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pdfSUPPORTING STATEMENT
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE OF EDUCATION
EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (EPP) and ERNEST F. HOLLINGS
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
OMB CONTROL NO: 0648-XXXX
A. JUSTIFICATION
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary.
The administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is
authorized by section 4002 of the America COMPETES Act, Pub. Law 110-69, to establish
and administer a Graduate Sciences Program and Undergraduate Scholarship Program to
enhance understanding of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship
by the general public and other coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in ocean
and atmospheric science and policy careers. In addition, NOAA’s
Administrator is authorized by section 214 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2005, Pub. Law 108-447 , to establish and administer the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate
Scholarship Program to support undergraduate studies in oceanic and atmospheric science,
research, technology, and education that support the purposes of the programs and missions of
NOAA.
Student applicant information, including information provided by references, will be collected
for the Graduate Sciences Program, the Undergraduate Scholarship Program and the Ernest F.
Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship*.
NOAA’s Educational Partnership Program (EPP) administers all 3 programs, as well as two
additional grant programs – the Environmental Entrepreneurship Program (EEP) and
Cooperative Science Centers (CSC). The Educational Partnership Program maintains a student
tracker database with student and alumni data from all of their educational programs. NOAA
EPP staff enters data for the scholarship programs. EEP & CSC will now be required to update
the student tracker database for their students; to date, program staff have provided this
information informally in their annual reports and NOAA then updated the database with this
information.
In addition, EPP is also including an alumni form in this collection. EPP believes this
information is necessary because NOAA desires to know whether the NOAA funded students
pursue and complete NOAA-related science degrees, the students are employed by NOAA or a
NOAA contractor, or are involved in other programs due to their NOAA-funded education and
training.
* This program was last approved under OMB Control No. 1910-5125; the FY 2007 information collection was
completed in May 2007 and approval expired at the end of that month. EPP is requesting reinstatement under a new
NOAA OMB Control Number as part of this new program request.
2. Explain how, by whom, frequently, and for what purpose the information will be used.
If the information collected will be disseminated to the public or used to support
information that will be disseminated to the public, then explain how the collection
complies with all applicable Information Quality Guidelines.
Educational Programs and Their Purposes
NOAA recognizes outstanding scholarship and encourages independent graduate level research
– particularly by female and minority students – in ocean and atmospheric science and policy
careers. EPP is strongly committed to broadening the participation of Minority Serving
Institutions (MSIs) such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving
Institutions, Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native-Serving
Institutions, and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions. NOAA’s EPP/MSI partnership is
comprised of four program components:
The Undergraduate Scholarship Program (USP) is designed to increase the number
of students attending MSIs who undertake course work and graduate with degrees in
specific scientific areas or fields integral to NOAA’s mission and pursue graduate
degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines.
The Graduate Sciences Program (GSP) is designed specifically to recruit and provide
graduate level training to qualified women and minority candidates in NOAA-related
sciences.
The Environmental Entrepreneurship Program’s (EEP) objective is to increase the
number of students proficient in environmental business enterprises. The program
facilitates linkages between MSIs, NOAA and the private sector.
The Cooperative Science Centers’ (CSCs) objectives are to educate and graduate
students in NOAA-related sciences, to conduct research in support of NOAA’s mission,
and to build capacity within the collaborating institutions. Five NOAA EPP Cooperative
Science Centers were established at five MSIs in September 2006.
The purpose of the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program is to: 1) increase
undergraduate training in specific areas integral to NOAA’s mission; 2) increase environmental
literacy; and, 3) recruit and prepare students for public service careers with NOAA. Students are
not required to attend MSIs as required in the Undergraduate Scholarship Program.
Undergraduate students majoring in NOAA-related sciences may complete and submit an
undergraduate application for the Undergraduate Scholarship Program and/or the Hollings
Scholarship Program, and request reference forms be sent to their benefit. Interested graduate
students majoring in NOAA-related sciences may complete and submit a Graduate Sciences
Program application, also requesting references. The annual scholarship application periods will
be as follows: 1) October 1 through January 31 for the Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate
Sciences Program; and 2) October 1, through February 8 for the Hollings Undergraduate
Scholarship Program. EPP administers the scholarship programs and collects, maintains and
reports the student data and information.
EPP Student Tracker Database
The EPP Student Tracker Database maintains data for all students receiving funding under the
programs previously described:
Undergraduate Scholarship Program;
Graduate Sciences Program;
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program;
Cooperative Science Centers; and,
Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program.
The collection of student data is a program requirement that enables EPP to assess compliance
with its performance measures, described below. NOAA’s EPP staff maintains this database
and updates it for the three scholarship programs and thus no public burden is incurred for this
portion of the input to the database. Information on CSC and EEP students is entered by CSC
and EEP program managers, as part of revised award conditions.
EPP requires that NOAA funded student data be provided three times per year, to align with the
trimester system to capture student graduation and/or transfers completions of the program that
occur during the academic year. The volume of these updates strongly lends itself to this
frequency of reporting; it would be unwieldy for the program managers to have to gather and
input the data once a year only. Also, receiving the information at these intervals allows ongoing
tracking of performance measures. A student alumni form is used to collect follow-up
information about the student. NOAA desires to know whether the NOAA funded students
pursue and complete NOAA-related science degrees, the students are employed by NOAA or a
NOAA contractor, etc. The data collected on the student alumni form is added to and
maintained in the student tracker database by the NOAA EPP staff.
The collected student data is also tabulated to provide the status on progress of all programs’
performance measures.
Performance Measures
Graduate Sciences Program
Number of graduate sciences program students hired in NOAA Line Offices
Undergraduate Scholarship Program
Number of undergraduate scholarship students who are trained and graduate in NOAAmission related sciences
Number of undergraduate scholarship students who pursue graduate work in NOAArelated sciences
Number of undergraduate scholarship students who are hired by NOAA, NOAA
Contractors and other natural resources and science agencies at the Federal, State, local
and tribal levels
Ernest Hollings Scholarship Program
Number of Hollings scholarship students who are trained in NOAA-mission related
sciences, research technology, and education;
Number of Hollings scholarship students who are hired by NOAA and other natural
resource and science agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels;
The number of students from the Hollings Program who teach and become educators in
NOAA-mission related sciences; and,
The number of Hollings students who pursue graduate work in NOAA-related sciences.
EPP Student Tracker Database
The CSC, EEP and the unsolicited grants student data and information is collected
three times per year to capture student graduation, transfers completions of the
program that occur during the academic year. NOAA EPP collects the student data
and information for the following purposes to support EPP performance measures:
EEP number of students who receive training and experiential learning opportunities in
NOAA related environmental business enterprises.
CSC number of students who are trained in a NOAA-related science curriculum;
CSC number of students who graduate in NOAA core mission science areas;
CSC number of students who are hired by NOAA, NOAA Contractors and other natural
resource and science agencies at the Federal, state, local and tribal levels.
Assesses EPP grant recipient performance
Enable EPP comparisons against national graduate data;
Enable EPP comparisons against NOAA workforce data;
Facilitate an EPP targeted recruitment;
Assess EPP’s performance when measured against the science education section of the
U.S. Ocean Action Plan mandates;
Assess EPP support of DOC/NOAA Succession Planning and Management Program;
and,
Assess EPP’s performance when measured against the NOAA Environmental Literacy
goal, as stated in the NOAA Strategic Plan and NOAA Education Plan.
In addition, for the CSC program, allocation of funding is tracked. Grant recipients are required
to direct 30% of the award funds to direct student support. The allowable direct student support
includes stipends, scholarships, travel, and training:
Student stipends - to support the cost of tuition, housing, books, lab fees, etc.;
Student scholarships - to assist and encourage students in their scientific education;
Student travel to
o - NOAA programs, facilities, and laboratories
o - Scientific conferences and workshops
o - Education and science forums and seminars; and,
Student training - to attend training conferences, workshops, and seminars.
To measure the impact of EPP, the data collected are compared to the available data in the
national education databases (e.g., National Science Foundation and National Center for
Education Statistics) and NOAA workforce management database. Furthermore, the student
data collection identifies degree pipeline areas (BS, MS, or PhD) where EPP and its academic
partners may target recruitment for its’ NOAA-related science educational and training
programs. NOAA scholarship programs produce a pool of qualified candidates that may be
hired by NOAA and help to sustain a world-class NOAA organization.
As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the information gathered has utility. NOAA will
retain control over the information and safeguard it from improper access, modification, and
destruction, consistent with NOAA standards for confidentiality, privacy, and electronic
information. See response #10 of this Supporting Statement for more information on
confidentiality and privacy. The information collection is designed to yield data that meet all
applicable information quality guidelines. Prior to dissemination, the information will be
subjected to quality control measures and a pre-dissemination review pursuant to Section 515 of
Public Law 106-554.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of
information technology.
The collection of information will primarily entail web-based forms with electronic fillable
forms (e.g., PDF forms) as a back-up. Applicants and grant recipients will complete the webbased forms that will automatically be transferred to a database. In the event that the web-based
method is not functional, the applicants and grant recipients may complete fillable forms that
may be sent electronically or mailed.
4. Describe the efforts to identify duplication.
CSC & EEP student data and information are unique to the program component in that they are
not collected by any other entity. The NOAA scholarship applications are unique in that the
applications require responses to NOAA-mission related questions.
5. If the collection of information involves small businesses or small entities, describe the
methods used to minimize the burden.
Not applicable.
6. Describe the consequences to the Federal program or policy activities if the collection is
not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
If the collection is not conducted the data will not be available to support and measure program
performance assessments and NOAA program reports.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a
manner inconsistent with OMB guidelines.
Not applicable.
8. Provide a copy of the PRA Federal Register notice that solicited public comments on the
information collection prior to this submission. Summarize the public comments received
in response to that notice and describe the actions taken by the agency in response to those
comments. Describe the efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their
views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and
recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to be
recorded, disclosed, or reported.
A Federal Register notice was published on June 19, 2007. No public comments were received
on the proposed information collection.
Prior to the preparing the Federal Register Notice, EPP asked two grant recipients to provide an
estimate of hours that would be needed to complete the student tracker database form. One
student was asked to estimate how many hours were required to complete the Graduate Sciences
program application.
9. Explain any decisions to provide payments or gifts to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
Not applicable.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for
assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
There is no statutory authority for confidentially. However, only promotional information
(student names, research projects, and photographs) are made public on the program website and
in press releases. All other information is available only to program staff.
The physical electronic files are protected from access outside of NOAA and outside of Office
of Education, Educational Partnership Program by a system of firewalls and routers. Whenever
feasible, applications are hosted within the internally protected network to limit access to NOAA
personnel only.
The student scholarship programs’ paper application is destroyed after the evaluation and
selection of NOAA student scholars. The student name, street address, telephone number and
email address are maintained electronically in a secured location on the NOAA server, as is the
student tracker database. Access to the electronic files on the Educational Partnership Program
shared drive requires username/password combinations to retrieve the information.
A Privacy Impact Assessment is under review by the Department of Commerce. The primary
means of file retrieval is not by a personal identifier, and thus this is not a system of records as
defined by the Privacy Act.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual
behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered
private.
Not applicable.
12. Provide an estimate in hours of the burden of the collection of information.
The student tracker database form is required three times per year from 25 NOAA EPP grant
recipients: 5 Cooperative Science Center grant recipients and approximately 20 active
Environmental Entrepreneurship Program grant recipients, including unsolicited grant award
recipients since 2003. Therefore, EPP expects 75 student tracker database forms annually. The
completion of the student tracker database form by each program manager, containing
information on all students within his/her grant program, is expected to take a maximum of 16
hours to enter data for an average of 250 students (thus, an average of 4-5 minutes per student).
In other words, each time a program manager completes the student tracker report, the report
includes updated information on approximately 250 students. A report is considered one
response (including information on 250 students). There are 25 program managers; thus, with 3
reports per year per program manager, total reports/responses are 75. Each report takes 16 hours;
thus, 75 x 16 hours makes a total burden for this information collection, annually, of 1200 hours.
Based on a five-year history of applications, EPP expects to receive 40 applications for the
Graduate Sciences Program. Subject to EPP appropriated funds, 5 to 7 scholarships are awarded
on an annual basis. Completion of the Graduate Sciences Program application form is estimated
to take 10 hours. Based on the 40 applications, EPP calculates 120 reference forms, three
references per application. The completion of the Graduate Sciences Program reference form is
estimated to take 1 hour.
Based on a two-year history of applications, EPP expects to receive 800 undergraduate
scholarship programs (USP and Hollings) application. Subject to the appropriated and earmark
funds, approximately 15 and 100 students are selected annually for the USP and Hollings
scholarship program, respectively. Completion of the undergraduate scholarship programs
application is estimated to take 8 hours. Based on 800 applications, EPP calculates 1600
reference forms, two references per application. Completion of the undergraduate scholarship
programs reference form is estimated to take 1 hour.
EPP estimates that it will receive 300 Alumni Update Forms for the student scholarship
programs. Completion of the alumni form is estimated to take 1 hour.
The total hours of burden of 10,020 hours is provided in the chart provided on the following
page. The $171,500 figure represents labor dollars required to complete the electronic forms.
NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program and Ernest F. Hollings
Undergraduate Scholarship Program Burden and Labor Costs
Requirement
Student Tracker
Database Form
for Cooperative
Science Center
and
Environmental
Entrepreneurship
Program
Components
(includes
unsolicited
grants)
Graduate
Sciences
Program Application Form
Graduate
Sciences
Program Reference Form
Undergraduate
Scholarship
Programs Application Form
Undergraduate
Scholarship
Programs Reference Form
Alumni Update
Form for Student
Scholarship
Programs
TOTAL
REQUESTED
# of
Respondents
#
Responses
per
Respondent
Total #
Responses
Response
Time
(hours)
Total
Burden
(hours)
Labor
Rater
per
hour
($)
25
3
75
16
1200
$30
$36,000
40
1
40
10
400
$20
$8,000
120
1
120
1
120
$40
$4,800
800
1
800
8
6400
$8
$51,200
1600
1
1600
1
1600
$40
$64,000
300
1
300
1
300
$25
$7,500
2,885
2,935
10,020
Labor
Cost to
Public
Per
Burden
Hour
$171,500
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual recordkeeping/reporting cost burden to the
respondents resulting from the collection (excluding the valued of the burden hours in #12
above).
Based on a two-year average of applications, EPP expects to receive 30 mailed undergraduate
and graduate scholarship program applications annually. It is estimated that it will cost each
applicant $10.00 for photocopying and mailing of the application packages, with a total cost of
$300. Generally applicants express mail the scholarship application at a cost of $9.00, but cost
may run as high as $20.00.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government.
Total annualized cost is $10,200. The figure represents salary dollars needed to process the
collected data (480 hours @$15.00 per hour = $7,200) and $3,000 printing costs. The 480
hours is based on the following:
180 hours to process, verify and validate, the student data from the CSC and EPP;
160 hours to process the Hollings student applications and reference forms;
80 hours to process the USP student applications and reference forms; and,
60 hours to process the GSP student applications and reference forms.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or
14 of the OMB 83-I.
This is a new program.
16. For collections whose results will be published, outline the plans for tabulation and
publication.
The EPP and Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program student data – student name,
research project and photographs – are posted on NOAA’s Educational Partnership Program
(EPP) and Ernest Hollings web sites and used in press releases. The number of NOAA EPP
supported students by NOAA-related scientific or technological discipline and program
component will be provided in Government program reports and used for program evaluation
and analysis and for outreach and promotional purposes.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the
information collection, explain the reasons why display would be inappropriate.
Not applicable.
18. Explain each exception the certification statement identified in Item 19 of the OMB 83I.
Not applicable.
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
This collection does not employ statistical methods.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | Paperwork Reduction Act |
| Author | mlaster |
| File Modified | 2007-10-26 |
| File Created | 2007-10-26 |