This request is for the National
Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to conduct a field test of
the 2016/17 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study
(B&B:16/17). The B&B studies of the education, work,
financial, and personal experiences of individuals who have
completed a bachelor’s degree at a given point in time are a series
of longitudinal studies. Every 8 years, students are identified as
bachelor’s degree recipients through the National Postsecondary
Student Aid Study (NPSAS). B&B:16/17 is the first follow-up of
a panel of baccalaureate degree recipients identified in the
2015–16 NPSAS, and part of the fourth cohort (B&B:16) of the
B&B series. B&B cohorts prior to B&B:16 were approved
under OMB# 1850-0729. B&B:16 is submitted under a new clearance
number which will be assigned upon approval (currently 1850-new).
The primary purposes of the B&B studies are to describe the
post-baccalaureate paths of new college graduates, with a focus on
their experiences in the labor market and post-baccalaureate
education, and their education-related debt. B&B also focuses
on the continuing education paths of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates, as well as the
experiences of those who have begun careers in education of
students through the 12th grade. Since graduating from college in
2014-15 for the field test, and 2015-16 for the full-scale study,
members of this B&B:16 cohort will begin moving into and out of
the workforce, enrolling in additional undergraduate and graduate
education, forming families, and repaying undergraduate
education-related debt. Documenting these choices and pathways,
along with individual, institutional, and employment
characteristics that may be related to those choices, provides
critical information on the costs and benefits of a bachelor’s
degree in today’s workforce. B&B studies include both
traditional-age and non-traditional-age college graduates, whose
education options and choices often diverge considerably, and allow
study of the paths taken by these different graduates. The results
of this field test will inform the B&B:16/17 full-scale data
collection.
US Code:
20
USC 9573 Name of Law: Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002
This is a new ICR although the
existing B&B ICR is under 1850-0729; a new control number is
being requested since several B&B requests will overlap.
Therefore, all the hours for this ICR are considered new.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Appendix C BB 2016-2017 Field Test Communication Materials.docx
2016-17 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:16/17) Field Test Data Collection