An accurate 2020 census will help UC Santa Cruz immensely, and campus needs your help to ensure that happens!
The census, which is undertaken only once a decade, helps determine federal funding for many campus areas including adult education, science education, wellness, health and mental health services, and financial aid. Many of these federally funded programs and services aid our most vulnerable. An accurate count of students will ensure these valuable programs and services continue. Here’s how you can help:
If you live on campus in student housing or other group quarters (or did, until recently), sit tight. Census Bureau employees are working with campus officials 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. Do not register online yet or be counted at an address other than your address at UCSC. That means your family should not count you on their census form even if you are currently living at your permanent home due to COVID-19.
If you live off campus, you can fill out the census now, either by phone, mail, or online. Students living off campus should already have received instructions by mail on how to fill out the census. We urge you to visit my2020census.gov to learn more. You can even fill out your census form there if you’d like. It is essential that you fill out the census questionnaire using your address when at UC Santa Cruz, whether or not you are now away due to COVID-19. This matches what Census Bureau officials are asking.
Remember, every student counted is important, with millions of dollars in financial aid, wellness and education funding ultimately at stake.
And just so you know, the Census Bureau does not ask whether you or anyone in your home is a U.S. citizen. The Census Bureau is also 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.
