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2020 Census & Student Privacy

The U.S. Census count is critical for determining representation and the allocations of federally funded programs, including those in higher education. Historically, certain groups of people have been disproportionately undercounted by the Census. The U.S. Census Bureau identifies all college students as a hard-to-count population because they are highly mobile, may live off-campus as renters, and often difficult to persuade to participate.

Lessons Learned from the 2020 Census Count

The shift to distance learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak forced students living both on- and off-campus to return home, complicating the U.S Census Bureau's 2020 enumeration operations. As a result of the pandemic, the Bureau suspended field operations and modified their efforts to ensure college students displaced from their dorms or off-campus housing because of the coronavirus were counted as living at school, an important consideration for federal benefits for the regions around campuses. The shift also altered the methods institutions historically utilized to respond to the Bureau, moving from methods that allow student self-response to campus officials reporting information on behalf of the student using administrative records.

In anticipation of the forthcoming 2030 Census, the Bureau recently reached out to partner with AACRAO to solicit feedback on the process or processes that institutions used to provide information for the 2020 Census count. The association hosted a listening session with Bureau representatives, conducted a member survey, and will gather a working group to inform and improve the Census Bureau's data collection process and minimize any undue burdens for stakeholders.

Executive Director Updates

AACRAO Takes the Lead for Higher Education to Ensure that the Census Does Not Overstep FERPA Regulations for Off-Campus Student Count | 06/18/2020

Mike Reilly discusses some concerns about what information institutions will be asked to provide as directory information.

  • Michael V. Reilly

    • AACRAO Guidance: The Census, Directory Information, and FERPA | 06/03/2020

    Mike Reilly discusses how institutions can work to provide the U.S. Census Bureau the relevant information needed to complete an accurate count.

  • Michael V. Reilly

    • U.S. Census Operation Update Webinar | 05/28/2020

    Mike Reilly discusses AACRAO's webinar with the U.S. Census Bureau, which provides updates on their modified data collection timeline, procedures, and field operations in light of the pandemic.

    2020 Census and FERPA FAQs

    Sample of Census Bureau responses to questions related to "Group Quarters Operations"
    • If a student has opted out of directory information, should that student's name appear on the roster?

      No, if a student has opted out of directory information, then that student’s name should not appear on the roster. The Census Bureau will request the room number for that student so that a package can still be prepared for that student.

    • What about international students?

      College students who are foreign citizens living in the United States while attending college in the United States (living either on-campus or off-campus)—Counted at the on-campus or off-campus U.S. residence where they live and sleep most of the time. If they are living in college/university student housing (such as dormitories or residence halls) on Census Day, they are counted at the college/university student housing. Therefore, these student should be included in the group quarters enumeration process.

      The goal of the U.S. Census Bureau is to conduct an enumeration of every person residing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The U.S. Constitution requires that the Census Bureau not just attempt to offer information or a service to the population (as is the case with other federal government programs like voter registration, Social Security enrollment, and the use of national parks), but that the Census Bureau actually reach and count every person living in the United States and its territories—of all ages, residence statuses, and locations—whether or not they desire to participate, and regardless of whether they are difficult to find, reach, and count.

    • How does this pertain to commuter campuses, i.e., campuses that do NOT have on-campus housing?

      These campuses have no obligation for the 2020 Census if they do not have student living in on campus or off campus housing. The students will be counted at their residence.

    • How will you determine which residence is correct for a student that is reported on campus and in their home state?

      The 2020 Census residence criteria are used to determine the correct residence for various residence situations such as described above. This is why it is important that the Census Bureau receive complete data to be able to perform critical matching. The more complete the information, e.g. legal first and last names or complete DOB (month, day, and year), the more confident Census can be that two records that are linked together are the same person.

    • If using e-response and race/ethnicity and gender information is not included, will the information be considered complete for upload?

      The information will be considered complete if you provide complete “directory information.” Information required to help with non-duplication include Name, DOB or Age, Address of usual home elsewhere (where they live while not at campus housing). The more complete the information, e.g. legal first and last names or complete DOB (month, day, and year), the more confident Census can be that two records that are linked together are the same person.

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    Coffee Breaks & Webinars
    AACCRAO_Transcript-purple

    AACRAO To Host Conversation with Education Dept. Regarding 2020 Census and FERPA

    Feb 12, 2020, 18:56 PM
    legacy id :
    Summary : Join a call with the U.S. Education Dept. and Census Bureau representatives to discuss new guidance regarding demographic information campus officials may share for the 2020 Census.
    Url :

    Ahead of each Census, the U.S. Education Department provides information to colleges and universities on the applicability of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from student education record to representatives of the U.S. Census Bureau. The department issued an updated letter on January 29, 2020, regarding demographic information campus officials may share with Census Bureau representatives.

    The January 14, 2020 letter stated that school officials, if asked, may not disclose information about a student’s gender, Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin, and race, without prior written consent from the student as part of directory information. The updated January 29, 2020 letter included that same information and also provided information regarding aggregate institution-level enrollment data disaggregated by gender and race/ethnicity if that data is de-identified in response to some questions.

    AACRAO will host a joint call with U.S. Census Bureau representatives and Kala Shah Surprenant, acting director of the Education Department's Student Privacy Policy Office, on Tuesday, February 18 at 2:30 p.m. (ET) to discuss the updated guidance and answer any additional questions universities may have regarding the 2020 Census and what information they should make available. Register for the Quick Take.

    The 2020 Census count is critical for determining representation and the allocations of federally funded programs, including those in higher education. Historically, certain groups of people have been disproportionately undercounted by the Census. The Census Bureau identifies all college students as a hard-to-count population because they are highly mobile, may live off-campus as renters, and often difficult to persuade to participate. Some college students are even harder to survey because of additional factors. Bureau representatives have begun their outreach to campuses and will continue over the next few months to verify and collect information on students in group living quarters, including college residence halls.


    Categories :
    • Advocacy
    • FERPA
    Tags :
    • census
    • Quick Takes
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