The U.S. Census Bureau provided students with key information about the 2010 Census Wednesday on Library Mall.
The event was part of a Midwest road tour designed to educate different parts of the population on the 2010 Census.
Brian Grady, an official from the Madison Department of Planning and Development, said students are a segment of the population that is less likely to fill out their forms.
""We did this same event with the 2000 Census, and we found it very helpful just to get material out and to get people talking about it,"" he said.
Grady said all students, even non-citizens, should not be counted on their parents' forms, but should fill out their Census forms based on where they are a majority of the year.
For most students, he said, this is their off-campus apartments or residence halls.
""Once you get the form in the mail, just fill it out for everyone in your apartment or house and then send it back in,"" he said.
Grady said students living on campus will receive their forms in early April and can turn them in on April 12 and 13 to the front desk of their residence hall.
According to Grady, it is important for everyone to fill out their Census forms, as these numbers are used to determine federal funding for the community, and also Wisconsin's political representation in the city, state and federal governments.
""It is estimated that for each person not counted the community loses out on about $1,000 of federal funding per year,"" he said.
He said this money is used to fund projects relating to public transportation, roads and hospitals.
Grady said if students have more questions or misplace their forms, they can go to Memorial Union or Madison Central Library from March 19 to April 19 for more information and extra forms.
