As you are probably aware the United States Census Bureau is currently conducting the 2020 Decennial Census. This is a nationwide effort conducted once every 10 years with the goal of counting every person in the United States once and in the correct place. The numbers from the Census are directly tied to apportionment numbers for representation in Congress as well as billions of dollars per year in funding allocations for programs related to almost all aspects of American Life, such as education, transportation, and healthcare.

The deadline to register for the Census is today, October 15. If you have not done so, you should register for the Census. This is something you can do while you are practicing social distancing. Go to www.my2020census.gov to register. The process takes around 10–12 minutes to complete.

The importance of completing the Census cannot be stressed enough. Again, the Census impacts how billions of dollars in federal funding are distributed. It affects funding for school safety, Federal Pell Grants, mental health services, student wellness programs, adult education grants, agriculture, science and engineering education, Medicaid, and much more. College communities use census statistics to support community initiatives, demonstrate need to help nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups, and decide whether to expand college facilities.