Responses to 30 day comments

Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program

Summary of Public Comments on Proposed Changes to the

2015-16 McNair Annual Performance Report (APR)

Following 30-Day Review Period

On September 26, 2016, the Department of Education (Department) published a Notice of Proposed Information Collection Request (Notice) in the Federal Register inviting comments by October 26, 2016, on the proposed annual performance report (APR) for the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement (McNair) Program. The Department received comments from two (2) individuals. Both comments were related to the new data field regarding research and other scholarly activities and, additionally, one of the two cited minor typographical errors. To this end, the Department reviewed each of the comments and concerns and provided responses as well as made revisions to the APR, where applicable.

A summary and discussion of the comments on the proposed McNair APR as well as information on the actions taken follows.

General Comments on the reporting requirements

New Data Fields

Comments: Both commenters expressed concerns regarding the initially proposed new data fields 32a-32g through 34a-34g related to research and other scholarly activities. One commenter noted that the effort to identify specific parts that constitute research may be meritorious but there are many details that need to be examined, so that any data collected regarding benchmarks related to the research and other scholarly activities fields will yield useful information.

Discussion: The Department acknowledges fully the commenters’ concerns and recommendations and addressed them in the prior Summary of Public Comments following the 60-Day Review Period by removing the proposed benchmarks from the APR.

Action Taken: As discussed in the responses to the 60-day comment period, the Department will not, at this time, collect information on benchmarks related to research and other scholarly activities; however, the Department reserves the right to collect this information in the future.

Field 29 - Graduating Cohort Year

Comments: One commenter noted a typographical error in the Note to this field. Currently, it reads: “For example, if the participant earned a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) on May 15, 2007, then the participant’s bachelor’s degree cohort year is option 5 (2006-07)….” This should actually be option 6 for 2006-07. Also, the “(“ mark is missing from in front of the word “or.”

Discussion: Dually noted

Action Taken: The Department has corrected the typographical error.

Summary of Comments on the 2015-16 Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program APR Page 2