[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 98 (Wednesday, May 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29220-29221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11697]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce 
paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) 
is inviting the general public or other Federal agencies to comment on 
this proposed continuing information collection. The NSF will publish 
periodic summaries of the proposed projects.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 21, 
2014, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 1265,

[[Page 29221]]

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 of Collection: Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates 
in Science and Engineering.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0062.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: October 31, 2014.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information 
collection for three years.

1. Abstract

    The Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and 
Engineering (GSS) is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and 
the National Institutes of Health. The GSS originated in 1966 and has 
been conducted annually since 1972. The GSS is a census of all 
departments in science, engineering and health fields within academic 
institutions with post-baccalaureate programs in the United States. The 
total number of respondents in 2014 survey is estimated to be 13,774 
departments (reporting units) located in about 670 degree-granting 
institutions. The GSS is the only national survey that collects 
information on the characteristics of graduate enrollment for specific 
science, engineering and health disciplines at the department level. It 
also collects information on race and ethnicity, citizenship, gender, 
sources of support, mechanisms of support, and enrollment status for 
graduate students; information on postdoctoral appointments (postdocs) 
by citizenship, sex, sources of support, type and origin of doctoral 
degree; and information on other doctorate-holding non-faculty 
researchers. To improve coverage of postdocs, the GSS will collect 
information on the race and ethnicity, sex, citizenship, source of 
support, field of research for the postdocs employed in Federally 
Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) in 2015.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to ``. . . provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The GSS is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the characteristics of academic graduate 
enrollment and postdoctoral components in science, engineering and 
health fields.
    The GSS data are routinely provided to Congress and other Federal 
agencies. The GSS institutions are major users of the GSS data along 
with professional societies such American Association of Universities, 
Association of American Medical Colleges, and the Carnegie Foundation. 
Graduate enrollment and postdoc data are often used in reports by the 
national media.
    The GSS (along with other academic sector surveys from both NSF and 
the National Center for Education Statistics) is one of the inputs into 
the WebCASPAR data system, which provides access to science and 
engineering statistical data from U.S. academic institutions. Among 
other uses, this NSF on-line database is used by NSF to review changing 
enrollment levels to assess the effects of NSF initiatives, to track 
student support patterns and to analyze participation in S&E fields by 
targeted groups for all disciplines or for selected disciplines and for 
selected groups of institutions.
    The Foundation also uses the GSS information to prepare 
congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons 
with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and 
Engineering Indicators. A public use file is also made available on the 
world-wide Web.
    Data are obtained by a Web survey and starts each fall in mid-
October. The data are solicited under the authority of the National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. All information will be 
used for statistical purposes only. Participation in the survey is 
voluntary.

2. Expected Respondents

    The GSS is a census of all eligible academic institutions in the 
U.S. with post-baccalaureate programs in science, engineering and 
health fields and their related departments. The response rate is based 
on the number of departments that respond to the survey.

3. Estimate of Burden

    The initial GSS data request is sent to a designated respondent 
(School Coordinator) at each academic institution in the fall. The 
School Coordinator may complete or delegate the collection of the list 
of eligible units (departments, programs, research centers and health 
care facilities) and of the aggregate counts of graduate students 
enrolled or postdocs employed in each unit by various characteristics. 
The amount of time it takes to complete the GSS data (unit lists and 
counts of graduate students and postdocs) varies dramatically and 
depends to a large degree on the extent to which the school's records 
are centrally stored and computerized.
    The 2013 GSS asked the unit respondents to provide an estimate of 
the time spent in providing the GSS data. The average burden for 
completing the GSS was 2.6 hours per reporting unit, which includes 
providing unit listing and aggregate counts. Based on prior experience, 
the estimate of the per unit burden will decrease slightly each year as 
the respondents become familiar with the question items in the survey, 
thus we estimate a burden of 2.6 hours per reporting unit in 2014, and 
a burden of 2.5 hours per reporting unit in 2015 and 2016. The number 
of units in the subsequent survey cycle will include the units in the 
previous year plus approximately an additional 1% increase in units. 
The estimated burden estimates for 2014 GSS is 36,171 hours from 13,912 
units; 35,268 hours from 14,091 units (including 40 FFRDCs) for 2015; 
and 35,481 hours from 14,192 units for 2016. The average estimated 
burden for each cycle of GSS is about 35,760 hours. The total estimated 
respondent burden of the GSS, including 360 hours for the 
methodological testing, would be 107,280 hours over the 3-year 
clearance period.

    Dated: May 15, 2014.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2014-11697 Filed 5-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P