Subject: 2020 Census

Description:
As the world continues to face this global health crisis, we wish you good
health in the weeks and months to come. As the Covid-19 crisis continues, a
critical aspect of our civic duty—the 2020 Census—carries on. An
inaccurate census count will have serious consequences on our future.

Completing the census provides funding, resources, services, political
representation and more to our community for the next 10 years. According to
the 2020 Census hard to count map
(https://www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us/), both the College Park area and
Prince George’s County had low response rates during the 2010 Census. Only
49% of the tract that includes UMD’s campus responded to the census in
2010. Prince George’s County had a response rate of 76.5%. The undercount
in 2010 impacted the County’s political representation at the federal and
state level and significantly compromised federal funding.

The U.S. Constitution requires a census every 10 years to count every
resident in the United States. Completing the census is a vital part of our
democracy and civic duty. The distribution of more than $675 billion in
federal funds, grants and support to states, counties, and communities are
based on census data. An estimated $18,250 is lost in funding per person for
our community over a 10-year period for each uncounted person.

Your response matters. The census impacts federal funding that goes towards
critical higher education programs such as: Federal Pell Grants, school
safety, adult education grants, student wellness programs, and more.

Completing the census is safe, easy, and important. Personal information is
kept confidential by law, and personal data is kept secure. The census can be
completed online (http://www.2020census.gov/), by phone, or by mail.

For Students
The Census Bureau is proceeding to count U.S. college students and foreign
students for their on- or off-campus residences. Students should fill out the
Census using their pre-Spring break address, not where they are currently
located during online learning.

On-Campus Students
For students that live in on-campus student housing like residence halls,
off-campus residence halls, or other student housing facilities that are
owned, leased, or managed by UMD, representatives from the university are
working with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure you are counted through Group
Quarters Enumeration
(https://2020census.gov/en/conducting-the-count/gq/gqe.html). Therefore, you
do not have to complete a census form.

Off-Campus Students
For students who live off-campus, take the step to Be Counted! by completing
your census form at https://my2020census.gov. You should fill out the form
based on your off-campus residence and not where you may have relocated to
because of remote learning. The form will take no more than 10 minutes to
complete, and due to COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau is seeking approval
from Congress to extend the self-response deadline from August 14 until
October 31, 2020.

Support a fair and accurate 2020 Census by completing your census form and
advocating for others to complete the form as well. To learn more information
about completing the census, visit umd.edu/census2020 or www.2020census.gov.

Contact Person: Laura J. Rosenthal
Contact Email: [log in to unmask]

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