[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1295-1296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00131]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; NSF's 
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Broadening 
Participation in Computing (BPC) Pilot Survey

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 no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed 
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, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; 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: Comments regarding (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, 
use, and clarity of the information on respondents; 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 should be addressed to the points 
of contact in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    Copies of the submission 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: NSF's Computer and Information Science and 
Engineering (CISE) Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Pilot 
Survey.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-New.
    Abstract: Guided by its Strategic Plan, the National Science 
Foundation (NSF) has had a longstanding commitment to broadening 
participation of underrepresented groups and diverse institutions in 
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In recent years, the 
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate has 
made a concerted effort to address underrepresentation of various 
groups in the field of computer science, including women, persons with 
disabilities, Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, 
American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Other Pacific 
Islanders. Underrepresentation in the computer science field has 
resulted in unwelcoming work and academic environments, the belief 
among those in positions of influence (e.g., counselors, teachers, 
faculty, and recruiters) that some people are not well suited to 
computing or are less likely to excel, and a lack of policies promoting 
equity within educational institutions and private companies.
    This underrepresentation has important implications for society. 
Computing is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and the 
lack of diversity deprives the field of a wealth of experience, 
knowledge, expertise, and perspective. The CISE Strategic Plan for 
Broadening Participation (November 2012) recognizes that the ``. . . 
causes of longstanding underrepresentation are complex and

[[Page 1296]]

deeply rooted in the cultures of different demographic groups as well 
as in our society, in our educational institutions, and in our popular 
media. They will not be easily or quickly changed.''
    The NSF CISE Directorate requests the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval of this clearance to initiate new data 
collections to be conducted as part of an external evaluation of the 
CISE BPC pilot. These collections, to be conducted by the evaluation 
contractor, include:
    Survey of BPC pilot projects. A one-time web-based survey of all 
BPC pilot projects funded between FY19 to FY21. The purpose is to 
corroborate and confirm key findings from reviews of existing project 
documentation (e.g., types of strategies that BPC pilots are using to 
address systemic barriers, as described in Research Performance 
Progress Reports), as well as to collect data about topics not covered 
by existing documentation. The survey data will enable NSF to assess 
the feasibility and value of specific data elements that might be 
included in recommendations for how to document the characteristics and 
outcomes of BPC pilots in future years.
    Interviews with BPC pilot projects. Interviews with representatives 
from a purposeful sample of 30 BPC pilot projects funded between FY19 
to FY21. The interviews, to be conducted using a virtual meeting 
platform at a time convenient for the participants, will provide in-
depth information about specific topics of interest to NSF (e.g., how 
BPC pilot project plans and Departmental plans are being implemented, 
effective strategies for broadening participation across a range of 
preK-20 settings). An added purpose is to corroborate findings obtained 
through prior reviews of existing documents and dive more deeply on 
selected areas that are of interest to CISE staff and other 
stakeholders.
    This data collection is necessary to provide NSF with timely and 
actionable information about the characteristics, broad strategies and 
activities, short-term outputs, and outcomes associated with the 
approximately 800 awards funded through the CISE broadening 
participation in computing (BPC) pilot. The information collected will 
provide a better understanding of: (1) the outputs and outcomes of the 
BPC pilot projects and whether they are correlated with national trends 
related to computing, (2) the feasibility of measuring the types of 
impacts associated with BPC pilots; and (3) promising strategies.
    Use of the Information: Aggregate results from the survey and 
interviews will be summarized in reports developed by the evaluation 
contractor that will be provided to NSF. While the individual survey 
and interview responses will be identifiable to the contractor, the 
reports provided to NSF will only include overall results. Westat will 
not report any No individual survey or individual responses will be 
reported to NSF, and no information about individuals participating in 
the surveys and interviews will be released to anyone outside the 
contractor's organization. The data collected and reported on will be 
used for planning, management, and evaluation purposes. These data are 
needed for effective administration, program monitoring, evaluation, 
and for strategic reviews and measuring attainment of NSF's program and 
strategic goals, as identified by the President's Accountable 
Government Initiative, the Government Performance and Results Act 
Modernization Act of 2010, Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018, and 
NSF's Strategic Plan.
    Expected Respondents: The respondents are either Principal 
Investigators (PIs) and/or other key personnel on grants funded through 
the NSF CISE pilot. The survey will include all PIs with awards that 
required a BPC plan funded from FY 19 to FY 21 (approximately 800 
total). The interviews will include PIs and/or other key personnel from 
a sample of 30 projects.
    Estimate of Burden:

Estimates of Annualized Cost to Respondents for the Hour Burdens

    The overall annualized cost to the respondents is estimated to be 
$21,070. The following table shows the estimated burden and costs to 
respondents, who are generally computer science teachers at the 
postsecondary level. This estimated hourly rate is based on a report 
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wages, 
May 2021).\1\ According to this report, the average hourly rate is 
$43.08.
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    \1\ https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes251021.htm.

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                                   Total number    Burden hours     Total hour    Average hourly     Estimated
        Collection title          of respondents  per respondent      burden           rate         annual cost
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Survey of BPC pilot projects....             800              .5             400             $43         $17,200
Interviews with BPC pilot                     90               1              90              43           3,870
 projects.......................
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    Total.......................             890  ..............             490  ..............          21,070
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    Estimated Number of Responses per Report: Data collection for the 
collections involves all awardees in the programs involved for the 
survey and a sample of 90 representatives from 30 projects for the 
interviews.

    Dated: January 3, 2023.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2023-00131 Filed 1-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P