[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 91 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27369-27370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing 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 [email protected]. 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