The decennial census is a statistical tool that aggregates information about the population and is used in planning and academic fields to examine societal phenomena. Ensuring accuracy is important to furthering scientific inquiry.
Census data determines how federal funding is allocated to states and communities in support of education, infrastructure, transportation, public health, and neighborhood improvements.
Enshrined in the constitution, participating in the census is part of our civic duty is to be counted once and in the right place so that we may be fully represented in congress. Seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are apportioned based upon census data, so not being counted means not being heard. In addition, legislative districts are defined and adjusted as a result of census information.
Individuals in recognized MIT living groups will be included in rosters that MIT is required to provide to the Census. MIT can only provide information that is considered to be directory information. MIT will provide name, address of residence, home address for domestic students and date of birth.
COVID-19 Update: If you lived in a recognized MIT living group on March 1, 2020, you will be counted by MIT.
You’ll be counted as part of MIT’s group quarters response and should not be included on your parents or guardian’s form.
A postcard with a special PIN will arrive at your mailing address in late March. Once you have that information, you can complete your census online.
If you have a shared residence, work with your roommates to find a time to fill out the census together. If you live alone or with family, be sure to complete the census as soon as possible. Teamwork makes the dream work.
You’ll be counted as living in Massachusetts and should not be included on your parents or guardian’s form.
This is the easiest way to participate in the census. If you are unable to do so, the Census Bureau will mail you a paper form or send a Census taker to your residence.
If you don't complete the form online, you may have a census worker come to your door to complete the census for you. Census takers are hired from local neighborhoods to help encourage participation and are not law enforcement agents. Always ask for credentials if you are unsure.
The U.S. Census Bureau will ask for basic information about you and your household, including age, race, and sex of each member living there. The Census will NOT ask for your social security number, bank information, money or donations, or about anything related to a political party.
The Census is a statistical tool that aggregates data about the population and includes some identifying information to ensure that people are not counted twice. The data are collected to make decisions broadly about the U.S. population and will not be used to identify you personally.
Federal law protects your Census responses, which can only be used to produce statistics and cannot be used against you in any way. By law, and affirmed by multiple court rulings, the Census Bureau cannot share information with immigration enforcement agencies, law enforcement agencies, or allow it to be used to determine eligibility for government benefits. Census staff take an oath of non-disclosure that protects the confidentiality of your answers for 72 years.
The Census Bureau takes strong precautions to keep online responses secure. All data submitted online are encrypted to protect personal privacy, and the Bureau’s cybersecurity program meets the highest and most current standards for protecting personal information. Once the data are received, they are no longer stored online.
Yes! International students, exchange students, temporary workers, or anyone living in the United States as of April 1, 2020 will be counted. Your information is collected for statistical purposes and will not be shared with any other federal government agency. This means your information cannot be shared with the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, FBI, CIA, or any other governmental agency at the local, state, county, or federal levels.
If you are primarily living abroad, even temporarily, on April 1, 2020, you will not be counted in the Census. If you are taking a short trip abroad, but still live in Massachusetts primarily, you will be asked to fill out your Census and be counted.
Yes! Even if you have a temporary 3-month appointment, if you are living in the United States on April 1, 2020, then you should be counted.
MIT has a special responsibility to count people living on campus as the landlord. Residence halls and FSILGs are designated as “Group Quarters” by the Census Bureau. MIT also has the responsibility to protect the privacy of students under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (known as FERPA). MIT will provide “directory information” such as your name and date of birth to the U.S. Census Bureau. MIT will provide aggregate information on sex, race, and ethnicity by residence.
You and your family will be counted as part of MIT’s response to the Census Bureau. You will not need to provide additional information to the Census.
Similar to the on-campus residences, MIT will provide roster information to the Census on behalf of the living group as long as it is a recognized FSILG.
Only one Census response is allowed per address. In order to provide complete information about your household for the Census, make a plan to sit together with your housemates to fill out the Census as a group. It’s important that everyone at your address is counted.
Not necessarily! If you are primarily living in your own apartment, dorm, house, or other dwelling near MIT, that’s where you should be counted. If you are living locally with your family, then you will be included in their household.
The Census doesn’t take residency, citizenship, voter registration, or any other regional factors into consideration when determining where you are counted in the Census. The Census is a snapshot of where everyone is primarily living on April 1, 2020. Further, being counted in Massachusetts for the Census has no bearing on where you decide to declare your residency.
