Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request, 3492 [2010-1004]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 3492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1004]


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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, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 74 FR 60300, 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. The full submission may be found at: 
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments regarding (a) 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency'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 email to splimpto@nsf.gov. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton at (703) 292-7556 
or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. Individuals who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday.
    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: On November 20, 2009, we published in the 
Federal Register (74 FR 60300) a 60-day notice of our intent to request 
renewal of this information collection authority from OMB. In that 
notice, we solicited public comments for 60 days ending January 19, 
2009. We received one comment regarding this notice.
    Comment: One comment was received from Roger Clegg, President and 
General Counsel, Center for Equal Opportunity: ``The ADVANCE Program is 
described as ``address[ing] the underrepresentation and inadequate 
advancement of women,'' and ``gender equity outcomes,'' for STEM 
faculty. We hope that the Program does not contemplate the use of 
quotas, numerical goals, or other discrimination or preferences as ways 
to address underrepresentation (a dubious term) or gender equity 
(likewise dubious). Such discrimination and preference is presumptively 
unconstitutional when engaged in by government, including federal 
government agencies (see Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan, 458 
U.S. 718 (1982) (gender discrimination requires an ``exceedingly 
persuasive justification''), and faculty discrimination on the basis of 
sex is illegal under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 
2000e et seq.''
    Response: We responded via email on November 30, 2009: Thank you 
for your comment in response to the Federal Register notice published 
November 20, 2009 ``National Science Foundation Agency Information 
Collection Activities: Proposed Collection, Comment Request.'' The NSF 
ADVANCE program does not use quotas, numerical goals, or other 
discrimination or preferences. Further information on the ADVANCE 
program is available at: https://www.nsf.gov/advance.
    Title of Collection: Quantitative Evaluation of the ADVANCE 
Program.
    OMB Control No.: 3145-NEW.
    Abstract: The ADVANCE Program was established by the National 
Science Foundation in 2001 to address the underrepresentation and 
inadequate advancement of women on STEM (Science, Technology, 
Engineering, and Mathematics) faculties at postsecondary institutions. 
The evaluation being conducted by Westat focuses on the outcomes of two 
ADVANCE program components: (a) The first two (2001 and 2003) cohorts 
of Institutional Transformation (IT) awardees, and (b) both (2002 and 
2004) cohorts of individuals receiving ADVANCE Fellows awards. The 
study will rely on a thorough review of project documents and relevant 
literature; a survey (facilitated online via WebEx) and an outcome 
indicator data form (distributed and completed electronically) for the 
19 IT awardee institutions; and a mail survey, with telephone followup 
as needed, of all 59 former Fellows.
    In addition, the study will use data from the 2001 and 2008 
administrations of the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) for 
comparison purposes.
    The evaluation of the IT component has two primary goals: To 
compare selected gender equity outcomes for STEM faculty at the 19 IT 
Cohorts 1 and 2 institutions and at other similar U.S. four-year 
colleges and universities that have not subsequently received ADVANCE 
IT awards, and to develop innovative institutional-level measures of 
changes in gender equity climate and practices that can be applied to 
evaluating the outcomes of the IT award. The primary goal of the 
Fellows evaluation is to compare the career trajectories of ADVANCE 
Fellows with those of similar individuals who were not awarded these 
fellowships.
    Respondents: Faculty and staff at institutions of higher education 
and individuals holding doctoral degrees in STEM fields awarded an NSF 
ADVANCE Fellowship.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 139.
    Burden on the Public: 1,859 hours.

    Dated: January 14, 2010.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2010-1004 Filed 1-20-10; 8:45 am]
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