[Federal Register: December 4, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 233)]
[Notices]               
[Page 67150-67151]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04de98-127]

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

 
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Reinstate, With Change, an 
Information Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment 
on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF 
will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of 
this collection for no longer than 3 years.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by February 2, 
1999 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports 
Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 306-1125 x 2017; 
or send email to splimpto@nsf.gov. You also may obtain a copy of the 
data collection instrument and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Impact of Industry-Engineering Research Center 
(ERC) Interaction and Effectiveness of ERC-Trained Industrially 
Employed Engineers.
    OMB Number: 3145-0153.
    Expiration Date of Approval: July 31, 1995.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to reinstate, with change, 
an information collection for three years.
    Abstract: ``Outcomes and Impacts of the State/Industry-University 
Cooperative Research Centers (S/IUCRC) Program''.
    Proposed Project: NSF's Directorate for Engineering established the 
S/IUCRC Program in 1990. The Program was build on a model established 
by NSF's Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) 
Program. NSF's Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) is 
seeking to identify (1) the extent to which the S/IUCRC Program has 
achieve goals not shared with the I/UCRC program; (2) lessons learned 
for continuous improvement of Program performance; and (3) lessons that 
can inform planning of future NSF-state partnerships.
    To achieve these objectives, data will be collected from 
representatives from organizations that have been members of the nine 
oldest S/IUCRCs (award cohorts 1991 and 1992) about the results in 
their organization of involvement with the center. Data will NOT be 
used to evaluate individual centers, but, rather, to study the Program 
as a whole. To isolate the unique effects of the distinctive features 
of the S/IUCRC Program, the project will also include collection of 
similar data from organization representatives to 20 of the I/UCRCs as 
well (there are over 50 I/UCRCs). The I/UCRC data will be compared with 
the S/IUCRC data to enable identification of results from the S/IUCRC 
Program that emanate from the latter Program's distinctive elements.
    Use of the Information: The resulting information will be used to 
look at program-wide patterns of outcomes and impacts on organizations 
that are members of both types of centers.

[[Page 67151]]

 Lessons learned will be used for continuous performance improvement in 
the presently funded S/IUCRCs. In addition, lessons about the 
characteristics that facilitate state-NSF partnerships will be prepared 
for use in future planning of state-NSF partnerships.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 20 minutes hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 560.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 187 hours (560 
respondents at 20 minutes per response).
    Frequency of Responses: One time.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: December 1, 1998.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 98-32308 Filed 12-3-98; 8:45 am]
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