It's that time again. No, not time to buy chocolates and unmentionables for your significant other. It's time for another census.
The census is taken every 10 years, following the rules stated in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, which created the largest and most comprehensive data-gathering organization in the world. It organizes data which directly affects University students' lives.
"Our data is used by every Fortune 500 company and leaders in industries such as financial services, education, information technology, retail and consumer products," said Dan Clutch, University alumnus and recruiter for the U.S. Census Bureau. The Fortune 500 is a ranking system that measures America's largest companies, compiled by Fortune magazine.
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"Census data affects student loan programs, helps determine how easy it will be for U.Va. fourth years to find jobs, and how high financing rates may be on the new [cars] they may want to buy," Clutch said.
This year, the Census may hold some unique job opportunities for University students.
Clutch will be interviewing University students for a variety of positions in the Census Bureau, stressing that it will not be for the position of the infamous door-to-door information gatherer.
One position Clutch is interviewing for is that of Economic Analyst. This post is open to graduating Economics or Commerce students.
Census Bureau Economic Analysts are behind the creation of the economic indicators to which many leading stock market analysts refer.
"Through practical application of economic and survey principles, Economic Analysts help tell us where the U.S. economy is, and where it is going," Clutch said.
Another job available is Demographic Analyst, which would be ideal for Sociology or Psychology majors.
"Demographic Analysts could find themselves a part of a team collecting welfare reform statistics that will be used by Congress, or working with other Federal agencies designing survey questions on topics as varied as HIV to the salaries of women in the workforce," said Clutch.
Economic Analysts/Demographic Analysts should have 15 credits of math and statistics or statistics-related coursework.
First overseen by University founder Thomas Jefferson, the population census started as a simple head count to establish proportional representation in Congress.
As the U.S. expanded in population, territory, and industry, the need for a permanent agency to deal with the collecting of information became apparent. The result was the founding of the Census Bureau in 1902. The Bureau continues to be the single source for determining representation in the House of Representatives and expenditure of federal funds.
"The census is beneficial because it helps get money distributed as it should be for education and other social areas," second year College student Katie Clay said.
Each month the Bureau plans, implements, and evaluates over 100 surveys that update and add information to decennial censuses that indicates the concerns of U.S. citizens, including jobs, education, health care, crime, aging, income, poverty and foreign trade.
"The variety and magnitude of the surveys make the Census Bureau the world's most sought-after source of information about the United States," Clutch said. For example, the Census Bureau "gives students some background on whether the highly-publicized crimes committed in and around Charlottesville this year are a part of an overall rising trend, or just aberrations," he said.
Clutch will hold an information session on the U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday, Feb. 15th from 6 to 7 p.m. in Cabell 245.
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