Important information on filling out census forms

The U.S. Constitution requires the country to conduct a census every 10 years. The U.S. Census Bureau aims to have every person who lives in the country, regardless of their citizenship, fill out a census form. The results help determine federal funding for many campus areas including adult education, science education including agriculture and engineering, wellness programs, health and mental health services, and financial aid in the form of Pell Grants.

These programs are vital to a successful university experience for yourselves and future generations of students. For these reasons, we urge all students to fill out the Census Bureau questionnaire using your address when at UC Santa Cruz, whether or not you are away due to COVID-19 and whether you live on or off campus. Census officials have asked that all university students, regardless of where you are currently located, register using the address you have when attending college in-person. This applies even if you have ended your housing contract on campus.

Beginning mid-March, off-campus students can respond to the census online, by phone or by mail.

If you live off campus, you will likely receive instructions on how to fill out the census in the mail. That information will include an ID number that helps identify you when filling out the census. We urge you to visit my2020census.gov to learn more and fill out the census. You can still fill out your census form if you do not have your ID number. Please take time now to fill out this form.

If you live on campus in student housing or other group quarters, Census Bureau employees will be working with the campus administration to ensure you are counted. You are not being asked to register at this time, but please pay attention to additional emails that may have further instruction. Please do not register online yet or be counted at an address other than your address at UCSC.

Every student counted is important, with millions of dollars in financial aid, wellness and education funding at stake.

The Census Bureau does not ask whether you or anyone in your home is a U.S. citizen. The Census Bureau is not allowed to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you. They do not share information with law enforcement or immigration officials. The information from the census is used to determine funding for important services provided to both citizens and noncitizens.

Thanks,
Your UC Santa Cruz Census Team