On Tuesday, March 31, the UNI administration and the Black Hawk County Complete Count Committee both released information to help UNI students register and be counted on U.S. Census Day, Wednesday, April 1.

The U.S. Census is conducted every ten years and is completely confidential. Aggregated information is used to determine distribution of congressional seats and federal funding for everything from education and child care services to housing, infrastructure and more. According to the UNI campus message, each person counted equals about $20,000 in funding and resources to a community. 

 “As college students, it’s hard to know where exactly you should be counted,” stated the UNI campus message. “The answer is simple, and comes directly from the U.S. Census Bureau. You should be counted where you live and sleep most of the time, which is probably Cedar Falls.”

Whether UNI students live on campus in a residence hall or live off-campus in a local apartment or house, they are considered residents of Black Hawk County and should be counted as such for the U.S. Census. This applies even in light of campus closures due to COVID-19. Both the UNI administration and the Black Hawk County Complete Count Committee stressed that even students who have returned home or left the area due to COVID-19 should be counted as residents of Black Hawk County.

Although residence halls have closed for the semester, any students who were living on-campus this spring have already been counted as Black Hawk County residents, according to the UNI campus message. Those who live off campus— even if they have now returned home or left the area — should log on www.2020census.gov and complete their information as Black Hawk County residents on April 1.  

As of March 28, 39% of Black Hawk County residents had responded to the census. The Black Hawk County Complete Count Committee is hoping to increase that number.

“Participating in the census is not just an act of good citizenship, it is an effective way for every person in Black Hawk County to make a difference that directly benefits their family and their community. Every person truly counts,” said Brian Schoon, leader of the Black Hawk County Complete Count Committee and director of development with Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments.  

In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the advent of social distancing requirements, certain aspects of the 2020 census process have been adjusted. In-person contact by census takers has been suspended, and group events such as Mobile Questionnaire Assistance events are postponed. In addition, the planned completion date has been extended to mid-August, with additional postponement possible.

However, individual citizens can still safely and easily complete the census online, by mail or by phone, and the Black Hawk County Complete Count Committee stressed that the census is more important in COVID-19 times than ever before.

“It is especially critical in emergency response situations, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, to have accurate data about where people live. In addition, 100% participation in the census can help ensure Black Hawk County has the funding it needs for future emergency response services,” the Committee’s press release stated.

For more information, see www.2020census.gov. For information specific to Black Hawk County, see www.youcount-bhc.com.