Propsoed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the NIDCD Partnership Program

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institute of Health

Propsoed Collection; Comment Request; Evaluation of the NIDCD

Partnership Program

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment

on proposed data collection projects, the National Institute on

Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National

Institutes of Health (NIH), will publish periodic summaries of proposed

projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

for review and approval.

Proposed Collection:

Title: Evaluation of the NIDCD Partnership Program. Type of

Information Collection Request: NEW. Need and Use of Information

Collection: The NIDCD was established to support biomedical and

behavioral research and research training in hearing, smell, balance,

taste, voice, speech and language. Although minorities and women will

dominate the work force within the next decade, both groups are

underrepresented in the science and health professional field. Because

of this concern, the NIDCD, with assistance from the Office of Research

on Minority Health, established the Partnership Program in 1994 to

increase the number of minority scientists and health care

professionals doing research on communication and communication

disorders. The proposed survey will yield data about: (1) Reasons for

participation in the program; (2) satisfaction of participants with the

program and (3) how participation in the program has lead to the

pursuit of a career in the health field. The survey will track the

Partnership Program's success at increasing the number of women and

minorities who are scientists. Frequency of Response: One. Affected

Public: Individuals. Type of Respondent: Partnership Program

Participants. The annual reporting burden is as follows: Estimated

Number of Respondents: 76; Estimated Number of Responses per

Respondent: 1; Average Burden Hours Per Response: 0.5; and Estimated

Total Annual Burden Hours Requested: 38. The annualized cost to

respondents is estimated at: $380. There are no Capital Costs to

report. There are no Operating or Maintenance Costs to report.

(Note: The following table is acceptable for the Respondent and

Burden Estimate Information, if appropriate, instead of the text as

shown above.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated

Estimated Average total

Estiamted number of burden annual

Type of respondents number of responses hours per burden

respondents per response hours

respondent requested

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initial program participant survey.......................... 16 1 0.5 8

Follow up survey of participant............................. 60 1 0.5 30

Total................................................... 76 ........... ........... 38

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Comments

Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected

agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1)

Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for

fulfillment of the NIDCD mission, including whether the information

will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the estimate of the

burden of the proposed data collection, including the validity of the

methodology; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of

the data collection and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on the respondents, including appropriate use

of automated collection techniques and information technology.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request more information on the

proposed project or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and

instruments, contact Ms. Kay Johnson, EEO Officer, Office of Equal

Employment Opportunity, NIDCD, NIH, Building 31, Room 3C08, 31 Center

Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, or call non-toll-free number (301) 402-6415

or E-mail your request, including your address to:

[email protected]

COMMENTS DUE DATE: Comments regarding this information collection are

best assured of having their full effect if received on or before July

12, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal

agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor.

``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR

1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that the public

submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party.

Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA requires federal agencies to provide a

60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning proposed collections

of information before submitting the collection of OMB for approval. To

comply with this requirement, NIDCD is publishing notice of the

proposed collection of information listed below.

With respect to the following collection of information, NIDCD

invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information

is necessary for fulfillment of the NIDCD mission, including whether

the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the

estimate of the burden of the proposed data collection, including the

validity of the methodology; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility,

and clarity of the data collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden

of the collection of information on the respondents, including

appropriate use of automated collection techniques and information

technology.

The NIDCD Partnership Program was designed to maximize research and

research training opportunities for undergraduates, graduate and

professional students, and faculty from populations that are

underrepresented in the biomedical professions. Participants are

recruited from four academic institutions that developed partnerships

with the NIDCD: The University of Alaska System, The Atlanta University

Center, Gallaudent University, and the University of Puerto Rico.

Anecdotal feedback indicates that program participants, mentors,

and liaisons find the program to provide interesting and unique

opportunities. However, there is little systematic evidence evaluating

the level of the Program's success or failure. The proposed surveys

will attempt to assess

[[Page 25361]]

how participants' experiences with the Partnership Program have

influenced career and educational choices; current activities of

participants (e.g., courses of study, jobs); benefits and costs of

program participation to the program participants, mentors, and

liaisons; and suggestions for improving the Program. This information

will provide concrete evidence for continued funding of the Program.

Two separate surveys are proposed. The first survey will collect

baseline information from participants as they enter the program. The

baseline survey will explore participants' expectations and goals on

entering the program, their current career and/or educational plans,

and reasons for choosing to participate. The second survey will gather

Follow up and tracking information of past participants and will be

administered annually. This survey will ask about current contact

information, current career and/or educational activities, satisfaction

with the program, and whether expectations were met.

Potential respondents of either survey will be asked to participate

in a telephone survey that should take less than 30 minutes to

complete. Respondents who cannot schedule 30 minutes of time or have

communications disorders which make telephone conversations difficult

will be given the opportunity to respond by alternate means such as fax

and e-mail. All participants from the inception of the program will be

included in this evaluation process. Participants for 1999 have not yet

been chosen, but it is anticipated that the total number of

participants since 1994 will not exceed 70.

Dated: May 4, 1999.

David Kerr,

Executive Officer, National Institutes on Deafness and Other

Communication Disorders.

[FR Doc. 99-11840 Filed 5-10-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4140-01-M