Editor: Keith Davis Writers: Alex Dippold, Dave Maley Publisher: Office of Public Information Volume 22, No. 14  March 27, 2000

Ithaca College Students Counted in Census Students living in residence halls will shortly be receiving their Census 2000 questionnaire in the campus mail, while those living off campus should already have received their form. It is extremely important that all students fill out the requested information; not only is it the law, but it will help the community benefit from a complete count of local residents. Every 10 years, the Census Bureau attempts to count everyone in the United States. Students living away from home while attending college are counted where they are living at college. Ithaca College students must complete the questionnaire as residents of Ithaca, even though this may not necessarily be their voting residence, legal residence, or permanent residence. They should not be included as members of their parents’ household in the form completed by their parents. Students who are foreign citizens must also complete the form; only those temporarily visiting or traveling through Ithaca at the time of the census are exempt. There are a number of reasons why it is important for college students to be counted in the census: • Billions of dollars in federal and state funds are distributed each year on the basis of census information. By responding to the questionnaire, students help the Ithaca community receive its fair share of aid for projects ranging from public transportation to recreational programs. • The census helps employers understand where the next generation of workers is coming from, which will influence their recruitment efforts. • Decisions on where to locate new stores, restaurants, offices, health-care facilities, and other businesses are based on census numbers. • Scientific research depends on census data. College students use census information for sociology reports, statistical profiles, and other research papers. • Census figures help establish fair-market rents and enforce fair lending practices. All personal information provided on the census questionnaire is kept confidential. The Census Bureau is forbidden by law from sharing that information with others, including welfare agencies, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service, courts, police, and the military. Students living in residence halls should each fill out an individual census questionnaire, which will be delivered through the campus mail. Arrangements are being made to collect those questionnaires in the residence halls, so the completed forms should not be placed back in the mail. Students living off campus, where mail is delivered by street name and house or apartment number, should receive their census form through the U.S. mail. All students living at a particular address are considered part of one household, so only one form should be completed that includes information on all of those living at that address. The form can be returned through the regular mail in the envelope provided. The Census Bureau, with the assistance of Ithaca College, will follow up with students who do not respond or who incompletely or incorrectly answer the questionnaire. This effort could include contacts by telephone or in-person visits by census takers. For those who have questions or concerns about the census, several "questionnaire assistance centers" will be set up around the Ithaca area, with plans being developed to place one on campus. Information is available from the Census Bureau’s toll-free telephone number, 1-800-471-9424, and at its Web site, www.census.gov. Questions can also be directed to the Ithaca College Office of Public Information at 274-1440.

ITHACA | Back Issues | Table of Contents | NEWS Home | Publication Schedule | Letter to the Editor Created by Andrejs Ozolins. Updated 10. May. 2000