[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45679-45680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11380]


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NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

National Endowment for the Arts


30-Day Notice for the ``HBCU Research Study''; Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request

AGENCY: National Endowment for the Arts, National Foundation on the 
Arts and the Humanities.

ACTION: Notice, request for comments, collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a 
preclearance consultation program to provide the general public and 
Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or 
continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data 
can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and 
financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly 
understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents 
can be properly assessed. Currently, the NEA is soliciting comments 
concerning the proposed collection of information from Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the HBCU Research Study. A 
copy of the current information collection request can be obtained by 
contacting the office listed below in the address section of this 
notice.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
address section below within 30 days from the date of this publication 
in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days from the date of 
publication of this Notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find 
this particular information collection by selecting, ``National 
Endowment for the Arts'' under ``Currently Under Review;'' then check 
``Only Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. Once you have found this 
information collection request, select ``Comment,'' and enter or upload 
your comment and information. Alternatively, comments can be sent to 
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: OMB Desk 
Officer for the National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Management 
and Budget, Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503, or call (202) 395-7316, 
within 30 days from the date of this publication in the Federal 
Register.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is 
particularly interested in comments which:
     Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
     Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the 
burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity 
of the methodology and assumptions used;
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
     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, e.g., permitting 
electronic submissions of responses.
    Agency: National Endowment for the Arts.
    Title: HBCU Web Survey and Case Study Focus Group Data Collection.
    OMB Number: New.
    Type of Review: Regular.
    Frequency: One-time web survey and focus group data collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals and Households; Businesses and 
Organizations; State, Local or Tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 311.
    Estimated Annual Time per Respondent (Hours): 0.73.
    Total Annual Burden Hours: 225.5.
    Total Annualized Capital/Startup Costs: 0.
    Total Annual Costs (operating/maintaining systems or purchasing 
services): The total one-time contracted cost to the Federal Government 
for survey and focus group guide development, cognitive testing of the 
survey, and data collection and analysis is $98,672.20.
    Description: This is a request for clearance for the National 
Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to conduct a web survey of Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and focus groups across three 
HBCUs selected for case studies as part of a mixed-methods study on how 
HBCUs currently support the arts and arts education as preparatory to 
careers in the arts and in transdisciplinary fields. The planned data 
collection is a new information collection request, and the data to be 
collected are not available elsewhere unless obtained through this 
information collection. Both are one time data collections.
    In 2021, the HBCU Interagency Working Group (IWG) published agency 
competitiveness plans in a Federal HBCU Competitiveness Strategy, based 
on a Federal HBCU Competitiveness Framework, thus creating a 
government-wide plan to improve conditions under which HBCUs compete 
for federal opportunities.
    The NEA's HBCU Competitiveness Plan provides a vision for the NEA's 
work with HBCUs. Outreach to HBCUs is a distinct priority of the NEA. 
The agency's vision is that, over time, every HBCU successfully will 
apply for funding opportunities through the NEA. To facilitate HBCU 
engagement with federal and state grant opportunities in the arts, it 
is desirable to understand, within these institutions, the nature and 
extent of arts and cultural assets (i.e., programs and facilities)--
including arts and arts education (curricular and extra-curricular)--
and of partnerships with national, state, and local arts organizations 
and funders. It is also desirable to know about the role of HBCUs' arts 
and cultural assets within the context of colleges and universities 
serving as anchor institutions, how HBCUs' arts and cultural training 
is preparing students to enter careers in the creative economy and in 
transdisciplinary fields, and what barriers and opportunities exist in 
HBCUs' pursuit of relationships with arts and cultural organizations 
and public and private funders. Accordingly, as part of its commitment 
to supporting HBCUs, and consistent with the IWG's ongoing work, the 
NEA

[[Page 45680]]

seeks to conduct this mixed-methods study.

    Dated: May 20, 2024.
RaShaunda Thomas,
Administrative Officer (Deputy), Office of Administrative Services & 
Contracts, National Endowment for the Arts.
[FR Doc. 2024-11380 Filed 5-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7537-01-P