[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59978-59979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23769]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 77 FR 48553, and one comment was received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of 
this second notice. The full submission (including comments) may be 
found at: http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Comments: Comments regarding (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions f 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency'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; (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 1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230 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).

DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best 
assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by calling 
703-292-7556.
    NSF 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: 
    Comments: As required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), comments on the 
information collection activities as part of this study were solicited 
through publication of a 60-Day Notice in the Federal Register on 
August 14, 2012, at 77 FR 48553. We received one comment, to which we 
here respond.
    Commenter: The Center for Equal Opportunity provided the following 
comment:
    We have a comment on this sentence in yesterday's Federal Register 
notice (77 FR 48553, August 14, 2012, NSF ``Notice of Intent To Seek 
Approval To Establish an Information Collection''): ``From this 
knowledge, a benchmark for progress towards creating a path of equity 
in engineering for women, and especially for racial/ethnic minorities 
and persons with disabilities can be established starting with the 
culture of the centers.''
    Since the aim is a workplace environment that is welcoming, 
inclusive, and nondiscriminatory toward all, we suggest this sentence 
be rewritten as follows in this and future Federal Register notices of 
this kind: ``From this knowledge, a benchmark for progress towards 
creating a path of

[[Page 59979]]

equity in engineering for women and men, and for all racial/ethnic 
groups and persons with disabilities, can be established starting with 
the culture of the centers.''
    Not only is the wording more in keeping with the principles of 
inclusion and nondiscrimination, but it is generally illegal for the 
government to show favoritism or even use classifications based on 
race, ethnicity, or sex. See Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 
U.S. 200, 227 (1995) (``all racial classifications . . . must be 
analyzed by a reviewing court under strict scrutiny''); Mississippi 
University for Women v. Hogan, 458 U.S. 718 (1982) (gender 
classifications require an ``exceedingly persuasive justification''). 
See also Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000d 
(prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national 
origin in federally funded programs). Indeed, such classifications and 
favoritism are ``presumptively invalid'' (see Personnel Administrator 
v. Feeney, 442 U.S. 256 (1979)). The wording we suggest is in line with 
that used by many other federal agencies in their Federal Register 
notices. See, for example, 76 FR 13422 (DHS), 77 FR 27013 (USDA), 77 FR 
24268 (DoTreasury), 75 FR 78705 (HHS), 76 FR 8366 (EPA), 77 FR 15745 
(DoEnergy), 77 FR 35063 (DoL), etc.
    Response: In response to the comment, the Need and Use of 
Information Collection section was modified to:
    The NSF Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) were established in 
1985 with one of the goals being the development of a diverse, globally 
competitive engineering workforce. The ERCs provide information 
regarding diversity in the Centers through 10-year diversity strategic 
plans and annual reporting that includes demographic data. However, 
beyond the numbers, NSF does not have a good understanding of the 
culture for diversity inside these centers and how it impacts faculty, 
students and their success. This information will enable NSF to have an 
unprecedented perspective of the ERC diversity culture. From this 
knowledge, a benchmark for progress towards creating a path of equity 
in engineering for women and men, all racial/ethnic groups and persons 
with disabilities, can be established starting with the culture of the 
centers. Also, with a better understanding of the diversity efforts and 
diversity culture within the ERCs, the information will enable us to 
assess, refine, and improve diversity efforts. We want the ERCs to be 
inclusive environments for all. This diversity climate survey will 
enable us to evaluate how close we are to that goal.
    For outside technical expertise, NSF has consulted with the Center 
for Biorenewable Chemicals (CBiRC) and the Computer Integrated Surgical 
Systems and Technology (CISST) Engineering Research Centers that have 
executed similar diversity surveys across their member institutions. 
These centers had success in developing a survey with content 
specifically designed to address the experiences unique to ERC 
personnel. The education, outreach and diversity staff within these 
specific ERCs have been available for consultation in the developmental 
process of the survey.
    After consideration of this comment, we are moving forward with our 
submission to OMB.
    Title of Collection: Engineering Research Center's Diversity 
Climate Survey.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an 
information collection.

Abstract

    Proposed Project: We would like to use Survey Monkey to administer 
a diversity climate survey to the 17, active NSF Engineering Research 
Centers. This survey will have a mix of rating and open-ended 
questions. Our goal is to gain an understanding of the climate of 
diversity within the ERCs.
    Need and Use of Information Collection: The NSF ERCs were 
established in 1985 with one of the goals being the development of a 
diverse, globally competitive engineering workforce. The ERCs provide 
information regarding diversity in the Centers through 10-year 
diversity strategic plans and annual reporting that includes 
demographic data. However, beyond the numbers, NSF does not have a good 
understanding of the culture for diversity inside these centers and how 
it impacts faculty, students and their success. This information will 
enable NSF to have an unprecedented perspective of ERC diversity 
culture. From this knowledge, a benchmark for progress towards creating 
a path of equity in engineering for women, and especially for racial/
ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities can be established 
starting with the culture of the centers. Also, with a better 
understanding of the diversity efforts and diversity culture within the 
ERCs, the information will enable us to assess, refine, and improve 
diversity efforts. We want the ERCs to be inclusive environments for 
all. This diversity climate survey will enable us to evaluate how close 
we are to that goal.
    Estimate of the Burden: This survey will have 1,418 respondents and 
should take no more than 30 minutes to complete. This yields a burden 
time of 709 hours.
    Respondents: Individuals; not-for-profit institutions
    Estimated Number of Responses per Survey: One

    Dated:September 25, 2013.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2013-23769 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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