[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12190-12191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05180]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9463]


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 April 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in 
the Office of Information and Regulatory 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 Heather Rudow, 2401 E Street NW., Washington, 
DC 20520, who may be reached on 202-261-8953 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: Current participants and alumni of the U.S. 
Department of State's student programs, including internships, 
Pickerings, Rangels, Pathways, etc. and Department Employees.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 1,000.
     Average Time Per Response: 15 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 250 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

[[Page 12191]]

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 prospects 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 prospects 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 and former interns as well as Department 
employees that collects pertinent information about them, their 
experiences and their career goals.

Methodology

    Users register online at https://internconnect.careers.state.gov 
and create a profile that includes: full name, program status, names of 
colleges attended, major/minor, where the user is from, current post, 
year graduated, career goals and interests, personal interests, career 
path, bureau, job title, professional experience and languages the user 
can speak. The respondents are current and former interns, as well as 
Department employees.

    Dated: February 29, 2016.
Derwood Staeben,
Executive Director, HR/REE, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-05180 Filed 3-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-15-P