initial approval from the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) on 31 October 2006.
    Using a multiple-methods approach, UI researchers are conducting an 
evaluation to study the effectiveness of the program. The evaluation 
will include both process and summative components. The process 
component will document how different models within the Program are 
being implemented, thus helping evaluators to link strategies to 
outcomes, identify crucial components of different models, and 
contribute to the construction of general theories to guide future 
initiatives to increase the diversity of the STEM workforce. The 
summative component of the evaluation will focus on the extent to which 
the Program has produced outcomes that meet stated goals for students, 
faculty and institutions. The process evaluation relies mainly on 
qualitative data collected during case study site visits and 
interviews; the summative evaluation will rely primarily on data 
collected through a survey of graduates and faculty.
    NSF uses the UI analysis to prepare and publish reports and to 
respond to requests from Committees of Visitors, 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). The HBCU-UP study's broad questions 
include but are not limited to:
    What do individuals following post-participation in HBCU-UP or 
other NSF-funded undergraduate education opportunities do? Do HBCU-UP 
or other NSF-funded opportunities provide graduates with the 
professional and/or research skills needed to work in science and 
engineering? Are HBCU-UP or other NSF-sponsored students and faculty 
satisfied that their NSF-funded experience advanced their careers in 
science or engineering? To what extent do HBCU-UP or other former-NSF-
sponsored graduates engage in the science and engineering workforce 
conduct inter- or multi-disciplinary science? Is there evidence of a 
legacy from NSF-funding that changed a degree-granting department 
beyond number of students supported and degrees awarded? To what extent 
have projects achieved or contributed to individual project goals or 
the NSF program goals? To what extent have NSF-funded projects or 
programs broadened participation by diverse individuals, particularly 
individuals traditionally underemployed in science or engineering, 
including but not limited to women, minorities, and persons-with-
disabilities?
    Respondents: Individuals or households, not-for-profit 
institutions, business or other for profit, and Federal, State, Local 
or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 5000.
    Burden on the Public: 1250 hours.

    Dated: March 9, 2007.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
 [FR Doc. E7-4619 Filed 3-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P