As colleges and universities across the country and here in Potsdam have sent students home in response to the coronavirus outbreak, there are some important things to know about how to fill out the 2020 U.S. Census forms that are now arriving in the mail.
Historically, students who live on campus have been counted as “residents” of the college town for that Census period. April 1 falls within the spring semester at most campuses.
As a result, these students should not be listed at their home address but at the college address.
The Census Bureau issued the following instruction over the weekend:
“College students living in on-campus housing are counted through their university, which counts all students living in university-owned housing. In general, students in colleges and universities temporarily closed due to COVID-19 will still be counted as part of this process. Even if they are home on Census Day, April 1, they should be counted according to the residence criteria that states they should be counted where they live and sleep most of the time. We are asking schools to contact their students and remind them to respond.”
So make sure you list your Clarkson address when filling out your census form.
Thank you!
