If you lived ON campus
- If you lived in a campus-owned residence hall this year, you will automatically be counted by your institution and you don’t need to do anything else (that was easy!).
If you lived OFF campus
- If you lived off-campus this year, it is very important that you complete the Census and note your Atlanta-area residence, even if you are now temporarily living back at home or with friends.
| Complete Census Online Here. |
Find more Census resources at 2020Census.gov.
Additional Information:
April 6, 2020
Dear Atlanta University Center Student:
Every AUC Student Counts. Complete the Census at 2020census.gov.
The coronavirus 2019 outbreak has temporarily separated us physically, but the good news is that the institutions which make up the Atlanta University Center Consortium— Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College— continue to stand strong.
Every 10 years, our U.S. Constitution mandates we count people and this data is used to allocate governmental resources, establish voting districts, and to facilitate research on topics to improve our communities. As the Atlanta University Center and the surrounding community continue to work towards enhancing our living, learning, and working environment, it is critical that you stand up and let the government know you count, your life matters, and you want all of the resources you deserve.
- If you lived in a campus-owned residence hall this year, you will automatically be counted by your institution and you don’t need to do anything else (that was easy!).
- If you lived off-campus this year, it is very important that you complete the Census and note your Atlanta-area residence, even if you are now temporarily living back at home or with friends.
You can only ensure you are counted in the Census by providing a few details about your residential arrangements. Here are some important details to remember:
- The deadline for the Census was not April 1. Though it is popularly referred to as “Census Day,” the government really just wants you to note where you live as of that date. In this case, however, because you, like most college students, have return home, due to Coronavirus-19, the Census wants you to record where you normally live while at college. This would be your Atlanta-area residence. You can still respond to the Census after April 1 and we encourage you to submit your response soon.
- If you lived off campus during this academic year, you should use that address when reporting your information. You’ll be asked for information about your roommates as well, but if you don’t know their information, please respond anyway.
- Invitations were recently mailed to the residence where you resided while attending in-person classes, providing mail-in, phone, or online options to respond. If you missed receiving your paper form, please use the online option at 2020census.gov.
As we emerge from the COVID-10 pandemic, information provided by the 2020 Census will be more important than ever, as it determines how billions of dollars in federal, state, and local funds are distributed for programs, such as Pell Grants. Just as important, it is used by an incalculable number of companies, non-profit organizations, and governmental organizations as they decide where to locate businesses, build housing, invest in infrastructure improvements, and provide access to health care and nutrition.
Please do your part with the thoroughness and excellence for which the Atlanta University Center is known.
More information about how college students are counted in the Census can be found here.
Warmest regards,
Todd Greene
Executive Director
Atlanta University Center Consortium
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Census matter?
The federal government uses Census information to distribute more than $800 billion in funds, including those paid by taxpayers like you and your parents. This includes things like Pell Grants. It is also used to determine how many representatives a state will have in Congress and who those people represent. States and local governments use Census information too to figure out how to distribute health care resources, public safety resources, where to put roads, playgrounds, and service centers, and a host of other municipal functions. Busineses use Census information as well to determine where to locate stores, corporate facilities, restaurants, and more. It is important that information about the AUC center area is recognized so we get our fair share of investment in our schools and community.
What if I live ON campus but went home when my campus switched to remote learning?
If you lived in a college-owned dormitory or residence hall this year, don’t worry. You don’t have to do anything. Your college is already including you in its count and reporting it to the Census bureau.
What if I live OFF campus but went home whem my campus switched to remote learning?
Even though you temporarily returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that you be counted at your Atlanta-area residence, especially if it is in a neighborhood close to the AUC. This is so that our area can get its share of resources given that you normally live in the area. Fill out the Census online at www.2020census.gov and use your Atlanta-area address.
What if I have roommates?
Only one person from your residence needs to respond to the Census and include information for everyone who lives there. If you don’t know whether your roommates have filled it out, go ahead and fill it out anyway. The Census Bureau would rather have to eliminate duplicate information than miss you entirely.
What if I normally live with my parents during the school year?
If you are attending an AUC Center institution but normally live at home with your parents, that is where you should be counted. Chances are, your parents will count you when they complete the Census.
If I live in Atlanta normally, should my parents claim me since I am home?
Nope. Everybody should only be counted once at the place where they normally reside for most of the year.
What if I still vote in my home state? What if my driver’s license is registered in my home state?
The Census has nothing to do with where you vote or received your driver’s license. It simply tells the government where you live for most of the year.
What if I am graduating in May?
Still fill out the Census form and let them know where you lived for most of the year.
What if I am an international student?
You should still fill out the Census. It just lets the government know that someone lived where you lived.
I don’t trust the government. Are my answers secure?
By law, your answers cannot be used against you in any way. The Census Bureau is required to prtect any personal information they collect and keep it confidential. Your answers cannot be used for law enforcement, to affect your government benefits, by any court, the FBI, the CIA, or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It is only used to produce statistics and not to identify you personally.
Learn more about Census information confidentiality here.
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