02-2416. Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Extend and Revise a Current Information Collection

AGENCY:

National Science Foundation.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to request renewal of this collection. In accordance with the requirement of section 3505(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 April 1, 2002, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.

For Additional Information or Comments: Contact Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone 703—292—7556; or send email to [e-mail]. 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. You also may obtain a copy of the date collection instrument and instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title of Collection: Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering.

OMB Approval Number: 3145-0062.

Expiration Date of Approval: September 30, 2002.

Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend with revision an information collection for three years.

Proposed Project: Graduate students in science, engineering, and health fields in U.S. colleges and universities, by source and mechanism of support and by demographic characteristics. An electronic/mail survey, the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering originated in 1966 and has been conducted annually since 1972. The survey is the academic graduate enrollment component of the NSF statistical program that seeks to “provide” a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on the availability of, and the current and projected need for, scientific and technical resources in the United States, and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal government” as mandated in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950.

The proposed project will continue the current survey cycle for three to five years. The annual Fall surveys for 2002 through 2006 will survey the universe of approximately 725 reporting units at approximately 600 institutions offering accredited graduate programs in science, engineering, or health. The survey has provided continuity of statistics on graduate school enrollment and support for graduate students in all science & engineering (S&E) and health fields, with separate data requested on demographic characteristics (race/ethnicity and gender by full-time and part-time enrollment status). Statistics from the survey are published in NSF's annual publication series Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, in NSF publication Science and Engineering Indicators, Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disability in Science and Engineering, and are available electronically on the World Wide Web.

The survey will be sent primarily to the administrators at the Institutional Research Offices. To minimize burden, NSF instituted a Web-based survey in 1998 through which institutions can enter data directly or upload preformatted files. The Web-based survey includes a complete program for editing and trend checking and allows institutions to receive their previous year's data for comparison. Respondents will be encouraged to participate in this Web-based survey should they so wish. Traditional paper questionnaires will also be available, with editing and trend checking performed as part of the survey processing. Overall burden is expected to be reduced from 2002 to 2004 due to expanded use by institutions of the Web-based data collection system.

In Fall 2000, the survey achieved a total response rate of 99.4 percent for institutions and 99.0 percent for departments.

Estimate of Burden: Burden estimates are as follows:

	Total number of institutions	Department	Burden hours
FY 1998	722	11,718	1.83
FY 1999	720	11,833	2.53
FY 2000	717	11,899	2.42

Respondents: Individuals.

Estimated Number of Responses: 11,899 (from the 2000 collection).

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 28,796 hours (from the 2000 collection).

Frequency of Responses: Annually.

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; and (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.

Dated: January 28, 2002.

Suzanne H. Plimpton,

Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.