Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests, 56522-56525 [2010-23175]
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56522
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 179 / Thursday, September 16, 2010 / Notices
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) 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.
Dated: September 9, 2010.
James Hyler,
Acting Director, Information Collection
Clearance Division, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of Management.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Office of Innovation and Improvement
Type of Review: Revision.
Title of Collection: Application for
Grants under the Credit Enhancement
for Charter School Facilities Program.
OMB Control Number: 1855–0007.
Agency Form Number(s): N/A.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit
institutions, State, Local, or Tribal
Government, State Educational
Agencies, Local Educational Agencies.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 20.
Total Estimated Annual Burden
Hours: 1,600.
Abstract: The Department of
Education will use the application to
award grants under the Credit
Enhancement for Charter School
Facilities Program (formerly known as
the Charter School Facilities Financing
Demonstration Program) grants. These
grants will be made to private, nonprofits; public entities; governmental
entities; and consortia of these
organizations. The funds are to be
deposited into a reserve account that
will be used to leverage private funds on
behalf of charter schools to acquire,
construct, and renovate school facilities.
This information collection is being
submitted under the Streamlined
Clearance Process for Discretionary
Grant Information Collections (1894–
0001). Therefore, the 30-day public
comment period notice will be the only
public comment notice published for
this information collection.
Requests for copies of the information
collection submission for OMB review
may be accessed from the RegInfo.gov
Web site at https://www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain or from the
Department’s Web site at https://
edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the
‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and
by clicking on link number 4365. When
you access the information collection,
click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’ to
view. Written requests for information
should be addressed to U.S. Department
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue,
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:19 Sep 15, 2010
Jkt 220001
SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
Requests may also be electronically
mailed to the Internet address
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202–
401–0920. Please specify the complete
title of the information collection and
OMB Control Number when making
your request.
Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–
8339.
[FR Doc. 2010–23013 Filed 9–15–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information
Collection Requests
Department of Education.
ACTION: Comment request.
AGENCY:
The Department of Education
(the Department), in accordance with
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)),
provides the general public and Federal
agencies with an opportunity to
comment on proposed and continuing
collections of information. This helps
the Department assess the impact of its
information collection requirements and
minimize the reporting burden on the
public and helps the public understand
the Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. The Director,
Information Collection Clearance
Division, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of
Management, invites comments on the
proposed information collection
requests as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
November 15, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted electronically to
FAFSA.Comments@ed.gov. We also ask
that you copy them to
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or mail to U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC
20202–4537. Please note that written
comments received in response to this
notice will be considered public
records.
SUMMARY:
Section
3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) requires that
Federal agencies provide interested
parties an early opportunity to comment
on information collection requests. The
Director, Information Collection
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00022
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Clearance Division, Regulatory
Information Management Services,
Office of Management, publishes this
notice containing proposed information
collection requests at the beginning of
the Departmental review of the
information collection. The Department
of Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology.
Dated: September 13, 2010.
Darrin A. King,
Director, Information Collection Clearance
Division, Regulatory Information
Management Services, Office of Management.
Federal Student Aid
Type of Review: Revision.
Title of Collection: 2011–2012 Federal
Student Aid Application.
OMB Control Number: 1845–0001.
Agency Form Number(s): N/A.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 35,818,915.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 32,239,328.
Abstract: Public Law 89–329, Sections
401–495, the Higher Education Act of
1965, as amended (HEA), mandates that
the Secretary of Education ‘‘* * * shall
produce, distribute, and process free of
charge common financial reporting
forms as described in this subsection to
be used for application and
reapplication to determine the need and
eligibility of a student for financial
assistance.’’
The determination of need and
eligibility are for the following Title IV,
HEA, federal student financial
assistance programs: The Federal Pell
Grant Program; the Campus-Based
programs (Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grant
(FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS),
and the Federal Perkins Loan Program);
the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
Program; the Teacher Education
Assistance for College and Higher
Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq
and Afghanistan Service Grant.
Federal Student Aid, an office of the
U.S. Department of Education (hereafter
‘‘the Department’’), subsequently
E:\FR\FM\16SEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 179 / Thursday, September 16, 2010 / Notices
developed an application process to
collect and process the data necessary to
determine a student’s eligibility to
receive Title IV, HEA program
assistance. The application process
involves an applicant’s submission of
the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA). After submission of the
FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student
Aid Report (SAR) which is a summary
of the data they submitted on the
FAFSA. The applicant reviews the SAR,
and, if necessary, will make corrections
or updates to their submitted FAFSA.
The Department seeks OMB approval
of all application components as a
56523
single ‘‘collection of information.’’ The
aggregate burden will be accounted for
under OMB Control Number 1845–0001,
currently assigned to the FAFSA form.
The specific application components,
descriptions and submission methods
for each are listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1—FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION COMPONENTS
Component
Description
Submission method
Initial Submission of FAFSA
FAFSA on the Web (FOTW) ...........
Online FAFSA that offers applicants a customized experience ............
FOTW—Renewal ............................
Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the
FAFSA.
Online FAFSA for applicants who qualify for the Simplified Needs
Test (SNT) or Automatic Zero (Auto Zero) needs analysis formulas.
Online FAFSA for applicants who have previously completed the
FAFSA and who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis
formulas.
The Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) representatives Submitted
through
https://
assist applicants by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW.
www.fafsa.gov for applicants
who call 1–800–4–FED–AID.
FSAIC representatives assist applicants who qualify for the SNT or
Auto Zero needs analysis formulas by filing the FAFSA on their behalf through FOTW.
Online tool that a financial aid administrator (FAA) utilizes to submit a Submitted
through
https://
FAFSA.
www.faaacess.ed.gov by a FAA
on behalf of an applicant.
Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a Renewal FAFSA.
Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a FAFSA for applicants
who qualify for the SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
Online tool that a FAA can utilize to submit a FAFSA for applicants
who have previously completed the FAFSA and who qualify for the
SNT or Auto Zero needs analysis formulas.
This is a submission done by a FAA, on behalf of the applicant, using The FAA may be using their mainthe Electronic Data Exchange (EDE).
frame computer or software to
facilitate the EDE process.
The paper version of the FAFSA printed by the Department for appli- Mailed by the applicant.
cants who are unable to access the Internet or the online PDF
FAFSA for applicants who can access the Internet but are unable
to complete the form using FOTW.
FOTW—EZ ......................................
FOTW—EZ Renewal ......................
FAFSA on the Phone (FOTP) .........
FOTP—EZ .......................................
FAA Access .....................................
FAA Access—Renewal ...................
FAA Access—EZ ............................
FAA Access—EZ Renewal .............
Electronic Other ..............................
PDF FAFSA or Paper FAFSA ........
Submitted by the applicant via
https://www.fafsa.gov.
Correcting Submitted FAFSA Information and Reviewing FAFSA Information
FOTW—Corrections ........................
Electronic Other—Corrections ........
Paper SAR—This is a SAR and an
option for corrections..
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FAA Access—Corrections ...............
Any applicant who has a Federal Student Aid PIN (FSA PIN)—regardless of how they originally applied—may correct using FOTW
Corrections.
With the applicant’s permission, corrections can be made by a FAA
using the EDE.
The full paper summary that is mailed to paper applicants who did
not provide an e-mail address, to applicants who did not sign their
application and to applicants whose records were rejected during
processing because the Social Security Number did not match with
the SSA. Applicants can write corrections directly on the paper
SAR and mail for processing.
An institution can use FAA Access to correct the FAFSA ....................
Internal Department Corrections .....
The Department will submit an applicant’s record for system generated corrections.
FSAIC Corrections ..........................
Any applicant, with their Data Release Number (DRN), can change
the postsecondary institutions listed on their FAFSA or change
their address by calling FSAIC.
This is the PDF version of the SAR for applicants who applied electronically or by paper and provided an e-mail address.
SAR Electronic (eSAR) ...................
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Submitted by the applicant via
https://www.fafsa.gov.
The FAA may be using their mainframe computer or software to
facilitate the EDE process.
Mailed by the applicant.
Submitted through https://www.
faaacess.ed.gov by a FAA on
behalf of an applicant.
There is no burden to the applicants under this correction type
as these are system based corrections.
These changes are made directly
in the CPS system by a FSAIC
representative.
Cannot be submitted for processing.
16SEN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 179 / Thursday, September 16, 2010 / Notices
TABLE 1—FEDERAL STUDENT AID APPLICATION COMPONENTS—Continued
Component
Description
SAR Acknowledgment ....................
This is the condensed paper SAR that is mailed to applicants who
applied electronically but did not provide an e-mail address.
This information collection also
documents an estimate of the annual
public burden. The updated estimates
are the result of the Department’s efforts
to more accurately determine the
public’s burden as it relates to the
application process for Federal student
aid. The findings have led to the
development of the Applicant Burden
Model (ABM), which measures
applicant burden through an assessment
of the activities each applicant conducts
in conjunction with other characteristics
of the applicant. The ABM has been
designed to more accurately describe, in
terms of burden, the average applicant’s
experience. Key determinants of the
ABM include:
• The total number of applicants that
will potentially apply for Federal
student aid;
• How the applicant chooses to
complete and submit the FAFSA, e.g.,
by paper or electronically via FOTW;
• How the applicant chooses to
submit any corrections and/or updates
(e.g., the paper SAR or electronically via
FOTW Corrections);
• The type of SAR document the
applicant receives (paper SAR, SAR
acknowledgment, or the eSAR);
• The formula applied to determine
the applicant’s EFC (full need analysis
formula, Simplified Needs Test or
Automatic Zero); and
• The average amount of time
involved in preparing to complete the
application.
The ABM is largely driven by the
number of potential applicants for the
application cycle. The total application
projection for 2011–2012 is based upon
two factors—estimates of the total
enrollment in all degree-granting
institutions and the percentage change
in FAFSA submissions for the last
completed application cycle. This
results in an estimate of 23,611,500 total
applicants that will submit a FAFSA for
2011–2012.
Submission method
The ABM is also largely based on the
application options available to students
and parents. In assessing the application
options available, the Department
recognized a need to restructure the
current breakdown of the application
components and revise the burden
estimates for each application
component based on a recently
implemented web trending tool, FOTW
survey information, and other
Department data sources. The ABM
changes the classification of the
application components and combines
the two previously separate collections
for the FAFSA and the SAR. The final
application components were listed in
Table 1. These changes create a onetime re-alignment of the methodology,
but do not reflect any change in the
actual burden experienced by
applicants. The changes have allowed
the Department to utilize more
controlled and accurate data for its
burden calculations.
Another critical element included in
the ABM is the anticipated impacts of
the Department’s enhancements to the
application process and application
products. In an ongoing effort for
process improvement, the Department
routinely conducts a review of the
application data elements to identify
questions that could be revised or
removed. As a result, for 2011–2012,
two questions have been deleted from
the application.
Also for 2011–2012, FOTW will be
further improved by the implementation
of significant enhancements facilitated
by a web technology upgrade. The
upgraded application will include new
features including a redesigned
homepage and more dynamic and
personalized navigation. In addition,
there will be improved and simplified
functionality for users that need to
correct or update their FAFSA data
using FAFSA Corrections.
FOTW will also expand the offering of
the IRS Data Retrieval tool to more users
in 2011–2012 by offering the tool earlier
in the application cycle and offering the
tool in FAFSA Corrections. Beginning in
January of 2010, the Department began
offering FOTW applicants the IRS Data
Retrieval tool which significantly
simplifies the completion of the FAFSA
for many applicants. The IRS Data
Retrieval tool is an optional service that
provides the applicant and their
parents, if parental information is
required, access to view the IRS tax
information required to complete the
FAFSA. The applicant can also securely
transfer the IRS information into the
FAFSA. The tool saves time and
increases the accuracy of the data
submitted.
The Department has assessed that
these simplification efforts over the last
year, in addition to planned
enhancements that will be deployed on
January 1, 2011 for 2011–2012 cycle,
will produce an overall reduction in
burden. To understand the decrease in
burden we should state that the
decrease is even more notable because
it is offset by the overall increase in the
number of applicants choosing to attend
college and apply for federal student
aid.
For 2010–2011, the Department
estimated that 21,696,675 applicants
would complete the application. This
led to a total burden estimate of
33,774,347 hours. The 2010–2011
FAFSA information collection (OMB
Control # 1845–0001) was approved for
26,781,074 hours and the 2010–2011
SAR information collection (OMB
Control # 1845–0008) was approved for
6,993,273 hours. Table 2 demonstrates
what the burden would have been for
the FAFSA and SAR collection in 2011–
2012 if only the increase in applicants
was taken into account.
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
TABLE 2—BURDEN BASELINE FOR 2011–2012—ACCOUNTING ONLY FOR INCREASE IN APPLICANTS
2010–2011
Total Number of Applicants (Respondents) ....................................................
FAFSA Annual Burden (Hours) .......................................................................
SAR Annual Burden (Hours) ...........................................................................
Annual Burden .................................................................................................
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21,696,675
26,781,074
6,993,273
33,774,347
Sfmt 4703
Baseline—
2011–2012
23,611,500
30,034,682
7,610,459
37,645,141
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16SEN1
Change
1,914,825
3,253,608
617,186
3,870,794
Percentage
Change
8.83
12.15
8.83
11.46
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 179 / Thursday, September 16, 2010 / Notices
As shown in Table 2, if no other
changes had been made to the
application process and the burden was
calculated taking into account only the
8.83% increase in applicants; the
burden would have increased by
11.46%. This translates into a burden
adjustment of 3,870,794 hours.
Now that we have accounted for the
burden change based solely on the
increase in applicants, we can compare
that figure to the actual burden
calculated for 2011–2012. The
Department’s final total estimated
burden for 2011–2012, which is
32,239,328, hours reflects all of the
56525
distinct application components
combined into one information
collection. The burden baseline for
2011–2012 based solely on the increase
in applicants was 37,645,141 hours.
Table 3 shows the difference in the two
calculations.
TABLE 3—BURDEN BASELINE COMPARED TO FINAL BURDEN
Baseline—
2011–2012
Total Number of Applicants (Respondents) ....................................................
Annual Burden .................................................................................................
Table 3 also demonstrates the
reduction in the public burden as a
result of the simplification initiatives
developed and implemented by the
23,611,500
37,645,141
Department. The burden decrease is
14.36%, the largest in several years, and
translates into a program change
decrease of more than 5.4 million hours.
Final—2011–
2012
23,611,500
32,239,328
Change
0
5,405,813
Percentage
Change
0
¥14.36
Lastly, Table 4, depicts the overall
burden change in total burden hours
from 2010–2011 to 2011–2012.
TABLE 4—COMPARISON OF 2010–2011 OVERALL BURDEN TO 2011–2012 OVERALL BURDEN
2010–2011
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Total Number of Applicants (Respondents) ....................................................
Annual Burden .................................................................................................
This results in an overall program
change reduction of 1,535,019 hours
when compared to 2010–2011. As stated
previously, this reduction is attributed
to the simplification enhancements
which include the redesign of FAFSA
on the Web application submission, the
availability of the IRS Data Retrieval
Tool, a simplified FOTW homepage,
more personalized navigation, and
lastly, improved and simplified
functionality for users that need to
correct or update their FAFSA data
through FOTW Corrections.
Requests for copies of the proposed
information collection request may be
accessed from https://edicsweb.ed.gov,
by selecting the ‘‘Browse Pending
Collections’’ link and by clicking on link
number 4391. When you access the
information collection, click on
‘‘Download Attachments’’ to view.
Written requests for information should
be addressed to U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537.
Requests may also be electronically
mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed
to 202–401–0920. Please specify the
complete title of the information
collection and OMB Control Number
when making your request.
Individuals who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:19 Sep 15, 2010
Jkt 220001
21,696,675
33,774,347
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–
8339.
[FR Doc. 2010–23175 Filed 9–15–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Biomass Research and Development
Technical Advisory Committee
Department of Energy, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
This notice announces an
open meeting of the Biomass Research
and Development Technical Advisory
Committee under Section 9008(d) of the
Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of
2008. The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 86 Stat. 770)
requires that agencies publish these
notices in the Federal Register to allow
for public participation. This notice
announces the meeting of the Biomass
Research and Development Technical
Advisory Committee.
DATES: September 29, 2010 and
September 30, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Embassy Suites Denver—
Aurora, 4444 North Havana Street,
Denver, Colorado 80239, (303) 375–
0400.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura McCann, Designated Federal
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Final—2011–
2012
23,611,500
32,239,328
Change
1,914,825
¥1,535,019
Percentage
Change
8.83
¥4.54
Officer for the Committee, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, U.S. Department of Energy,
1000 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586–7766;
E-mail: laura.mccann@ee.doe.gov or
Chrissy Fagerholm at (202) 586–2933; Email: christina.fagerholm@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of Meeting: To provide
advice and guidance that promotes
research and development leading to the
production of biobased fuels and
biobased products.
Tentative Agenda: Agenda will
include the following:
• Update on USDA Biomass R&D
Activities.
• Update on DOE Biomass R&D
Activities.
• Presentation on USDA and
Department of Navy Joint Efforts.
• Presentation on IBR Projects
Panel—Cellulosic Ethanol.
• Presentation on ‘‘Drop-In Fuels’’
Projects Panel.
Public Participation: In keeping with
procedures, members of the public are
welcome to observe the business of the
Biomass Research and Development
Technical Advisory Committee. To
attend the meeting and/or to make oral
statements regarding any of the items on
the agenda, you should contact Laura
McCann at 202–586–7766; E-mail:
laura.mccann@ee.doe.gov or Chrissy
Fagerholm at (202) 586–2933; E-mail:
christina.fagerholm@ee.doe.gov. You
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16SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 179 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56522-56525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23175]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests
AGENCY: Department of Education.
ACTION: Comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Education (the Department), in accordance
with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general public and Federal agencies with
an opportunity to comment on proposed and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its
information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden
on the public and helps the public understand the Department's
information collection requirements and provide the requested data in
the desired format. The Director, Information Collection Clearance
Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of
Management, invites comments on the proposed information collection
requests as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
November 15, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically to
FAFSA.Comments@ed.gov. We also ask that you copy them to
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or mail to U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Please note that
written comments received in response to this notice will be considered
public records.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3506 of the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35) requires that Federal agencies provide
interested parties an early opportunity to comment on information
collection requests. The Director, Information Collection Clearance
Division, Regulatory Information Management Services, Office of
Management, publishes this notice containing proposed information
collection requests at the beginning of the Departmental review of the
information collection. The Department of Education is especially
interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is
this collection necessary to the proper functions of the Department;
(2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3)
is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Department
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (5) how might the Department minimize the burden of this
collection on the respondents, including through the use of information
technology.
Dated: September 13, 2010.
Darrin A. King,
Director, Information Collection Clearance Division, Regulatory
Information Management Services, Office of Management.
Federal Student Aid
Type of Review: Revision.
Title of Collection: 2011-2012 Federal Student Aid Application.
OMB Control Number: 1845-0001.
Agency Form Number(s): N/A.
Frequency of Responses: Annually.
Affected Public: Individuals or households.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 35,818,915.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 32,239,328.
Abstract: Public Law 89-329, Sections 401-495, the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), mandates that the Secretary of Education
``* * * shall produce, distribute, and process free of charge common
financial reporting forms as described in this subsection to be used
for application and reapplication to determine the need and eligibility
of a student for financial assistance.''
The determination of need and eligibility are for the following
Title IV, HEA, federal student financial assistance programs: The
Federal Pell Grant Program; the Campus-Based programs (Federal
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study
(FWS), and the Federal Perkins Loan Program); the William D. Ford
Federal Direct Loan Program; the Teacher Education Assistance for
College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant; and the Iraq and
Afghanistan Service Grant.
Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education
(hereafter ``the Department''), subsequently
[[Page 56523]]
developed an application process to collect and process the data
necessary to determine a student's eligibility to receive Title IV, HEA
program assistance. The application process involves an applicant's
submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
After submission of the FAFSA, an applicant receives a Student Aid
Report (SAR) which is a summary of the data they submitted on the
FAFSA. The applicant reviews the SAR, and, if necessary, will make
corrections or updates to their submitted FAFSA.
The Department seeks OMB approval of all application components as
a single ``collection of information.'' The aggregate burden will be
accounted for under OMB Control Number 1845-0001, currently assigned to
the FAFSA form. The specific application components, descriptions and
submission methods for each are listed in Table 1.
Table 1--Federal Student Aid Application Components
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submission
Component Description method
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial Submission of FAFSA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAFSA on the Web (FOTW)....... Online FAFSA that Submitted by the
offers applicants a applicant via
customized experience. https://www.fafsa.gov.
FOTW--Renewal................. Online FAFSA for
applicants who have
previously completed
the FAFSA.
FOTW--EZ...................... Online FAFSA for
applicants who
qualify for the
Simplified Needs Test
(SNT) or Automatic
Zero (Auto Zero)
needs analysis
formulas.
FOTW--EZ Renewal.............. Online FAFSA for
applicants who have
previously completed
the FAFSA and who
qualify for the SNT
or Auto Zero needs
analysis formulas.
FAFSA on the Phone (FOTP)..... The Federal Student Submitted
Aid Information through https://
Center (FSAIC) www.fafsa.gov
representatives for applicants
assist applicants by who call 1-800-
filing the FAFSA on 4-FED-AID.
their behalf through
FOTW.
FOTP--EZ...................... FSAIC representatives
assist applicants who
qualify for the SNT
or Auto Zero needs
analysis formulas by
filing the FAFSA on
their behalf through
FOTW.
FAA Access.................... Online tool that a Submitted
financial aid through https://
administrator (FAA) www.faaacess.ed
utilizes to submit a .gov by a FAA
FAFSA. on behalf of an
applicant.
FAA Access--Renewal........... Online tool that a FAA
can utilize to submit
a Renewal FAFSA.
FAA Access--EZ................ Online tool that a FAA
can utilize to submit
a FAFSA for
applicants who
qualify for the SNT
or Auto Zero needs
analysis formulas.
FAA Access--EZ Renewal........ Online tool that a FAA
can utilize to submit
a FAFSA for
applicants who have
previously completed
the FAFSA and who
qualify for the SNT
or Auto Zero needs
analysis formulas.
Electronic Other.............. This is a submission The FAA may be
done by a FAA, on using their
behalf of the mainframe
applicant, using the computer or
Electronic Data software to
Exchange (EDE). facilitate the
EDE process.
PDF FAFSA or Paper FAFSA...... The paper version of Mailed by the
the FAFSA printed by applicant.
the Department for
applicants who are
unable to access the
Internet or the
online PDF FAFSA for
applicants who can
access the Internet
but are unable to
complete the form
using FOTW.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Correcting Submitted FAFSA Information and Reviewing FAFSA Information
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOTW--Corrections............. Any applicant who has Submitted by the
a Federal Student Aid applicant via
PIN (FSA PIN)-- https://
regardless of how www.fafsa.gov.
they originally
applied--may correct
using FOTW
Corrections.
Electronic Other--Corrections. With the applicant's The FAA may be
permission, using their
corrections can be mainframe
made by a FAA using computer or
the EDE. software to
facilitate the
EDE process.
Paper SAR--This is a SAR and The full paper summary Mailed by the
an option for corrections.. that is mailed to applicant.
paper applicants who
did not provide an e-
mail address, to
applicants who did
not sign their
application and to
applicants whose
records were rejected
during processing
because the Social
Security Number did
not match with the
SSA. Applicants can
write corrections
directly on the paper
SAR and mail for
processing.
FAA Access--Corrections....... An institution can use Submitted
FAA Access to correct through https://
the FAFSA. www.faaacess.ed
.gov by a FAA
on behalf of an
applicant.
Internal Department The Department will There is no
Corrections. submit an applicant's burden to the
record for system applicants
generated corrections. under this
correction type
as these are
system based
corrections.
FSAIC Corrections............. Any applicant, with These changes
their Data Release are made
Number (DRN), can directly in the
change the CPS system by a
postsecondary FSAIC
institutions listed representative.
on their FAFSA or
change their address
by calling FSAIC.
SAR Electronic (eSAR)......... This is the PDF Cannot be
version of the SAR submitted for
for applicants who processing.
applied
electronically or by
paper and provided an
e-mail address.
[[Page 56524]]
SAR Acknowledgment............ This is the condensed
paper SAR that is
mailed to applicants
who applied
electronically but
did not provide an e-
mail address.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This information collection also documents an estimate of the
annual public burden. The updated estimates are the result of the
Department's efforts to more accurately determine the public's burden
as it relates to the application process for Federal student aid. The
findings have led to the development of the Applicant Burden Model
(ABM), which measures applicant burden through an assessment of the
activities each applicant conducts in conjunction with other
characteristics of the applicant. The ABM has been designed to more
accurately describe, in terms of burden, the average applicant's
experience. Key determinants of the ABM include:
The total number of applicants that will potentially apply
for Federal student aid;
How the applicant chooses to complete and submit the
FAFSA, e.g., by paper or electronically via FOTW;
How the applicant chooses to submit any corrections and/or
updates (e.g., the paper SAR or electronically via FOTW Corrections);
The type of SAR document the applicant receives (paper
SAR, SAR acknowledgment, or the eSAR);
The formula applied to determine the applicant's EFC (full
need analysis formula, Simplified Needs Test or Automatic Zero); and
The average amount of time involved in preparing to
complete the application.
The ABM is largely driven by the number of potential applicants for
the application cycle. The total application projection for 2011-2012
is based upon two factors--estimates of the total enrollment in all
degree-granting institutions and the percentage change in FAFSA
submissions for the last completed application cycle. This results in
an estimate of 23,611,500 total applicants that will submit a FAFSA for
2011-2012.
The ABM is also largely based on the application options available
to students and parents. In assessing the application options
available, the Department recognized a need to restructure the current
breakdown of the application components and revise the burden estimates
for each application component based on a recently implemented web
trending tool, FOTW survey information, and other Department data
sources. The ABM changes the classification of the application
components and combines the two previously separate collections for the
FAFSA and the SAR. The final application components were listed in
Table 1. These changes create a one-time re-alignment of the
methodology, but do not reflect any change in the actual burden
experienced by applicants. The changes have allowed the Department to
utilize more controlled and accurate data for its burden calculations.
Another critical element included in the ABM is the anticipated
impacts of the Department's enhancements to the application process and
application products. In an ongoing effort for process improvement, the
Department routinely conducts a review of the application data elements
to identify questions that could be revised or removed. As a result,
for 2011-2012, two questions have been deleted from the application.
Also for 2011-2012, FOTW will be further improved by the
implementation of significant enhancements facilitated by a web
technology upgrade. The upgraded application will include new features
including a redesigned homepage and more dynamic and personalized
navigation. In addition, there will be improved and simplified
functionality for users that need to correct or update their FAFSA data
using FAFSA Corrections.
FOTW will also expand the offering of the IRS Data Retrieval tool
to more users in 2011-2012 by offering the tool earlier in the
application cycle and offering the tool in FAFSA Corrections. Beginning
in January of 2010, the Department began offering FOTW applicants the
IRS Data Retrieval tool which significantly simplifies the completion
of the FAFSA for many applicants. The IRS Data Retrieval tool is an
optional service that provides the applicant and their parents, if
parental information is required, access to view the IRS tax
information required to complete the FAFSA. The applicant can also
securely transfer the IRS information into the FAFSA. The tool saves
time and increases the accuracy of the data submitted.
The Department has assessed that these simplification efforts over
the last year, in addition to planned enhancements that will be
deployed on January 1, 2011 for 2011-2012 cycle, will produce an
overall reduction in burden. To understand the decrease in burden we
should state that the decrease is even more notable because it is
offset by the overall increase in the number of applicants choosing to
attend college and apply for federal student aid.
For 2010-2011, the Department estimated that 21,696,675 applicants
would complete the application. This led to a total burden estimate of
33,774,347 hours. The 2010-2011 FAFSA information collection (OMB
Control 1845-0001) was approved for 26,781,074 hours and the
2010-2011 SAR information collection (OMB Control 1845-0008)
was approved for 6,993,273 hours. Table 2 demonstrates what the burden
would have been for the FAFSA and SAR collection in 2011-2012 if only
the increase in applicants was taken into account.
Table 2--Burden Baseline for 2011-2012--Accounting Only for Increase in Applicants
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage
2010-2011 Baseline--2011- Change Change
---------------------------------------------------------------------2012---------------------------------------
Total Number of Applicants (Respondents).... 21,696,675 23,611,500 1,914,825 8.83
FAFSA Annual Burden (Hours)................. 26,781,074 30,034,682 3,253,608 12.15
SAR Annual Burden (Hours)................... 6,993,273 7,610,459 617,186 8.83
Annual Burden............................... 33,774,347 37,645,141 3,870,794 11.46
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 56525]]
As shown in Table 2, if no other changes had been made to the
application process and the burden was calculated taking into account
only the 8.83% increase in applicants; the burden would have increased
by 11.46%. This translates into a burden adjustment of 3,870,794 hours.
Now that we have accounted for the burden change based solely on
the increase in applicants, we can compare that figure to the actual
burden calculated for 2011-2012. The Department's final total estimated
burden for 2011-2012, which is 32,239,328, hours reflects all of the
distinct application components combined into one information
collection. The burden baseline for 2011-2012 based solely on the
increase in applicants was 37,645,141 hours. Table 3 shows the
difference in the two calculations.
Table 3--Burden Baseline compared to Final Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage
Baseline--2011- Final--2011- Change Change
----------------------------------------------------2012---------------2012-------------------------------------
Total Number of Applicants (Respondents)... 23,611,500 23,611,500 0 0
Annual Burden.............................. 37,645,141 32,239,328 5,405,813 -14.36
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 3 also demonstrates the reduction in the public burden as a
result of the simplification initiatives developed and implemented by
the Department. The burden decrease is 14.36%, the largest in several
years, and translates into a program change decrease of more than 5.4
million hours.
Lastly, Table 4, depicts the overall burden change in total burden
hours from 2010-2011 to 2011-2012.
Table 4--Comparison of 2010-2011 Overall Burden to 2011-2012 Overall Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage
2010-2011 Final--2011- Change Change
-----------------------------------------------------------------------2012-------------------------------------
Total Number of Applicants (Respondents)....... 21,696,675 23,611,500 1,914,825 8.83
Annual Burden.................................. 33,774,347 32,239,328 -1,535,019 -4.54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This results in an overall program change reduction of 1,535,019
hours when compared to 2010-2011. As stated previously, this reduction
is attributed to the simplification enhancements which include the
redesign of FAFSA on the Web application submission, the availability
of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, a simplified FOTW homepage, more
personalized navigation, and lastly, improved and simplified
functionality for users that need to correct or update their FAFSA data
through FOTW Corrections.
Requests for copies of the proposed information collection request
may be accessed from https://edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the ``Browse
Pending Collections'' link and by clicking on link number 4391. When
you access the information collection, click on ``Download
Attachments'' to view. Written requests for information should be
addressed to U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
LBJ, Washington, DC 20202-4537. Requests may also be electronically
mailed to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202-401-0920. Please specify
the complete title of the information collection and OMB Control Number
when making your request.
Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.
[FR Doc. 2010-23175 Filed 9-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
