Census Day 2020: Here's what students need to know

<p>Census Day is observed on April 1 each year. If students have lived in Muncie or Delaware County during the 2019-20 academic year, they should count themselves at your Muncie or Delaware County address, even if they are currently at their parents’ home. <strong>U.S. Census Bureau, Photo Courtesy</strong></p>

Census Day is observed on April 1 each year. If students have lived in Muncie or Delaware County during the 2019-20 academic year, they should count themselves at your Muncie or Delaware County address, even if they are currently at their parents’ home. U.S. Census Bureau, Photo Courtesy

On April 1, Census Day is observed nationwide. By this date, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the decennial 2020 census in one of three ways — online, by phone or by mail.

According to an email sent by Ro-Anne Royer Engle, vice president for student affairs, here's information students, particularly ones living off campus, need to know:

  • If students have lived in Muncie or Delaware County during the 2019-20 academic year, they should count themselves at their Muncie or Delaware County address, even if they're currently living at their parents’ home.
  • All students should respond in this manner even though the official census form will reference the students' residency situation as of April 1, 2020.
  • The above-mentioned information also applies to Ball State's international students.
  • All off-campus addresses should have received an invitation by mail to complete the census. The mail contains a unique Census ID number which should be used to complete the questionnaire for your home.
  • You should submit one response for your house or apartment, including all roommates, young children and anyone renting space in your home.
  • Students who live in residence halls or apartment complexes owned or managed by Ball State will be counted through the 2020 Census Group Quarters Enumeration operation.



The email states the information received through the decennial census influences more than $275 billion in federal funding each year for the next 10 years. In 2016, Indiana received almost $18 billion based on 2010 census data for things like financial assistance programs, college funding, public schools, community health services, nonprofit organizations, highways, construction, public transportation and safety.

The census count also helps determine state and federal political representation, and is used to make decisions about new business development, neighborhood revitalization and emergency response.

In late April, census takers will visit all addresses that have not yet responded to the 2020 census.

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