Every 10 years, the U.S. government requires all residents to be counted in the Census. Penn is a part of this decennial tradition. All students not abroad — including noncitizens and graduating seniors — need to count themselves at their school residences.
Students living off campus should receive the forms soon, and need to return them by April 1. The University will distribute forms to students living on campus or in school-owned Greek housing in a separate process the week of April 4.
Completing the Census is more than just a civic obligation. The Census may be as old as the Constitution, but it is just as important today, if not more.
Students literally cannot afford to ignore the Census. The data is used to determine how $400 billion in federal funds are allocated. This money goes to a number of important programs and services, including hospitals and public-works projects. In order to ensure Penn and Philadelphia get all the funds they can for services such as education, transportation and health, students need to make sure the federal government knows they live in this area most of the time.
The Census also matters because it determines how many seats in Congress and electoral college votes states gain or lose. In a time of economic uncertainty and conflicts abroad, the balance of power between Democrats and Republicans — and the outcome of major national policies — will depend on each state’s population. It is important for census results to accurately reflect the student population so that each state receives votes based on the actual number of residents.
