Students Participation in the U.S. 2010 Census

Dr. Margret Toston of UT Martin is heading up a committee of several staff members in order to participate in the 2010 U.S. Census Partnership Support Program. The U.S. Census Partnership program is a proposal submitted to request funding to promote the census on the UT Martin campus. Members of the committee include Toston, David Belote, Steve Vantrease, Louis Ragsdale and David Taylor.

The members of the committee have been working to decide which campus and citywide events will effectively promote census preparation and participation among the students. Quite a few students are unaware that they must be counted here in Martin, not in their hometown. According to the U.S. Census 2010 website, people are to be counted where they live and sleep for majority of the year. This is important not only because it is required by law, but also because, the more residents a city holds, the more funding it will receive. For example, for every 1,000 people counted, $100,000 goes to that cities budget for infrastructure, roads, and other services.

The campus committee has also been working closely with the cities’ committee members to avoid duplication of ideas. “We would like to get the total amount of funding we request and maximize the number of people that participate,” said Taylor. Upon, receipt of such funding, the committee plans to purchase magnets, banners, and other materials needed to successfully promote the census to the UT Martin students.

The 2010 census questionnaires will be mailed or delivered to every U.S. households throughout February and March 2010. You must record accurate information of your household as of April 1, 2010. This date, is also the last day to submit your information. The Census Bureau must count everyone and submit all state totals to the U.S. President by Dec. 31, 2010.

See Weakley County Press Article