[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26957-26958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11279]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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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 July 10, 2015.

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. 1265, 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 
1265, 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: Evaluation of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP)
    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 Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program 
(STEP). The primary objectives of the evaluation, stated generally, are 
to (a) analyze STEP implementation and outcome data from the 
participating institutions of higher education (IHEs), (b) compare 
these data to baseline data from the IHEs and matched comparison IHEs, 
and (c) produce a clear report of the findings to inform future 
programmatic activities focused on degree attainment in STEM. The 
evaluation will include surveys of principal investigators; extant data 
retrieval from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 
grantee proposals and annual reports, and STEP monitoring system; and 
extant outcome data collection from grantee and comparison IHEs that 
includes aggregate data for key indicators over time (from 2000 to 
2015). These key indicators include (a) number of students who are 
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors; (b) 
STEM retention rates; (c) persistence to a STEM degree; (d) number of 
STEM major transfers from 2-year associate programs into 4-year 
baccalaureate programs; (e) associate and baccalaureate degree 
attainment among STEM majors; and (f) enrollment in STEM courses. 
Additionally, in a subset of 10 IHEs, de-identified student level 
outcomes for participating students and comparison student counterparts 
will be collected (see Graduate 10K+ grants below).
    NSF granted STEP awards to a geographically diverse set of two- and 
four-year IHEs, with the first round of grant awards beginning in the 
2002-2003 school year and new awards granted each year through the 
2013-2014 school year. Over the course of the program, STEP awarded a 
total of 255 grants (129 of which are currently active). STEP supported 
3 types of grants:
    [ssquf] Type 1--Type 1 grants supported the implementation of best 
practices in recruitment, retention, and degree attainment that would 
lead to an increase in the number of students obtaining associate or 
baccalaureate degrees in STEM or completing credits to transfer from 
associate to baccalaureate programs in a STEM discipline. Specific 
strategies implemented were based on an analysis of the needs of the 
undergraduate institution of higher education (IHE).
    [ssquf] Type 2--Type 2 grants supported educational research 
projects that helped identify best practices and further understanding 
of the factors influencing STEM recruitment, retention, and degree 
attainment.
    [ssquf] Graduate 10K+--In support of President Obama's 2012 
initiative calling for ``one million STEM graduates in ten years,'' a 
public-private collaboration among NSF, Intel, and the GE Foundation, 
with a generous personal donation from Mark Gallogly, established the 
Graduate 10K+ special funding focus in FY2013. Graduate 10K+ projects 
strived to improve first and second year retention rates in engineering 
and computer science, especially among women and other groups of 
students who are underrepresented in the attainment of degrees in those 
disciplines.
    NSF is committed to providing stakeholders with information 
regarding the expenditures of taxpayer funds. The evaluation of STEP 
will assess the overall effect of STEP funding across STEP-funded IHEs; 
explore the types and combinations of STEP strategies, practices, and 
characteristics that are most effective at achieving the desired STEP 
outcomes; examine differences in outcomes across targeted disciplines; 
assess the effects of Graduate 10K+ funding on first- and second-year 
retention rates in engineering and computer science; and investigate 
the broad influence of STEP Type 2 projects to the base of quality, 
practical research in STEM education and in preparing new researchers 
to enter the field.
    If NSF cannot collect information from STEP participants and 
comparison IHEs, NSF will have no other means to consistently assess 
the program outcomes and identify strategies, practices, and 
characteristics that are most effective at achieving those desired 
outcomes.

[[Page 26958]]

Background

    The evaluation will involve data from web surveys and extant 
sources. OMB approval is being sought for the new data that will be 
collected for the study. Primary data sources will include web surveys 
of STEP Principal Investigators (PIs) and aggregate level outcome data 
provided by PIs at grantee IHEs and Institutional Research staff at 
comparison IHEs.
    Respondents: Individuals (Principal Investigators, Institutional 
Research staff).
    Number of Type 1 PI Survey Respondents: 325.
    Number of Type 2 PI Survey Respondents: 17.
    Number of Data Request Respondents: 1,031.
    Average Time per Response (Type 1 PI Survey): 15 minutes.
    Average Time per Response (Type 2 PI Survey): 20 minutes.
    Average Time per Data Request (Principal Investigators. 
Institutional Research Staff): 120 minutes.
    Burden on the Public: 2,149 total hours.

    Dated: May 5, 2015.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-11279 Filed 5-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P