[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 78 (Friday, April 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18683-18684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9288]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 78 / Friday, April 24, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 18683]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights


Request for an Extension to a Currently Approved Information 
Collection

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Civil Rights' (OASCR) intention to request approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the 
currently approved information collection for the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture (USDA)/1994 Tribal Scholars Program.
    As required by Departmental Regulation 1350-001, Tribal 
Consultations, (Consultation on Regulations) has been met in a 
meaningful and timely manner. The partnership between USDA and Tribal 
Colleges and Universities (TCU) is defined by a Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA) signed on February 6, 2008, between USDA and the American Indian 
Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). This MOA convenes USDA Mission 
Area leadership, TCU Presidents and AIHEC to jointly develop the USDA/
1994 Program Office and its programs, to include the Tribal Scholars 
Program. USDA has presented its proposals for the Tribal Scholars 
Program to Indian tribal leaders through the invitation of the National 
Congress of American Indians in 2008 and to TCU president members of 
the USDA/AIHEC Leadership Group, most recently in 2009 and beginning in 
2005.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 23, 2009 to be 
assured of consideration.

Additional Information or Comments: Contact Lawrence Shorty, Director, 
USDA/1994 Program, OASCR, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Washington, DC 20250; phone (202) 720-1772: fax: (202) 205-3831.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program.
    OMB Number: 0503-0016.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2009.
    Type of Request: Extension to the currently approved information 
collection.
    Abstract: The purpose of the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program is 
to strengthen the long-term partnership between USDA and the 1994 Land-
Grant TCUs to increase the number of students studying and graduating 
in the food, agriculture, and natural resources and other related 
fields of study, and offer career opportunities to increase the pool of 
scientists and professionals to annually fill 50,000 jobs in the food, 
agricultural, and natural resources system.
    This partnership effort is a joint human capital initiative between 
USDA and the Nation's thirty-two 1994 Land-Grant TCUs. This employment 
program offers a combination of work experience and academic study 
leading to career positions within USDA through a Student Career 
Experience Program (SCEP) designed to integrate classroom study with 
paid work experience. The program is conducted in accordance with a 
planned schedule and a working agreement between USDA agencies, the 
student, and the Land-Grant Institution.
    Summary of Collection: The USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program 
Application will request from applicants information such as the 
following: biographical information; educational background; an 
official high school or college transcript; declaration of major, 
r[eacute]sum[eacute], schools attended in the last 4 years; advanced or 
special programs; courses or summer courses taken; name of the 1994 TCU 
in which the student wishes to enroll; course of study the applicant 
wishes to pursue; type of scholarship support the applicant is applying 
for (1-year, 2-year; 3-year or 4-year scholarship support); whether the 
applicant is currently enrolled in or is planning to enroll in an 
Associate Degree (2-year) program with no plans to continue to a 
Bachelor's Degree; whether the applicant intends to transfer to a 4-
year Bachelor's Degree program and in what course of study; whether 
there is a desire to obtain a Master's or higher degree; activities 
participated in outside of school; volunteer services or jobs held 
during last 3 years, including summer employment; a 500-800 word essay 
describing how the applicant became interested in studying food, 
agricultural, and related natural resources sciences or another related 
discipline in college; how USDA will benefit if the applicant is 
selected for the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program; what motivated the 
applicant to consider a public service career working for USDA; 
information about the applicant's educational and career goals, and how 
the scholarship may assist the applicant to achieve educational and 
career goals.
    The application requests two letters of recommendation that comment 
on the applicant's personal strengths, leadership qualities, academic 
and extracurricular achievements, and future academic and career goals 
from previous school counselors, teachers, principals, or current or 
previous employers for applicants who are entering freshmen 0-2 years 
out of high school or entering freshmen who are General Educational 
Development earners.
    If selected, student must sign up for the SCEP; furnish course 
registration at the start of each school term; provide verification of 
academic status at the end of each academic term (grade report or 
transcript); must meet academic standards as set forth by the school 
they are attending; maintain satisfactory progress in completing 
academic requirements, and demonstrate satisfactory performance and 
conduct. Students will be required to complete all academic 
requirements for the target position as stipulated by the Office of 
Personnel Management Qualification Standards.
    Need and Use of the Information: The information is needed for 
identifying applicants that match the human capital needs of USDA 
agencies from 1994 Land-Grant Institutions through SCEP and an award of 
an annually reviewed and renewed scholarship at a Land-Grant 
Institution with the objective of preparing the student for successful 
placement into the USDA's permanent workforce.

[[Page 18684]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.2 hours per response.
    Type of Respondents: Individuals attending or interested in 
attending 1994 Land Grant Institutions, teachers, principals, and 
guidance counselors.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 480.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 1440.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4320.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who 
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Lawrence Shorty, 
Director, USDA/1994 Program, OASCR, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., 
Mail Stop 9577, Washington, DC 20250. All comments received will be 
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the 
same address.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public 
record.

 Lawrence Shorty,
Director, USDA/1994 Program, Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. E9-9288 Filed 4-23-09; 8:45 am]
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