Off-Campus Students
Census 2020
Students are counted where they reside on April 1, 2020 AND spend most of their time, which means that the majority of students should be counted in their college community.
This year, the COVID-19 outbreak will cause confusion for many, and that is understandable! You may not be at your off-campus house right now. Just remember to fill out the Census form with the address where you spend most of the year, which in most cases will be your house near campus.
Q: I am not at my off-campus residence right now, I went home because of the campus closure due to COVID-19. Should I still fill out a Census form?
A: Yes. If you went home before you received your mailer with your passcode, the easiest thing to do is to log on with this page, and click on the link that says “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.” Then follow the prompts, but enter in your off-campus address as your residence. Yep, it will ask where you are living on April 1st…super confusing. The guidance from the Census bureau right now suggests you should still list your off-campus residence: “Even if they are home on census day, April 1, they should be counted according to the residence criteria which states they should be counted where they live and sleep most of the time, which is their college residence.”
Q: I live with my parents year-round, should I fill out a separate Census form?
A: No. Your parents should fill out a Census form that includes you as one of the residents in their home.
Q: I live in a rental house off campus. I only live there during the school year. Do I need to fill out a Census form?
A: Yes. You should receive something in the mail addressed to “resident” that has a pass code for use on the Census site. Use that code to fill out the Census form online, and be sure to list all of your roommates on the form! Don’t be afraid to be completely honest when filling out the Census form. The data collected from the Census is strictly used for statistical purposes and it is illegal for the government to share any of your personal information.
Q: What if I didn’t get a code or can’t find my code?
A: Not to worry, you can still go to www.2020census.gov and complete the census on any computer, smartphone, or tablet. When responding, you can click on the link that says “If you do not have a Census ID, click here.” Then follow the prompts, but enter in your off-campus address as your residence. Yep, it will ask where you are living on April 1st…super confusing. The guidance from the Census bureau right now suggests you should still list your off-campus residence: “Even if they are home on census day, April 1, they should be counted according to the residence criteria which states they should be counted where they live and sleep most of the time, which is their college residence.”
Q: Will my answers to the Census form be private and confidential?
A: Yes. Under current federal law, the Census Bureau cannot share Census responses identifying individuals with the public or any federal agencies, including immigration authorities and other law enforcement, until 72 years after the information is collected. Don’t be afraid to be completely honest when filling out the Census form. It is illegal for the government to share any of your personal information. The US Census Bureau has strict privacy and data security laws that govern them. The information provided cannot be shared with any other government entity and may only be used in aggregate form.
Q: Do I have to fill out the Census form?
A: Basically…Yes. The United States constitution requires that the government take a headcount of every person residing in the U.S. every 10 years. The census data helps you and your community. The information is used to make important decisions such as providing proportionate representation, redistricting, funding schools, hospitals and roads, and more. To learn more about how the Census helps our community, watch this video (featuring our very own Dean Rucker).
Q: What happens if I don’t fill out the Census form?
A: If you don’t fill out the Census form, you will be contacted multiple times by the Census bureau because they will do their best to try to get an accurate count of the population. It is a good idea to fill out your Census form – make sure you count!