Census form important and easy for students to complete

Census form important and easy for students to complete

University Park, Pa. — U.S. residents already have received the 2010 Census form in the mail. Penn State students living on and off campus should take a few minutes to complete the simple questionnaire, which is ultimately an important factor in how much communities receive from more than $400 billion in federal funds distributed annually.

College students living away from home are not counted on their parents' questionnaires. People should be counted where they live and sleep most of the year, so students living in on-campus housing will receive their questionnaires there. The 2010 Census consists of just 10 questions about the basic information of people living in a residence. Students living in residence halls, considered "group quarters," will receive individual census forms from their RAs, while those living off campus will receive household questionnaires in the mail. International students who are not citizens also need to complete the census.

The census, done every 10 years and Constitutionally mandated, determines how many people a community has, and therefore is a determining factor for how much federal money those communities receive for vital services such as hospitals, schools, emergency services, public works projects and public transportation. Returning the form by April 1 also saves many millions of dollars of taxpayer money that would be needed for follow up by census takers.

Count Centre County, a community outreach project by Penn State students competing in the Public Relations Student Society of America's Bateman Competition, has established a helpful Web site, including answers to frequently asked questions, important dates and informational events, at http://countcentrecounty.com/.

Temporary jobs, starting at $11.75 per hour, with the local census effort also are available to members of the community, including students. For more information on how to apply, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ or call (866) 861-2010.