Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals , 34321-34322 [07-3054]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register: June 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 119)]
[Notices]
[Page 34321-34322]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn07-70]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise an Information
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), and as
part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent
burden, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general
public and other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed
continuing information collection. This is the third notice for public
comment; the first was published in the Federal Register at 71 FR 38428
and one comment that had no significant suggestions for altering the
data plans was received. The second notice was published at 71 FR
78226, simultaneous with submission of the clearance package to OMB.
The information collection request was withdrawn on March 29, 2007 to
allow the program to clarify burden hours and participants. NSF is now
forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this
third notice.

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DATES: Comments regarding these information collections are best
assured of having their full effect if received by OMB within 30 days
of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments regarding (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
NSF, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b)
the accuracy of NSF's estimate of burden including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; or (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: Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for
National Science Foundation, 725-17th Street, NW., Room 10235,
Washington, DC 20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295,
Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov. Copies of
the submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, NSF Reports
Clearance Officer at (703) 292-7556 or send e-mail to splimpto@nsf.gov.
    An agency 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: Evaluation of the Research Experiences for
Undergraduates (REU) Program in the NSF Directorate for Engineering
(ENG).
    OMB Number: 3145-0121.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to renew an information
collection for three years.
    Proposed Project: NSF has supported the REU Program since 1987. The
Program was evaluated after three and five years and as part of a
larger study of all NSF undergraduate research opportunities (URO) in
2003. The proposed project will enable NSF's Directorate for
Engineering (ENG) to learn about the activities, outcomes, and

[[Page 34322]]

impacts of the REU awards made by that Directorate, as well as lessons
learned to improve the results of future REU awards. Two types of REU
awards will be studied, REU sites and REU supplements. REU Site awards
fund groups of undergraduates to work with faculty members at an
institution. Half of the undergraduates in an REU site must come from
other institutions. ENG also makes REU Supplement awards to NSF-funded
Engineering Research Centers and to other NSF-funded researchers for
comparable involvement of undergraduates.
    The proposed study will be similar to the 2003 URO study. It will
focus on undergraduate ENG REU participants and the faculty members who
are responsible for the ENG REU awards during summer 2006 through
spring 2007, and will examine in detail for the first time the
activities, outcomes, and impacts of REU awards made in a single NSF
directorate--ENG. The study will evaluate the longer-term effects of
REU experiences with a follow-up survey of the students approximately
two years later. The REU program officers in the NSF's Division of
Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) particularly want to learn in
depth about the EEC REU Site and ERC REU Supplement awards from former
REU students and awardees, any differences between the Sites and ERC
Supplements, and lessons learned for subsequent proposal review and
advising prospective PIs. Information will also be used for ENG Program
reporting requirements. The study will examine (1) the role of the REU
program in aiding participating undergraduates in a decision to pursue
graduate education or careers in engineering; and (2) the relationship
between how REU activities are structured and managed and participants'
subsequent education and career decisions and actions.
    The survey data collection will be done on the World Wide Web.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 30 minutes per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,529.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,094 hours.
    Frequency of Response: One time for faculty, two times for
students.

    Dated: June 15, 2007.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 07-3054 Filed 6-20-07; 8:45 am]

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