Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 27369-27370 [2011-11474]

Agencies

• NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27369-27370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11474]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 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 or other Federal agencies to 
comment on this proposed continuing information collection. The NSF 
will publish periodic summaries of the proposed projects.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 11, 
2011, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
e-mail 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, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, 365 days a year (including Federal holidays).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates 
in Science and Engineering.
    OMB Approval Number: 3145-0062.
    Expiration Date of Current Approval: October 31, 2011.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to revise an information 
collection for three years.

1. Abstract

    The Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and 
Engineering (GSS) is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and 
the National Institutes of Health. The GSS originated in 1966 and has 
been conducted annually since 1972. The GSS is a census of all 
departments in science, engineering and health fields within academic 
institutions with post-baccalaureate programs in the United States. The 
total number of respondents surveyed in 2009, the last year for which 
complete response rate data are available, was 13,187 departments 
(reporting units) located in 703 schools at 575 degree-granting 
institutions. The GSS is the only national survey that collects 
information on the characteristics of graduate enrollment for specific 
science, engineering and health disciplines at the department level. It 
collects information on race/ethnicity, citizenship, gender, sources of 
support, mechanisms of support, and enrollment status for graduate 
students; information on postdoctorates by citizenship, gender, sources 
of support, doctorate type and origins. It also collects information on 
other doctorate-holding non-faculty researchers.
    The National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as subsequently 
amended, includes a statutory charge to `` * * * provide a central 
clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data 
on scientific and engineering resources, and to provide a source of 
information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal 
Government.'' The GSS is designed to comply with these mandates by 
providing information on the characteristics of academic graduate

[[Page 27370]]

enrollment and postdoctoral components in science, engineering and 
health fields.
    The GSS (along with other academic sector surveys from both NSF and 
the National Center of Education Statistics) is one of the inputs into 
the WebCASPAR data system. Among other uses, this NSF on-line database 
is used by NSF to review changing enrollment levels to assess the 
effects of NSF initiatives, to track student support patterns and to 
analyze participation in S&E fields by targeted groups for all 
disciplines or for selected disciplines and for selected groups of 
institutions.
    The Foundation also uses the GSS information to prepare 
congressionally mandated reports such as Women, Minorities and Persons 
with Disabilities in Science and Engineering and Science and 
Engineering Indicators. A public use file is also made available on the 
world-wide Web.
    Data are obtained primarily by Web survey (with paper worksheets 
made available upon request) and starts each fall in mid-October. The 
data are solicited under the authority of the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. All information will be used for 
statistical purposes only. Participation in the survey is voluntary.

2. Expected Respondents

    The GSS is census of all eligible academic institutions in the U.S. 
with post-baccalaureate programs in science, engineering and health 
fields and their related departments. The response rate is calculated 
on the number of departments that respond to the survey.

3. Estimate of Burden

    The initial GSS data request is sent to the designated respondent 
(School Coordinator) at each academic institution in the fall. The 
School Coordinator may complete or delegate all or part of the Part I 
listing of eligible units (departments, programs, research centers and 
health care facilities) and Part II data. In all cases, the School 
Coordinator is responsible for the Part I data collection. Usually, the 
School Coordinator delegates the Part II collection to unit 
respondents. The amount of time it takes to provide the information on 
Part I and Part II varies dramatically and depends to a large degree on 
the extent to which the school's records are centrally stored and 
computerized.
    The 2010 GSS asked the unit respondents to provide an estimate of 
the time spent in filling out the GSS. The average burden for 
completing the GSS was 2.78 hours per reporting unit. In keeping with 
prior experience, we estimate that the per unit burden will decrease 
slightly each year as the respondents become familiar with the question 
items in the survey, thus estimate a burden of 2.7 hours per reporting 
unit in 2011. We anticipate that the number of units in 2011 cycle will 
include the units in 2010, plus approximately 3% increase in units. In 
addition, an estimated 500 new units will be added to the survey frame 
as a result of expansion study in 2011. The estimated burden for each 
cycle of GSS is about 40,000 hours assuming the same response rates as 
2009 (99.3% for the schools and the units). The total estimated 
respondent burden of the GSS would be 120,000 hours over the 3-year 
clearance period.

    Dated: May 5, 2011.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2011-11474 Filed 5-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P