University of California, Santa Barbara
   

2020 Census

UCSB Counts 2020 Census logo

Published April 2020

The 2020 Census is Here and You Need to Act! 

Learn why the census is so important, what you should do, and how you should answer.  It’s not too late to participate!

Why does the census matter? You will benefit from funding for:

  • Federal student loans
  • Emergency funds like our current crisis 
  • Better sidewalks, lighting, and other infrastructure in Isla Vista
  • Campus funding
  • Campus improvement
  • Health and social services. 


Even though you might be home with your family due to the COVID-19 crisis, if you normally live at UCSB and in Isla Vista most of the year, the 2020 Census still wants to count you in IV.

What should I do? 

Starting March 12, households received a postcard with a link to the census questionnaire. You can answer:

  1. Online with the link and ID number you receive on the postcard 
  2. On the phone in 12 different languages
  3. On paper by regular mail
  4. When a census enumerator visits your home

 

How should I answer? 

  • Do you live in University housing (except Family Housing, Ocean Walk, and Sierra Madre)? If so, UCSB Residential & Community Living will fill out the census on your behalf! No need to answer. 
  • Do you live in a fraternity or sorority house in Isla Vista? Stay tuned! Your housemother/house manager will have special instructions for you. 
  • Do you rent an apartment/house in Isla Vista, Goleta, or Santa Barbara? Only one resident in your household will answer the census questionnaire for all of you. Make sure you collect the necessary information for each of your housemates before answering. 

 

If you left Isla Vista before getting the census letter:

You can still go online to my2020census.gov and complete the questionnaire even if you do not have a Census ID with you. One resident answers for all as "head of the household." You should collect the necessary information for each housemate before answering. Since the census wants to record the place where you live most of the year, you should answer yes to the question “will you be on this address on April 1st”.