The 2019–2020 Bateman Case Study Competition team from the College of Journalism and Mass Communications has been tasked with creating a PR campaign on behalf of the United States Census Bureau for the 2020 U.S. Census. Many college students are unaware of the benefits and importance of the census, including federal funding and resource allocation. Our goal is to increase participation in the census from our on- and off-campus student populations. Based on our research, as academic advisors, you are one of UNL students’ most trusted sources for information. Because you will be seeing a majority of your students for Priority Registration over the next few weeks, we want to provide you with information you can give to students, encouraging them to participate in the census.
What is the census?
Every ten years, the U.S. government does a headcount of everyone living in the country, counting every person once and in the right place. Data from the census is kept completely confidential under Title 13, so none of your personal information is shared with government agencies. These data are used to determine how much federal funding communities receive for a variety of areas, including roads and infrastructure, and hospitals and healthcare. The 2020 Census is important and every student counts!
Who counts?
Everyone! UNL has a special system for counting students who live on campus, but it’s important that they know they will be counted here and should not be counted by their families back home. Off-campus students are responsible for completing the census on their own behalf.
Why do we want students to care about and participate in the census?
Students in college towns use critical local resources, including roads, public transportation and health clinics. Getting funds for those resources, however, depends on making sure students are counted in the right place during each census. Redistricting for the House of Representatives is also dependent upon census data. And of course, we can’t stress how important it is to show that everyone counts!
What can you do to help?
Tell students that:
“You and your generation count.”
“The Census is 100% confidential.”
“2020 will be easier than ever.”
Tell off-campus students in particular that, “Even if you are living with roommates who are unrelated to you, everyone living in the same household is counted on one Census form.”
Download and print the attached flier attached to put on your desks or hang outside your office.
Important dates
March 12–20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone, or by mail.
April 1, 2020: Census Day.
Census takers begin going door-to-door to households that have not responded starting in May through July.
More details at: https://2020census.gov/en.html