2020 Census Update

The United States 10-year census count is underway. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing many changes to our normal operations, we want to clarify how you can participate so you are counted.

The Census Bureau maintains that where a student lives for the majority of the 2019-2020 academic year is where they should be counted. A student who spent most of this academic year living in a residence hall or nearby apartment building should consider that location as their residence, even if they are living somewhere else now, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A student who spent most of this academic year living at home with parents or guardians should ensure that whoever completes the census for that household includes them in that count. If you normally live in a residence hall or a university partner property, you will be counted by the University as part of the "group quarters" category. Students who live off campus (largely rental apartments or houses) are still responsible for filling out the census form.

If you are completing the census, you should include everyone else who normally lives with you. For instance, if you lived in a nearby apartment building with roommates, and you don’t know if your roommates responded, please respond for everyone who shared your room/apartment/household. The Census Bureau has tools to clean up any duplicate responses and they much prefer to do this than have anyone not be counted. You can respond to the census online, by phone, or by mail.

For more information on the 2020 Census, visit 2020census.gov. Please contact the Student Activities Office by email at studentactivities@ysu.edu should you have any additional questions.

UNIVERSITY & PARTNER HOUSING
We are working with the Census Bureau to make sure all students that live in these properties are counted: residence halls (Lyden House, Cafaro House, Kilcawley House, Wick House, Weller House); Buechner Hall;
University Courtyard Apartments; The Enclave; University Edge; The Flats at Wick; Erie Terminal Place. If you live in any of these facilities, you do not need to submit a census response; we'll take care of it for you.

About the 2020 Census

The census count is a critical exercise across the United States. The count is completely confidential and cannot be used for any other reason but toward counting the population of the country. However, the data is critically important because it provides the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to communities across the country to support vital programs—impacting housing, education, transportation, employment, health care and public policy.

As a University student, this affects you directly via the ability to obtain student loans and Pell grants. This also impacts access to University resources and campus infrastructure improvements along with health and social services available within the city of Youngstown and surrounding areas. Additionally, the census determines the number of congressional seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s critical that all students are counted.

Visit 2020census.gov for more information.