The U.S. Census is a way to count the population of the United States. The census takes place every 10 years and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. College students will be counted in the communities where they go to school and live the majority of the year. Most college students need to be counted at their college address, either on campus or off campus. They should be counted at their parents’ home only if they live and sleep at that location most of the year.
Every individual/household in the United States can complete the census. You do not have to be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident to fill out the census. International students and undocumented individuals living in the U.S. can fill out the census.
The census provides federal funding, grants, and support to states based off of the state’s total and demographic (e.g., race, sex, age, etc.) population. Non-profit organizations, businesses, local government, real estate developers and city planners use census information to improve our local community.
Federal law protects information you share on the census. It is against the law for an individual’s personal information to be published, disclosed, or used against them in any way. Title 13 of the U.S. Codes is the law that protects confidentiality. Also, every U.S. Census Bureau employee takes an oath to uphold confidentiality. The penalty for breaking that oath is $250,000 and up to five years in prison.
A letter will be mailed to you with a User ID number and Pin number. Please go to the American Community Survey website and input your User ID and your PIN number to get started filling out the census. If you have not received your census information in the mail, by Apr. 1, 2020 please call (800) 354-7271 and a User ID and Pin number will be generated for you to go to the website and begin completing the census.
The U.S. Census 2020 has a complete list of questions that will be asked during the 2020 census. Questions include the number of people living in your home; types of housing, contact information (e.g., telephone number); names, age and date of birth; sex (e.g., male/female); race and origin information; and related household information.