Counting campus

The U.S. Census Bureau is focusing its lens in preparation for the 2010 Snapshot of America. The snapshot is known as the decennial census, meaning it occurs every 10 years. For the upcoming census, the Census Bureau has launched its Census on Campus Initiative in hopes that data on college students will be accurate.

“I think the census takers are typically challenged by the college population because the timing has to be just right to get them at their college setting as opposed to whatever other address they may have,” Cindy McClanahan, housing marketing coordinator, said.

GCSU is working toward the same goal as the Census Bureau in ensuring that each student is counted once and in the right place. In the past, the difficulty obtaining correct information on college students stems mainly from students being counted in their parent’s questionnaires, or not being counted at all, according to officials.

“We’re still working out the process of how we’re going to implement it for the residence halls where it would be effective,” said associate director of housing for operations, Mark Craddock.

The actual census is completed by providing 10 responses to a questionnaire and then sending the survey back. The survey usually takes around 10 minutes to complete. The process of when and how the students will complete the questionnaire is in the works. The preliminary details, such as the addresses of the residence halls and the number of residents, are still being planned.

One of the main concerns surrounding the census on campus is the need for student participation.

“The census has a whole campaign going on trying to get people aware so that hopefully they’ll be more likely to participate,” Craddock said.

Participation is imperative in collecting accurate data for college students. The data collected is mainly used for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives. However, the census also provides data that is essential to factors that affect college students directly.

Confusion of the uses of census data is common among college students. The data collected serves a variety of purposes. Allocation of federal funds is one example of data being used. These federal funds are used to provide for highways, health facilities, schools and many other programs. Census data also affects tuition grant and loan programs.

“I know it’s to see how many people there are and they do different statistics off of that. But other than that I’m not really sure” Lindsay Peterson, a freshman psychology major, admitted.

With only a month until the official census day, posters and television ads are hitting full swing as a reminder to citizens to participate. Posters will soon be brought to GCSU by the Census Bureau in hopes that students will take part in the Snapshot of America.

Posted by AubrieSofala on Feb 26 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry