Under the Mutual Education and Cultural Exchange (Fulbright-Hays) Act of 1961, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is responsible for managing, coordinating, and overseeing certain programs established pursuant to the Act. ECA uses the data collected from these applications to determine whether prospective candidates are qualified for participating in DOS-sponsored academic exchange programs.
The respondent numbers for the application have decreased from the 2005 OMB collection estimate of 20,500 respondents to 6638, leading to a decrease in the annual hour burden of 10,272 hours. The current estimate is 4,978 hours. A reduction in the participant numbers for both the Global UGRAD and Muskie programs, has led to the decrease in respondents and a decrease in the respondent costs. The survey evaluation form (SV-1999-0011) has also been discontinued.
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.