Guidelines for students completing the 2020 Census
The U.S. Census wants to ensure everyone is being counted and counted in the right place, even as the world is currently practicing physical distancing.
The Census count is important because the data helps the federal government decide how to distribute $600 billion worth of funding to state and local governments. Federal funding programs that aid higher education institutions and students use census data to help make funding decisions. This includes the Federal Direct Student Loan and Pell Grant programs; these programs provided over $7.2 billion worth of funding for students in Texas in 2016.It also affects the allocation of funding for our community’s public resources, like fire departments, schools, health clinics, and even roads and highways.
While shelter-in-place guidelines have caused many UTSA students to reside at their permanent addresses in recent weeks, it is important to remember that college students should still be counted where they spent most of their time during this academic year while attending college.
Students who lived in on-campus housing for the 2019-2020 academic year
If you lived on campus at the beginning of this semester in university-owned residence halls, no action is required on your part. You will be counted in the group-quarters process that the university will complete with the U.S. Census.
Students who lived off-campus for the 2019-2020 academic year
If you lived off-campus this year, you are encouraged to complete the census process online, noting the location that you spent most of your time while attending UTSA for the majority of this academic year. The online process is quick and accessible from anywhere. The best way to be counted is to complete the census online. For purposes of the Census, University Oaks and Chisholm Hall are considered in this category.
Your Census response includes the name, birthdate, age, race, ethnicity, and birthdates of everyone living in your house or apartment. If you have roommates, one of you should coordinate the collection of this information and respond. Include the names and details of everyone living with you. The Census does not ask for your Social Security or bank account number.
If you are still living at your off-campus address
You should have received a Census invitation in the mail between March 12 and 20, then several follow-up reminders if you haven’t responded. Visit my2020census.gov and use the 12-digit Census ID noted on the invite to complete the survey. If you can’t find your invite, select the option for no 12-digit code and enter your address. If you are not sure if someone else from your household has already completed the invitation, respond anyway; your duplicate response will be removed.
If you’ve moved away from your off-campus address
You are still counted at your off-campus address rather than the home of parent, friend or relative where you are staying now. If you don’t have access to your Census invite, visit my2020census.gov, select the option for no 12-digit code and enter your address. Include the names and details of everyone living with you. If you are not sure if someone else from your household has already completed the invitation, respond anyway; your duplicate response will be removed.
If you lived with a parent during the school year
Remind your parent to respond to the Census and ask them to be sure to include you in their response.
