2021-27633. Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Survey of Postgraduate Outcomes for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program

AGENCY:

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), Department of Education (ED).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection.

DATES:

Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before February 22, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

To access and review all the documents related to the information collection listed in this notice, please use http://www.regulations.gov by searching the Docket ID number ED-2021-SCC-0171. Comments submitted in response to this notice should be submitted electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov by selecting the Docket ID number or via postal mail, commercial delivery, or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov site is not available to the public for any reason, ED will temporarily accept comments at [e-mail]. Please include the docket ID number and the title of the information collection request when requesting documents or submitting comments. Please note that comments submitted by fax or email and those submitted after the comment period will not be accepted. Written requests for information or comments submitted by postal mail or delivery should be addressed to the PRA Coordinator of the Strategic Collections and Clearance Governance and Strategy Division, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, LBJ, Room 6W208D, Washington, DC 20202-8240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For specific questions related to collection activities, please contact Pamela Maimer, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of Education (ED), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), provides the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps the Department assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. It also helps the public understand the Department's information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. ED is soliciting comments on the proposed information collection request (ICR) that is described below. 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. Please note that written comments received in response to this notice will be considered public records.

Title of Collection: Survey of Postgraduate Outcomes for the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program.

OMB Control Number: 1840-0840.

Type of Review: Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection.

Respondents/Affected Public: Private Sector.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 157.

Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 40.

Abstract: The purpose of Section 102(b)(6) of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act) is to promote and develop modern foreign language training and area studies throughout the educational structure of the United States. To help accomplish this objective, fellowships are awarded through U.S. institutions of higher education to American doctoral dissertation fellows enabling them to conduct overseas research and enhance their foreign language proficiency. Under the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) program, individual scholars apply through eligible institutions for an institutional grant to support the research fellowship. These institutions administer the program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education (US/ED). This information collection is the tool that can gather the information necessary to determine the performance of the fellows and the program. Since this collection is currently in a discontinued status, this collection package is a reinstatement with change.

Dated: December 16, 2021.

Kate Mullan,

PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division, Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development.