Everybody Counts in the 2020 Census

The 2020 Census is a once in a decade count of everyone living in the United States—including all college and university students. An accurate count is important to ensure the New York region and that New York Institute of Technology receives funding and representation for the next decade. Luzia Ogureck, M.A., associate director of experiential education and an expert on civic engagement, sat down with The Box to share insight as to why it is important for students and the larger community to participate in the Census.

Why is the Census important to college students?
The census matters to everyone living in the United States, including college students. The U.S. Constitution mandates that every ten years, the country has to count residents regardless of their immigration status. Past counts have shown that it is particularly difficult to capture the demographic of 18- to 34-year-olds. Technology has advanced rapidly over the past decade. It is now easier than ever to participate either online, by phone, or by mail.

How can students, universities, and the community benefit from taking part in the Census?
Based on the outcome of the census, more than $675 billion in federal funds are distributed to states and communities annually. This includes, for instance, public funding for schools and universities, educational programs, community health services, infrastructure, and hospitals. With census information, federal and state governments can develop emergency response strategies and plan more accurately for disasters such as the current COVID-19 crisis.

The census also determines how communities are represented democratically, how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, and how legislative districts are drawn.

According to the Census Bureau, students living in on-campus housing are counted through their university. What should non-residential students do to be counted?
First, even though many students have left the dorms due to COVID-19 precautions and are staying with family, they should still be accounted for by New York Tech and not as members of their family’s household. The census counts residents based on where they live and sleep most of the time.

Students who live off-campus regularly should have received an invitation to participate in the census, including a unique ID that links to their physical address. They should complete the form even if they are not residing at that address at the moment. If they don’t know their unique ID, they can still respond to the Census by following these instructions.

If students live with roommates, they should coordinate amongst each other, so only one form that lists everyone who lives and sleeps at their address is completed. This also applies international students who may have returned to their home country but plan on coming back once the situation has normalized.

How can you directly encourage people to complete the Census?
The census influences decision-making that will shape our communities for an entire decade. Therefore, it should be in everyone’s interest to contribute to an accurate count. We can remind our friends and family, colleagues, and neighbors to complete the form.

We can set the record straight: The census protects our data, it does not care about our immigration status, and answers cannot be shared with law enforcement agencies or used against us.