[Federal Register: April 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 78)]
[Notices]
[Page 18683-18684]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ap09-24]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 18683]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
Request for an Extension to a Currently Approved Information
Collection
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Civil Rights' (OASCR) intention to request approval from
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension of the
currently approved information collection for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA)/1994 Tribal Scholars Program.
As required by Departmental Regulation 1350-001, Tribal
Consultations, (Consultation on Regulations) has been met in a
meaningful and timely manner. The partnership between USDA and Tribal
Colleges and Universities (TCU) is defined by a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) signed on February 6, 2008, between USDA and the American Indian
Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). This MOA convenes USDA Mission
Area leadership, TCU Presidents and AIHEC to jointly develop the USDA/
1994 Program Office and its programs, to include the Tribal Scholars
Program. USDA has presented its proposals for the Tribal Scholars
Program to Indian tribal leaders through the invitation of the National
Congress of American Indians in 2008 and to TCU president members of
the USDA/AIHEC Leadership Group, most recently in 2009 and beginning in
2005.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by June 23, 2009 to be
assured of consideration.
Additional Information or Comments: Contact Lawrence Shorty, Director,
USDA/1994 Program, OASCR, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Washington, DC 20250; phone (202) 720-1772: fax: (202) 205-3831.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program.
OMB Number: 0503-0016.
Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2009.
Type of Request: Extension to the currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The purpose of the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program is
to strengthen the long-term partnership between USDA and the 1994 Land-
Grant TCUs to increase the number of students studying and graduating
in the food, agriculture, and natural resources and other related
fields of study, and offer career opportunities to increase the pool of
scientists and professionals to annually fill 50,000 jobs in the food,
agricultural, and natural resources system.
This partnership effort is a joint human capital initiative between
USDA and the Nation's thirty-two 1994 Land-Grant TCUs. This employment
program offers a combination of work experience and academic study
leading to career positions within USDA through a Student Career
Experience Program (SCEP) designed to integrate classroom study with
paid work experience. The program is conducted in accordance with a
planned schedule and a working agreement between USDA agencies, the
student, and the Land-Grant Institution.
Summary of Collection: The USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program
Application will request from applicants information such as the
following: biographical information; educational background; an
official high school or college transcript; declaration of major,
r[eacute]sum[eacute], schools attended in the last 4 years; advanced or
special programs; courses or summer courses taken; name of the 1994 TCU
in which the student wishes to enroll; course of study the applicant
wishes to pursue; type of scholarship support the applicant is applying
for (1-year, 2-year; 3-year or 4-year scholarship support); whether the
applicant is currently enrolled in or is planning to enroll in an
Associate Degree (2-year) program with no plans to continue to a
Bachelor's Degree; whether the applicant intends to transfer to a 4-
year Bachelor's Degree program and in what course of study; whether
there is a desire to obtain a Master's or higher degree; activities
participated in outside of school; volunteer services or jobs held
during last 3 years, including summer employment; a 500-800 word essay
describing how the applicant became interested in studying food,
agricultural, and related natural resources sciences or another related
discipline in college; how USDA will benefit if the applicant is
selected for the USDA/1994 Tribal Scholars Program; what motivated the
applicant to consider a public service career working for USDA;
information about the applicant's educational and career goals, and how
the scholarship may assist the applicant to achieve educational and
career goals.
The application requests two letters of recommendation that comment
on the applicant's personal strengths, leadership qualities, academic
and extracurricular achievements, and future academic and career goals
from previous school counselors, teachers, principals, or current or
previous employers for applicants who are entering freshmen 0-2 years
out of high school or entering freshmen who are General Educational
Development earners.
If selected, student must sign up for the SCEP; furnish course
registration at the start of each school term; provide verification of
academic status at the end of each academic term (grade report or
transcript); must meet academic standards as set forth by the school
they are attending; maintain satisfactory progress in completing
academic requirements, and demonstrate satisfactory performance and
conduct. Students will be required to complete all academic
requirements for the target position as stipulated by the Office of
Personnel Management Qualification Standards.
Need and Use of the Information: The information is needed for
identifying applicants that match the human capital needs of USDA
agencies from 1994 Land-Grant Institutions through SCEP and an award of
an annually reviewed and renewed scholarship at a Land-Grant
Institution with the objective of preparing the student for successful
placement into the USDA's permanent workforce.
[[Page 18684]]
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.2 hours per response.
Type of Respondents: Individuals attending or interested in
attending 1994 Land Grant Institutions, teachers, principals, and
guidance counselors.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 480.
Estimated Number of Responses: 1440.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 3.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4320.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) 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; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who
are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology. Comments may be sent to Lawrence Shorty,
Director, USDA/1994 Program, OASCR, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW.,
Mail Stop 9577, Washington, DC 20250. All comments received will be
available for public inspection during regular business hours at the
same address.
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the
request for OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public
record.
Lawrence Shorty,
Director, USDA/1994 Program, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. E9-9288 Filed 4-23-09; 8:45 am]