[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7498-7499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03469]


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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 establishment and clearance of this collection. In accordance 
with the requirements 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 three years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by April 23, 
2018 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, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Room W 18000, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; 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).
    Instructions: Please submit one copy of your comments by only one 
method. All submissions received must include the agency name and 
collection name identified above for this information collection. 
Commenters are strongly encouraged to transmit their comments 
electronically via email. Comments, including any personal information 
provided become a matter of public record. They will be summarized and/
or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval 
of the information collection request.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Comments: 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; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of

[[Page 7499]]

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: Developing an Evaluation Framework and Pilot-
Testing a Longitudinal Tracking System for REU Site Students.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not applicable.

Abstract

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and pilot 
test different approaches to collecting data electronically from one 
cohort of applicants to the Research Experiences for Undergraduates 
(REU) Program and track their program and career outcomes over time. 
The intent is for the pilot tests to provide information for NSF to 
select the most effective and least burdensome approach to collect data 
needed to monitor the Program, report to NSF leadership, and comply 
with a Congressional requirement.
    The REU program was created in 1987 to strengthen the science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Building on 
research experiences as ``one of the most effective avenues for 
attracting students to and retaining them in science and engineering, 
and for preparing them for careers in these fields,'' the program is 
designed to foster student research and promote diversity.
    The main goal of the current study is to pilot test alternative 
approaches to collecting data required by Congress in the America 
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which states that students in the 
REU program must ``be tracked, for employment and continued 
matriculation in STEM fields, through receipt of the undergraduate 
degree and for at least three years thereafter'' (Section 514[a][6] of 
Pub. L. 111-358). The legislation also mentions specific demographic 
characteristics of participants that need to be reported, such as 
gender, ethnicity, and enrollment in a two-year college. In addition to 
needing these data to report to Congress, NSF program officers and 
leadership need a more robust data system to enhance their efforts to 
monitor participation in the program and eventually to assess its 
effectiveness.
    In addition to designing the system, the present study will pilot 
test different approaches to collecting data from a sample of REU Sites 
that volunteer to participate. By participating in this study, these 
Sites will have the opportunity to experience the data collections 
first hand and provide feedback that will be used to determine which 
approach will be the most effective, most efficient, and least 
burdensome for possible future implementation across all REU Sites.
    The pilot includes:
    1. Testing a web-based system that includes two approaches to 
obtain basic student background and participation information:
     Registration. The registration will be designed to collect 
the basic demographic and contact information needed for analysis and 
tracking purposes. Students will be asked to register at a website 
through which they will obtain a unique ID. With this unique ID, they 
will then apply directly to the REU Sites using the existing Site 
application processes. Staff at REU Sites will use the IDs provided by 
students to record application decisions and participation status of 
admitted applicants.
     Common Application. The common application will replace 
existing REU Site applications among participating Sites for the 2019 
cycle. It will enable students to apply to multiple Sites through one 
application. Students will first complete the REU Registration 
described above, and then proceed to the common application through 
which they will submit additional information commonly required by 
Sites as part of their applications, such as transcripts. Staff at REU 
Sites will use the system to provide information needed by potential 
applicants, retrieve applicant information, record application 
decisions and participation status among admitted applicants, and 
produce reports and run queries of data submitted by applicants to 
their Sites.
    2. Obtaining and integrating educational and employment 
information. The study will follow the subset of rising seniors who 
participate in the REU program in 2019 (as seniors are the large 
majority of participants) to:
     Obtain educational outcomes information from the National 
Student Clearinghouse (NSC).
     Administer a survey to obtain information on employment 
outcomes (among those not enrolled in graduate school at the time of 
the survey).
    3. Conducting site visits to a few REU Sites participating in the 
pilot to interview principal investigators and program administrators, 
and to conduct focus groups with REU students. The site visits will be 
used to elicit in-depth feedback on the registration and common 
application systems as well as the tools available for PIs to obtain 
data and reports through the REU data system.
    Estimate of Burden: At present, applications to the REU program are 
submitted yearly directly to each Site. For those participating in the 
registration pilot, it is estimated that applicants will spend 2 hours 
submitting basic information through the REU Data System and then 
complete the rest of their applications through the individual REU 
sites. For those participating in the common application pilot, it is 
estimated that each submission will take, on average, 12 hours. 
Reference writers are expected to take 0.5 hours to draft a letter in 
support of students' application to the program. It is estimated that 
REU Principal Investigators will spend 8.9 hours using the system to 
track applications.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 30,455.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 96,130 hours.
    Frequency of Responses: One round of pilot data collection.

    Dated: February 9, 2018.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2018-03469 Filed 2-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P