DANBURY, CONN. — It’s important to be counted — that’s why students at Western Connecticut State University are being urged to participate in Census 2010.

WCSU will participate in a Census kick-off press conference at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Ave. in Danbury.

“WestConn, along with other campuses in the state, will be working hard to encourage all students, but especially our residential students, to complete census forms in April,” said WCSU Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Walter Bernstein. “Those students living on campus will be counted as Danbury residents for the purpose of this census count.”

A committee designed to organize events at WestConn will begin publicizing the census at the end of January, when the spring semester begins. Events will include activities, entertainment and give-a-ways to students.

“As part of our involvement, we have filed a grant with the Census Bureau for funding to allow us to support formal programs on campus in the spring alerting students that the census is important to them,” Bernstein said. “Even if we do not get these grant monies, we will still be mounting several information programs and getting out the word to all of our students.”

There are more than 1,500 students who live on WestConn’s two campuses and they all will be counted as Danbury residents if they fill out a form in April.

“That’s good for Danbury, because it allows us to increase representation at the state level,” Bernstein said. “The students have to see the value of being part of a community. It’s a civic responsibility students have to fill out the form. We’re big on this and we’re going to support the city in this effort.”

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-3278.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.