[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 241 (Friday, December 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 74516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30177]


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

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request approval 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.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the 
burden or any other aspect of this collection of information 
requirements by February 12, 2013.

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 email to [email protected].
    Comments: Written 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; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send email 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, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 
days a year (including federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Program Evaluation of the Scholarships in Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW
    Expiration Date: Not applicable.
    Overview of this information collection: The National Science 
Foundation (NSF) is supporting an evaluation of the Scholarships in 
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Program, 
which operates within NSF's Division of Undergraduate Education. The 
evaluation will include surveys of principal investigators, surveys of 
a sample of S-STEM scholarship recipients, and focus groups and 
interviews with project personnel and students during site visits to S-
STEM awardee institutions. The S-STEM Program awards grants to a 
geographically diverse set of two- and four-year institutions of higher 
education (IHEs) that then provide scholarships for academically 
talented students, in science and engineering disciplines, who have 
demonstrated financial need. The institutions also provide resources 
and support services to assist students in becoming and/or remaining 
engaged in science and engineering through to the successful attainment 
of associate, baccalaureate, or graduate-level degrees. Funding for the 
S-STEM Program comes from H-1B VISAs, funding which was reauthorized in 
FY 2005 through Public Law 108-447. NSF is committed to providing 
stakeholders with information regarding the expenditures of taxpayer 
funds. The evaluation of the S-STEM Program will explore the 
strategies, practices, and characteristics of the implementation of 
exemplary S-STEM awardees; investigate S-STEM Program outcomes related 
to awarding scholarships to talented STEM students with demonstrated 
financial need; and investigate institutional-related outcomes of S-
STEM grantees. If NSF cannot collect information from S-STEM 
participants, NSF will have no other means to consistently document the 
outcomes, strategies, and experiences related to the program.

Consult With Other Agencies and the Public

    NSF has not consulted with other agencies. However, the contractor 
conducting the evaluation has gathered information from an external 
evaluation group of subject matter experts on the study design and data 
collection plan. A request for public comments will be solicited 
through announcement of data collection in the Federal Register.

Background

    The evaluation will involve data from extant sources, web surveys 
and site visits. OMB approval is being sought for the new data that 
will be collected for the study. Primary data sources will include web 
surveys of S-STEM Program Principal Investigators (PIs) and S-STEM 
scholarship recipients and in-depth interviews or focus groups with a 
series of respondents during site visits to a subset of awardee 
institutions.
    Respondents: Individuals (Principal Investigators, S-STEM 
scholarship recipients, other campus officials involved in the S-STEM 
program).
    Number of Respondents: 8,907.
    Average Time per Response: 24 minutes.
    Burden on the Public: 3,563 total hours.

    Dated: December 11, 2012.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2012-30177 Filed 12-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P