Michigan College Towns At Risk Of Being Undercounted In U.S. Census ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

There are concerns one large group of Michigan residents will go uncounted in this year's U.S. Census. It's an undercount that could hurt Ann Arbor, East Lansing and other large college towns.

"Understanding the census is super easy. All you do is fill out 10 simple questions," is the message of one of the entries in a YouTube ad contest the University of Michigan is running in hopes of convincing college students to fill out their U.S. Census forms.

Many students ignore census forms or think their parents are supposed to fill out the forms, according to Lisa Neidert is with the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. She says the parents are not responsible for the students.

"It's a misunderstanding on the part of students nationwide," says Neidert, about students not realizing the census bureau counts you where you are living most of the time.

Neidert says all students, whether they're from Michigan, out of state or from out of the country, must fill out the census. That includes students in dorms too.

Undercounts end up costing college towns like Ann Arbor millions of dollars in federal aid. U.S. Census forms will be mailed March 15th.


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To view some of the entries in the U of M Institute of Social Research Census Video contest to go http://census.umich.edu/view © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio