[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41667-41669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18619]


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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 for the collection of research and development data 
through the Evaluation of the National Science Foundation Advanced 
Technological Education (ATE) Program survey. In accordance with the 
requirement 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 
that OMB approve clearance of this collection for no longer than 3 
years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by October 31, 
2017 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT: 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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments are invited on (a) whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the NSF, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF'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; and (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.
    Title of Collection: Evaluation of the National Science Foundation 
Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: Not applicable.
    Type of Request: Intent to establish an information collection.
    Abstract: NSF's ATE program focuses on providing Federal funds for 
the education of technicians at the local, regional, and national 
levels in advanced technology fields (i.e., advanced manufacturing, 
agricultural and environmental technology, biological and chemical 
technology, engineering, information and security, micro/
nanotechnologies, and general advanced technological education) to 
expand the pool of skilled technicians and improve the competitiveness 
of the United States in international trade. The program supports the 
education of technicians in strategic advanced technology fields by 
establishing partnerships between academic institutions and industry 
and providing resources for the development of curriculum, professional 
development for college faculty and secondary teachers, and career 
pathways from secondary schools to 2-year institutions and from 2-year 
institutions to 4-year institutions. The program also aims to

[[Page 41668]]

coordinate 2-year and 4-year institutions' teacher training programs 
for prospective STEM educators in strategic advanced technology fields.
    The primary goals of the ATE program are to (1) educate highly 
qualified science and engineering technicians to meet workforce demands 
in strategic advanced technology fields; (2) improve the technical 
skills and general science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
(STEM) preparation of these technicians and the educators who prepare 
them at the secondary (grades 7-12) and undergraduate levels; and (3) 
increase the capacity of institutions for advanced technician 
education.
    To ensure that the ATE program accomplishes its goals of producing 
more highly qualified science and engineering technicians and improving 
the skills and knowledge of educators and technicians who train them, 
it is important to consistently assess and improve the program's 
activities. Therefore, this evaluation aims to gather information on 
the following research questions:
    1. How has ATE advanced the mission of NSF between FY 2007 and FY 
2015?
    2. How do individual awardees implement student-focused activities 
at their ATE projects/centers?
    3. What are the educational outcomes of students who have 
participated in ATE-funded activities?
    4. How do individual awardees implement faculty-focused activities 
at their ATE projects/centers?
    5. How have program-supported activities enhanced faculty and 
teacher knowledge/skills/networks, especially as they relate to 
building capacity at institutions to address workforce needs in 
advanced technology fields?
    6. How do grantees develop partnerships with industry to support 
student and faculty/teacher development?
    7. How have awardee partnerships with business and industry 
enhanced student educational training and workforce outcomes?
    Because of the nature of the ATE program and the type of 
information being sought, a mixed methods evaluation design will be 
employed. The evaluation will collect data using web surveys and 
qualitative methods (consisting of semi-structured interviews and focus 
groups), as well as draw on data from extant sources. The study 
components include: a descriptive implementation study that describes 
project implementation; a relational study of associations between 
project/center and student characteristics on student outcomes; and a 
comparative study using the U.S. Department of Education's Integrated 
Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data to compare degrees and 
certificates conferred by non-ATE-funded institutions and ATE-funded 
institutions before and after receipt of funding. Approval is only 
sought for new data that will be collected for the study, including:
    [rtrif] Survey data from ATE PIs who were awarded funding between 
2007 and 2015 to understand how projects and centers operate and how 
awards are implemented: This survey collects data on the types of ATE-
supported activities students engage in, program completers, graduates 
in the workforce, and professional development offered to secondary and 
postsecondary educators.
    [rtrif] Survey data from faculty and teachers who directly 
participated in ATE-funded professional development (hereafter referred 
to as faculty) between 2012 and 2015 to understand the perceived impact 
on faculty growth: This survey asks about faculty members' 
participation in professional development activities, professional 
networks or communities of practice, and whether participation in the 
networks or communities improved their instruction.
    [rtrif] Survey data from current and former students who have 
directly participated in ATE-funded training activities (defined as 
having enrolled in technology degree or certificate programs developed 
as part of ATE-funded work, or worked in technology labs maintained as 
part of ATE-funded work, or participated in industry internships 
created as part of ATE-funded work) between 2012 and 2015 to 
understand: their reasons for participating in an ATE program, the 
perceived value and impact of the program, skills and experiences 
obtained, reasons for leaving the program (if applicable), interest in 
pursuing advanced education or occupation in advanced technology field, 
and educational and occupational status obtained.
    [rtrif] Semistructured interviews with PIs: To obtain more detail 
on program implementation, student recruitment and retention strategies 
and challenges, perceptions of professional development and training on 
specific outcomes, and lessons learned.
    [rtrif] Semistructured interviews with faculty participants: To 
obtain more detail on professional development activities they engaged 
in and which aspects were the most and least successful with regard to 
perceived impact of professional development on themselves and specific 
student outcomes.
    [rtrif] Virtual focus groups with current and former student 
participants: To describe in more detail their experiences with and 
perceptions of the ATE program, including how they learned about the 
program; supports and challenges to staying in/completing the program; 
activities they engaged in; and perceived impact on their skills, 
goals/interests, and workforce readiness.
    Use of the information: The primary purpose of collecting this 
information is program evaluation. The data collected will enable NSF 
to describe program components that are implemented with ATE fundsand 
will be used by NSF to monitor and improve the program and assess its 
merit and worth. The evaluation will also inform the design of a future 
impact evaluation.
    Expected respondents: The expected respondents are up to 560 ATE 
PIs who have received ATE funding since 2007; 33,613 faculty members 
who have participated in ATE-funded professional development since 
2012; and 43,763 students who have directly participated in PIs' ATE-
funded work since 2012.
    Estimate of burden: The collection occurs once for each respondent. 
The total estimate for this collection is 19,622 burden hours and 
$578,887.41. The calculation is shown in table 1.

                  Table 1--Estimated Burden to Survey, Interview, and Focus Group Participants
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                                                                    Anticipated      Estimated       Estimated
                       Type of collection                          responses  (#  annual  burden  annual  burden
                                                                    of persons)      (in hours)     (in dollars)
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PI List Collection..............................................             142              71       $2,795.27
PI Web Survey...................................................             390             130        5,118.10
Faculty Web Survey..............................................          33,585           8,396      330,550.52
Student Web Survey..............................................          43,707          10,927      237,552.98

[[Page 41669]]

 
PI Semistructured Interview.....................................              28              28        1,102.36
Faculty Semistructured Interview................................              28              14          551.18
Student Focus Group.............................................              56              56        1,217.00
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................          77,936          19,622      578,887.41
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    Dated: August 29, 2017.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2017-18619 Filed 8-31-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P