TAMIU, Methodist Health Ministries Partner for Census 2020 Form Completion Study

Census 2020 participants can now take part in a study that aims to understand the experience of completing this year’s form questionnaire.

The study is being conducted by Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), in partnership with Methodist Health Ministries of South Texas Communities Count Program.

Led by principal investigators Dr. Andrew Hilburn, TAMIU assistant professor of Geography and Dr. John C. Kilburn,  TAMIU associate vice president of Research and Sponsored Projects, the study serves as one part of a broader research project identifying reasons as to why Laredo and South Texas remain areas of chronic U.S. Census undercounting.

Individuals who have completed their 2020 Census can answer a three-to-five minute survey at: https://arcg.is/Tyn0C(English) and https://arcg.is/1Wy0z4(Español).

Participation in completing the survey is voluntary and no compensation will be given for completed questionnaires. Responses are strictly confidential and individuals must be 18 years or over to participate.

The study will assist researchers in understanding any underlining structural issues that may be related to Census undercounts, explained Hilburn.

“This research is important because it addresses the critical issue of Census representation. Undercounts in the Census leads to inadequate federal and state government resource allocation,” noted Hilburn.

Hilburn observed, “Additionally, an undercounted region has unequal representation in federal and state governments. A poorly estimated population does not allow for accurate estimation of needs for local governments to address.”

To that end, the researchers have also partnered with community organizations including the Azteca Economic Development and Preservation Corporation; Helping to Ensure Laredo’s Prosperity, or H.E.L.P., and VITA, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, to help promote the Census 2020 locally.

The study also considers additional measures made to the Census 2020 form, including considerably different race, ethnicity and relationship categories than what was previously asked in the Census 2010 questionnaire.

“Relationship categories are more open and inclusive to account for diverse marital and living arrangements. While the 2010 and 2000 Censuses had more limited online response options, this Census is much more geared toward digital responses,” said Hilburn.

For more information on the study, contact Hilburn at ahilburn@tamiu.edu.

Registration for Maymester, Summer and Fall 2020 courses is now underway.  An online catalog containing a list of nearly 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs is at http://catalog.tamiu.edu

As part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, TAMIU’s campus is closed to the general public. Online and virtual services at the University continue, practicing all CDC Guidelines on gathering, masking and social distancing and with most staff working remotely.  Office hours are subject to change and it is recommended that phone or email contact be made first to determine the office’s schedule of operation. Entry to campus is only open to students, faculty, staff and those having legitimate reasons to be on campus.  An online directory is here.

The University’s dedicated COVID-19 website is updated daily and includes information on office schedules and services, an expansive FAQ, quick links, student resources, official information links and much more.

For more information, please contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu. 

About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing medical, dental and health-related human services to low-income families and the uninsured in South Texas. The mission of the organization is "Serving Humanity to Honor God" by improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of those least served in the Southwest Texas Conference area of The United Methodist Church. The mission also includes MHM’s one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.