[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95968-95970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31398]


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BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION


Academic Research Council Solicitation of Applications for 
Membership

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Notice of solicitation of applications.

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[[Page 95969]]

SUMMARY: The Consumer Financial Protection Act establishes the Consumer 
Financial Protection Bureau's (Bureau) Office of Research and assigns 
to it the responsibility of researching, analyzing, and reporting on 
topics relating to the Bureau's mission, including developments in 
markets for consumer financial products and services, consumer 
awareness, and consumer behavior. The Bureau established the Academic 
Research Council (Council) as a technical advisory body comprised of 
scholars to provide the Office of Research with guidance as it performs 
its responsibilities. Director Richard Cordray invites qualified 
individuals to apply for appointment to the Council. Appointments to 
the Council are typically for four years. However, the Director may 
amend the Council charter from time to time during the charter terms as 
the Director deems necessary to accomplish the purpose of the Council. 
The Bureau expects to announce the selection of new members in April 
2017.

DATES: The application will be available on January 16, 2017 here, 
https://goo.gl/RYLDHq. Only complete application packets received on or 
before 5 p.m. eastern standard time on February 14, 2017, will be given 
consideration for membership on the Council.

ADDRESSES: Complete application packets must include a curriculum vitae 
or r[eacute]sum[eacute] for each applicant and a completed application.
    All applications for membership on the Council should be sent:
     Electronically: https://goo.gl/RYLDHq. We strongly 
encourage electronic submissions.
    Mail:
     Julian Alcazar, Outreach and Engagement Specialist, 
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street NW., Washington, DC 
20552. Submissions must be postmarked on or before February 14, 2017.
     Hand Delivery/Courier in Lieu of Mail: Julian Alcazar, 
Outreach and Engagement Specialist, Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau, 1275 First Street NE., 1223-C, Washington, DC 20002. 
Submissions must be received on or before 5 p.m. eastern standard time 
on February 14, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Julian Alcazar, Outreach and Engagement 
Specialist, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, (202) 435-9885.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Section 1013(b)(1) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, 12 
U.S.C. 5493(b)(1), establishes the Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau's (Bureau) Office of Research and assigns to it the 
responsibility of researching, analyzing, and reporting on topics 
relating to the Bureau's mission, including developments in markets for 
consumer financial products and services, consumer awareness, and 
consumer behavior. The Bureau established the Academic Research Council 
(Council) as a technical advisory body comprised of scholars to provide 
the Office of Research with guidance as it performs its 
responsibilities.
    The Bureau is charged with regulating ``the offering and provision 
of consumer financial products or services under the Federal consumer 
financial laws,'' so as to ensure that ``all consumers have access to 
markets for consumer financial products and services and that markets 
for consumer financial products and services are fair, transparent, and 
competitive.'' Pursuant to section 1021(c) of the Dodd-Frank Wall 
Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111-203 (Dodd-
Frank Act), the Bureau's primary functions are:
    1. Conducting financial education programs;
    2. Collecting, investigating, and responding to consumer 
complaints;
    3. Collecting, researching, monitoring, and publishing information 
relevant to the function of markets for consumer financial products and 
services to identify risks to consumers and to the proper functioning 
of such markets;
    4. Supervising persons covered under the Dodd-Frank Act for 
compliance with Federal consumer financial law, and taking appropriate 
enforcement action to address violations of Federal consumer financial 
law;
    5. Issuing rules, orders, and guidance implementing Federal 
consumer financial law; and
    6. Performing such support activities as may be needed or useful to 
facilitate the other functions of the Bureau.

II. Academic Research Council

    Section 1013(b)(1) of the Consumer Financial Protection Act, 12 
U.S.C. 5493(b)(1), establishes the Consumer Financial Protection 
Bureau's Office of Research and assigns to it the responsibility of 
researching, analyzing, and reporting on topics relating to the 
Bureau's mission, including developments in markets for consumer 
financial products and services, consumer awareness, and consumer 
behavior. The Bureau established the Council as a technical advisory 
body comprised of scholars to provide the Office of Research with 
methodological and technical advice and feedback on its research work 
by framing research questions; suggesting new data collection 
strategies and methods of analysis; providing feedback, both backward 
and forward looking, on the Office of Research's research program; 
providing input into its research strategic planning process and 
research agenda; collaborating with the Bureau's research staff on high 
value research projects which will allow for transfer of specialized 
expertise; and supporting high quality recruitment.

III. Qualifications

    In appointing members of the Council, the Office of Research seeks 
to recruit tenured academics with a world class research and publishing 
background, and a record of public or academic service. We are seeking 
prominent experts who are recognized for their professional 
achievements and objectivity in economics, statistics, psychology or 
behavioral science. In particular, academics with strong methodological 
and technical expertise in structural or reduced form econometrics, 
modeling of consumer decision-making, behavioral economics, 
experimental economics, program evaluation, psychology, and financial 
choice. The members of the Council will collectively provide a balance 
of expertise across these areas. You can learn more about current 
Academic Research Council members http://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/advisory-groups/academic-research-council/.
    The Bureau has a special interest in ensuring that the perspectives 
of women and men, all racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with 
disabilities are adequately represented on the Council and therefore 
encourages applications from qualified candidates from these groups. 
The Bureau also has a special interest in establishing a Council that 
is represented by a diversity of viewpoints and constituencies, and 
therefore encourages nominations for qualified candidates who:
    1. Represent the United States' geographic diversity; and
    2. Understand the interests of special populations identified in 
the Dodd-Frank Act, including servicemembers, older Americans, 
students, and traditionally underserved consumers and communities.

IV. Application Procedures

    Any interested person may apply for membership on the Council.
    A complete application packet may include a cover letter and must 
include:
    1. A complete r[eacute]sum[eacute] or curriculum vitae for the 
applicant; and

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    2. Completed application
    To evaluate potential sources of conflicts of interest, the Bureau 
will ask potential candidates to provide information related to 
financial holdings and/or professional affiliations, and to allow the 
Bureau to perform a background check. The Bureau will not review 
nominations and will not answer questions from internal or external 
parties regarding applications until the application period has closed.
    The Bureau will not entertain nominations of federally registered 
lobbyists and individuals who have been convicted of a felony for a 
position on the Council.
    Only complete applications will be given consideration for review 
of membership on the Council.

    Dated: December 20, 2016.
Elizabeth Corbett,
Acting Chief of Staff, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
[FR Doc. 2016-31398 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P