[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 19 (Tuesday, January 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6171-6172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01883]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8167]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: INTERNational 
Connections

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information 
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 we 
are requesting comments on this collection from all interested 
individuals and organizations. The purpose of this Notice is to allow 
30 days for public comment.

DATES: Submit comments directly to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) up to February 28, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in 
the Office of Information and Regulatory

[[Page 6172]]

Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). You may submit 
comments by the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. You must include the 
DS form number, information collection title, and the OMB control 
number in the subject line of your message.
     Fax: 202-395-5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department 
of State.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents, to Rachel C. Friedland, 2401 E Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20520, who may be reached on 202-261-8055 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: INTERNational 
Connections.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0190.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Human Resources, Office of 
Recruitment, Examination and Employment (HR/REE).
     Form Number: DS-5103.
     Respondents: Alumni of the U.S. Department of State's 
Student Programs, including internships, Pickerings, Rangels, Pathways, 
etc.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 1,000.
     Average Time per Response: 30 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 500 hours.
     Frequency: On Occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.
    Abstract of proposed collection: The Department's student 
internship programs provide a key source of potential candidates who 
have an interest in, and are qualified, to become future Department 
employees. Naturally, HR/REE wants to strengthen and maintain its 
connections to this group, fostering and mentoring a pool of candidates 
from which to obtain successful recruits.
    In June 2008, HR/REE surveyed over 3,500 former interns who served 
from 2005 through spring 2008. The intern alumni were queried as to 
their motivation in seeking an internship, whether or not they had 
pursued a career with either the Foreign Service or Civil Service, and 
what their recommendations would be for the best ways for the 
Department to maintain contact after the conclusion of their 
internships. Intern alumni endorse continued contact with Department 
representatives mainly through electronic means and Web site reminders 
of career opportunities.
    In an effort to address these findings and provide viable solutions 
to improving student engagement prior to, during and following an 
internship, the Department developed an intern engagement strategy that 
will ultimately result in a measurable conversion of interns into 
Department hires for the Foreign or Civil Service. The foundation of 
this strategy is INTERNational Connections, a web-based career 
networking site for current, former and future interns that collects 
pertinent information about them, their experiences and their career 
goals.
    Methodology: Currently, the Department of State internship program 
employs over 1,000 participants in the summer, in addition to fall and 
spring internships. Unfortunately, a tracking system does not exist 
which would enable the Department to capture the intern-to-hire ratio 
or conversion rate, or track this statistic over a period of time. This 
project would provide that missing link.
    Users will register online at careers.state.gov/internconnect and 
create a profile that includes the aforementioned information.

    Dated: January 23, 2013.
William Schaal, Jr.,
Executive Director, Bureau of Human Resources, U.S. Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2013-01883 Filed 1-28-13; 8:45 am]
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