2020 Census
This year, the COVID-19 outbreak will cause confusion for many, and that is understandable! You may not be in your residence hall right now. For students who usually live in residence halls, you should register at the address where you spend most of the year, which is your campus address.
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.
Off-campus students have a unique set of issues.
Q: I am not at my residence hall right now, I went home because of the campus closure due to COVID-19. How do I fill out a Census form?
A. If you lived in University housing like a residence hall, Eagle Landing, or the University Apartments, the Residence Life and Housing staff will take care of providing information to the Census for you. But ONLY if you give them permission to do so – please opt in on MyUMW and give them permission to submit your data to the US Census Bureau (you count as a resident of “group quarters”) – Let them do the work for you!
Q: If I currently reside on campus (I’m still here!), how do I fill out my Census form?
A: If you live in University housing like a residence hall, Eagle Landing, or the University Apartments, the Residence Life and Housing staff can take care of providing information to the Census for you. But ONLY if you give them permission to do so – please opt in on MyUMW and give them permission to submit your data to the US Census Bureau (you count as a resident of “group quarters”).
Q: What if I don’t give permission for Residence Life to submit my data for me?
A: Not to worry, you can go to www.2020census.gov and complete the census on any computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Q: If I live off campus, how do I fill out my Census form?
A: This year, there is extra guidance for off-campus students. As an off-campus student, you will receive a document in the mail and it will have instructions about how to fill out your Census form. Remember, people are counted by household – so everyone in your household puts their information in a single form (whether online on in a paper copy). 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: 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.
Q: Should my parents list me on their Census form?
A: No. College students should be counted in the communities where they go to school and live the majority of the year. Most college students should be counted at their college address, either on campus or off campus. You should be counted at your parents’ home only if you live and sleep there most of the year.
Q: If I live with my parents year round, how do I fill out my Census form?
A. You should be counted at your parents’ home only if you live and sleep there most of the year. If you live with your parents, your household will receive a document in the mail that will have instructions about how to fill out the Census form. Remember, people are counted by household – so everyone in your household puts their information in a single form.
Q: Should I be on the lookout for scams?
A: It doesn’t hurt. Watch this video for more information.
Q: What kind of information does the Census collect?
A: Basic information collected by the US Census Bureau includes:
- Your name
- Telephone Number (only used if they have questions about what was submitted)
- Sex
- Date of Birth
- Race
- Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin
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. This information is used to make important decisions such as providing proportionate representation, redistricting, funding schools, hospitals and roads, and more. 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. It is a good idea to fill out your Census form – make sure you count! To learn more about how the Census helps our community, watch this video (featuring our very own Dean Rucker).
Have more questions? More information can be found on the Census webpage.