[Federal Register: January 5, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 3)]
[Notices]
[Page 584-585]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja06-24]
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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service
(hereinafter the ``Corporation''), as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance
consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies
with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA95) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). This program helps to
ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,
reporting burden (time and financial
[[Page 585]]
resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood,
and the impact of collection requirement on respondents can be properly
assessed.
Currently, the Corporation is soliciting comments on its proposed
``Application for the President's Higher Education Community Service
Honor Roll'' which will involve the collection of information from
institutions of higher education concerning their community service-
related activities. This information will provide the basis for a
national honor roll and awards program intended to promote awareness of
higher education community service efforts and to inspire expanded and
more effective service efforts. In support of the Universities
Rebuilding America Program (discussed below), this application and data
collection include sections on the service activities of institutions
of higher education, their students, faculty and staff, in response to
the significant devastation caused by this last year's Atlantic and
Gulf hurricanes. Copies of the information collection request can be
obtained by contacting the office listed in the ADDRESSES section of
this notice.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the individual and office
listed in the ADDRESSES section by March 6, 2006.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the title of the
information collection activity, by any of the following methods:
(1) By mail sent to: Corporation for National and Community
Service, Learn and Serve America; Attention: Amy Cohen, Director, Room
9603; 1201 New York Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20525. Please note that
because we are experiencing significant delays in receiving U.S. Mail,
you may wish to consider alternative mail services.
(2) By hand delivery or by courier to: the Corporation's mailroom
at Room 8100 at the mail address given in paragraph (1) above, between
9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
(3) By fax to: (202) 606-3477, Attention: Amy Cohen.
(4) Electronically through the Corporation's e-mail address system:
acohen@cns.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Cohen, (202) 606-6927, or by e-
mail at acohen@cns.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation is particularly interested
in comments that:
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the
Corporation, including whether the information will have practical
utility;
Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the
burden of the proposed collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
Propose ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; and
Propose ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are expected to respond, including the use of
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of information technology (e.g.,
permitting electronic submissions of responses).
Background: The Corporation is the lead Federal agency for the
coordination and support of voluntary national and community service by
citizens and non-profit agencies.
Recognizing that community service and civic engagement are among
the historic missions of most colleges and universities, the
Corporation's Board of Directors recently identified Strategic Plan
targets that include significant increases: in the number of college
students performing community service, in the use of service-learning
in higher education, and, in particular, in the number of students
providing tutoring and other services to youth from disadvantaged
circumstances designed to promote high school completion and college
access. The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
and Awards program will support these Strategic Plan efforts.
On November 1, 2005, the Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development, Alphonso Jackson, and the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation, David Eisner, announced the Universities Rebuilding
America Partnership (URAP), an initiative offering funding and other
resources to empower college and university students, faculty, and
staff to lend their skills in rebuilding the Gulf Coast in response to
the devastation caused by the hurricanes of 2005. As part of this
initiative, the Corporation and the Department are creating a URAP
Honor Roll and Awards Program to recognize higher education communities
for their contributions to the recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Current Action: This annual application/ information collection
from higher education institutions will provide information about
student, faculty, staff, and institutional community service and civic
engagement activities, including those in response to the recent
hurricane emergencies. The selection of colleges and universities for
recognition under the URAP Honor Roll and Awards program, as well as
under the broader President's Higher Education Community Service Honor
Roll and Award program, will be based on information provided in this
application and information collection. The initial deadline for
institutions to submit applications for these programs is June 30,
2006. It is expected that a similar application/ information collection
activity will be repeated annually, with a similar annual deadline.
Information collected from applicant higher education institutions
will include: descriptions of specific student, staff, and faculty
community service projects; data on the scope and impacts of service
projects; estimates of the number of enrolled students participating in
community service activities--both overall and in response to the
hurricane-related disruptions of 2005; and information on institutional
supports for service such as academic service-learning opportunities,
community service coordination offices, and scholarships and other
benefits in recognition of student service.
Type of Review: New.
Agency: Corporation for National and Community Service.
Title: Application for the President's Higher Education Community
Service Honor Roll.
OMB Number: None.
Agency Number: None.
Affected Public: U.S. degree-granting colleges and universities.
Total Respondents: 4,236 higher education institutions.
Frequency: Annual.
Average Time Per Response: 1 hour.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 4,236 hours.
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup): None.
Total Burden Cost (operating/maintenance): None.
Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget
approval of the information collection request; they will also become a
matter of public record.
Dated: December 30, 2005.
Elson Nash,
Associate Director for Project Management, Learn and Serve America.
[FR Doc. E5-8312 Filed 1-4-06; 8:45 am]