Seru Consortium

The Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Consortium is a community of research-intensive universities collaborating on administering student surveys and sharing data for institutional self-improvement. SERU is a member-run, not-for-profit, research consortium designed to reduce complexities and costs of collecting, managing, and reporting data, and to promote data-driven self-improvement. It is based at the Center for Studies in Higher Education at UC Berkeley working in partnership with the University of Minnesota, i-graduate and member universities. Membership in the SERU Consortium is open to research-intensive universities (having R1 designation and equivalent international campuses) by invitation and for a multi-year term. SERU member universities collaborate by: Administering undergraduate and graduate SERU surveys (census, online, customized, longitudinal) of the research university experience; sharing SERU benchmark data and best practices, and seeking paths for institutional self-improvement. SERU offers two surveys. First launched in 2002, the Undergraduate SERU survey focuses on aspects of the undergraduate experience including: academic engagement, educational experiences, satisfaction, campus climate, major evaluation, academic and professional development, student wellbeing, and cost of attendance. First launched in 2017, the gradSERU survey focuses on the post-baccalaureate experience and covers topics including: selection and admission, financial support, advising, teaching and research experience, program climate, career plans, student wellbeing, obstacles to completion, and overall satisfaction. For more information, visit