SIPP_Attachment_E_2024 OMB_SIPP Group_Quarters_Letter

SIPP-23(L)(C)(GQ)(AT)
(9-2022)

DC

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
U.S. Census Bureau
Washington, DC 20233-0001

To: Director of Student Housing
Your student housing facility has been scientifically selected to participate in a very important
national survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau called the Survey of Income and
Program Participation (SIPP). The SIPP is an ongoing survey that reveals in detail the
economic situation of households in America. A sample of students who live or stay in student
housing is included in the SIPP. Participating in the SIPP is important and also authorized by
law (Title 13, United States Code, Sections 141 and 182). Federal law protects your privacy
and keeps your answers confidential under Title 13, United States Code, Section 9. Per the
Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity
risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.
Estimates from the SIPP are used by federal, tribal, state, and local governments, as well as
by businesses and nonprofit organizations.
• The SIPP provides current data about a variety of important issues, such as changes
people have experienced in their jobs, health insurance coverage, medical
expenditures, the well-being of children and adults, childcare and child support
status, retirement and pension planning, participation in government programs, and
other information.
• Since the country changes rapidly, up-to-date facts are necessary to create effective
programs. Other organizations use this information to provide services to the
community and to plan or establish new facilities, buildings, and programs.
• Policymakers in government and private organizations need current economic
information to make informed decisions about programs that will affect people of all
income levels.
To conduct the SIPP throughout the year, Census Bureau employees called Field
Representatives contact different facilities, such as college residence halls, dormitories, and
fraternity/sorority housing recognized by the university. During the next month, one of our SIPP
Field Representatives will contact you or someone in your office to discuss the survey and to
schedule an appointment to visit your facility.

census.gov

The Field Representative will:
• Answer any questions you may have about the SIPP or about interviewing residents
of your facility.
• Collect and verify basic information about your student housing facility such as the
facility name and address.
• Ask for a list of students who are currently living or staying at the sampled student
housing facility to establish a basis for their sample. According to the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Census Bureau is permitted to
collect this information.
• Select a scientific sample of students to take part in the SIPP.
Your cooperation is essential to the success of the SIPP, and our Field Representative may
need your assistance in collecting survey information from the sample of students. Our Field
Representative will need access to the students chosen. Colleges and universities can lawfully
disclose directory information from student records to the Census Bureau without prior consent
of the student, parents, or guardians, as stated in the FERPA. Directory information includes a
student’s name, date of birth, school address, and dates of attendance.
The enclosed brochure provides answers to frequently asked questions about the SIPP.
If you want to learn more about the SIPP, please visit the Census Bureau’s Web site at
census.gov/sipp/.
If you have further questions, please call the Atlanta Regional Office toll-free number at
1-800-424-6974, and ask for the SIPP supervisor.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and we look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,

George Grandy, Jr.
Regional Director

SIPP-23(L)(C)(GQ)(AT)
(9-2022)