Application for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship Program (1894-0001)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Supporting Statement Part A NFRM FLAS 071624.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-08-19

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
265486	Application for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Program Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1840-0867	ICR Reference No: 202408-1840-003
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202402-1840-003
Agency/Subagency: ED/OPE	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Application for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship Program (1894-0001)
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/27/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved
Responses	165	0
Time Burden (Hours)	11,550	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: This information collection (OMB 1840-0867) includes application instructions and forms for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship Program (ALN Number 84.015B), authorized under Title VI of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C. Section 1122). The FLAS Fellowship Program awards allocations of fellowships, through institutions of higher education and consortia of institutions of higher education, to meritorious students enrolled in programs that offer performance-based instruction in world languages in combination with area studies, international studies, or the international aspects of professional studies. With the National Resource Centers (NRC) program, the FLAS program responds to the ongoing national need for individuals with expertise and competence in world languages and area or international studies; advance national security by developing a pipeline of highly proficient linguists and experts in critical world regions; and contribute to developing a globally competent workforce able to engage with a multilingual/multicultural clientele at home and abroad. This new collection is the result of the division of 1840-0807 into two separate applications: one for NRC and one for FLAS, which is how the applications appear in Grants.gov. Previously, both applications were combined into one information collection: the Application for the NRC and FLAS Fellowships Programs. The NRC application will maintain the OMB control number of 1840-0807, while the FLAS application will get a new OMB control (1840-0867). This new collection is related to a Final Rule to amend the regulations of the NRC and FLAS programs. The FLAS application and technical review forms will include the changes to the FLAS selection criteria (CFR §§ 657.21), which clarify interpretations of statutory language and redesign the selection criteria. The regulations remove ambiguity and redundancy in the selection criteria and definitions of key terms, improve the application process, and align the administration of the FLAS program with the developments in modern foreign languages and area studies education.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 20 USC 1122 Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1840-AD94	Final or interim final rulemaking	89 FR 68738	08/27/2024

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Program

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	165	0	0	165	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	11,550	0	0	11,550	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This information collection is a new collection, as the result of a program change due to agency discretion to be consistent with a Final Rule to amend the NRC and FLAS programs’ regulations.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $29,883

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 08/27/2024

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