Luther prepares for the United States Census 2010

With 2010 only a few months old, the federal government is already gearing up for the decennial census. With over $200 billion in federal funding available nationwide from the census, Luther hopes for a 100 percent response rate from students.

With the last census conducted in 2000, no current student has ever had to fill out a census form for him or herself.

Students who choose to fill out their own census forms will be counted as Decorah residents,and cannot be counted on their parents’ forms.

April 16, ten census workers will come to Luther to prepare for the distribution of the census forms to Luther students.

April 19, Resident Assistants in all of Luther’s living quarters will pass out individual census forms to their students. The ten-question form is due back to RAs in each dorm April 22.

According to Kris Franzen, director of Residence Life, all students, including international students, are asked to fill out the form.

“It’s a very easy process.” Franzen said. “The RA hands you the form, you take a minute or two to fill it out, seal it up and give it back to the RA. It’s that simple.”

Nearly one-third of Decorah’s residents are between the ages of 18-25, and many of those citizens are Luther students.

“A lot of funding is allocated for public services based on the census,” Franzen said. “So it’s very important that all of Decorah’s residents are counted.”

In the past, Luther has received $3,000 in census grants. This money has gone to buy t-shirts and other prizes that Resident Assistants have been handing out, as well as going to raise awareness for the census.

In the 2000 census, Luther had a 98 percent response rate, according to Franzen. This year Luther is shooting for 100 percent.

“It’s a very simple process and won’t take too much of the students’ time,” Franzen said. “We are really hoping for a 100 percent response rate for 2010.”