Campus Life

Penn State student leaders share message on importance of completing 2020 census

The American flag being raised at Penn State's Old Main lawn. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State student leaders shared a message Friday for all Penn State students about the importance of completing the 2020 census during this period of remote learning.

“We know most of you are not living near your campuses right now, but the Census Bureau emphasizes the importance of counting yourselves at the place where you live and sleep most of the time. For many of us students, that means we should count ourselves at our campus-adjacent residences,” the letter signed by leaders from the Graduate and Professional Student Association, the Council of Commonwealth Student Governments, and the University Park Undergraduate Association states.

“The reason this is so important is that the Census determines funding for programs such as Pell Grants, nutrition assistance, mental health services, transportation, student wellness programs, agricultural and engineering education, and more!”

The census is a count of every individual living in the United States, and it is completed every 10 years. An accurate census count is important for political and economic reasons. View the full letter from student leaders.

Last Updated April 9, 2020