MU prepares for 2010 Census

Five residence halls will be surveyed.

By Greg Loeffler

Published March 16, 2010

April 1 is the official counting day for the 2010 United States Census, and preparation is underway to count MU students. But not everyone living on campus will be counted.

"(The Census Bureau) will only distribute the forms to residence halls with nine-month leases," Residential Life Associate Director Kristen Temple said.

Temple is in charge of aiding the Census Bureau in implementing the census at MU.

Although census forms will be distributed to students after spring break, the questions asked on the forms are based on April 1, which is during the break, so only those students who live in a residence hall that is open on that date are eligible to take the census. Those include South, Defoe-Graham, Hawthorn, Galena and Dogwood residence halls. Temple said data would not be collected from other halls.

To distribute the forms, the Census Bureau plans to set up tables in the lobbies of participating residence halls the week following spring break.

"They are hoping to hand the forms out personally," Temple said. "This way students understand how important it is." In a letter sent to collegiate student housing offices throughout the country, Census Director Robert Groves outlined the importance of the census on college campuses.

"The 2010 Census will provide key information that each community relies on to obtain their share of more than $400 billion in federal and state funding," he said in the letter.

Groves also said the colleges and universities of students who do not participate in the census can lawfully disclose information from student records without the student's consent. Information schools could disclose would include a student's name, date of birth, school address and dates of attendance.

Temple said she does not know of any plans for the Census Bureau to ask for this information. She also points out that the UM system does not consider date of birth to be directory information and would not release it if prompted.

In addition to participating in the 2010 Census, Temple said Residential Life also participates in an ongoing data collection. Each month, 10 students who live on campus are notified by letter to participate in the study. The student then completes an interview in person or by phone. The survey measures the demographics of those living in campus housing.

University administration will also be promoting the census for students living off-campus. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs is working to get the word out about this year's census.

"Most of our students live off campus," Scroggs said. "And it is important to be counted where you live."

Scroggs said the university plans to set up a table in Memorial Union as well as promote the issue at Missouri Students Association Senate and Residence Halls Association meetings.

"We want to make the students as aware as we possibly can," she said.