[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 27, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40217-40218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15905]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second 
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal 
Register and one comment was received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.

DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, 
Alexandria, VA 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). Comments regarding this information collection are 
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of 
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by 
calling 703-292-7556.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number, and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Certification.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0247.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend with revision an 
information collection for three years.
    Abstract: To enhance the quality of undergraduate STEM education at 
Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs), the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) established the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-
Serving Institutions (HSI Program), in response to the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2017 (Pub. L. 115-31) and the American Innovation 
and Competitiveness Act (Pub. L. 114-329). The lead institution 
submitting a proposal to the HSI Program must be an HSI as defined by

[[Page 40218]]

law in section 502 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1101a) (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-110publ315/html/PLAW-110publ315.htm). Hence there is a need for institutions to self-certify 
via an HSI Certification Form.
    The HSI Program includes a specific track that provides a funding 
opportunity for institutions that are new to NSF[5] or are Primarily 
Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs [6]), including community colleges. 
PUIs are ``accredited colleges and universities (including two-year 
community colleges) that award Associates degrees, Bachelor's degrees, 
and/or Master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded 20 or 
fewer Ph.D./D.Sci. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the 
combined previous two academic years.'' PUI definition obtained from 
https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5518.
    Hence there is a need for institutions to provide a self-
certification of PUI eligibility for this track. The following language 
is used:
    Certification of PUI Eligibility. A Certification of PUI 
Eligibility, following the format below and executed by an Authorized 
Organizational Representative, must be included in PUI requests 
(Planning or Pilot Projects (PPP) only). A current, signed 
Certification, included on institutional letterhead, should be scanned 
and included as a PDF file.

Certification of PUI Eligibility

    By submission of this proposal, the institution hereby certifies 
that the originating and managing institution is an accredited college 
or university that awards Associates degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and/
or Master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but has awarded 20 or 
fewer Ph.D./D.Sci. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the 
combined previous two academic years.

Authorized Organizational Representative
Typed Name and Title
Signature
Date

    Expected respondents: Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
    Estimate of burden: We anticipate 175 proposals for 2 minutes which 
is approximately 6 hours.

    Dated: July 21, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-15905 Filed 7-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P