About the SERU Survey

History and Development

Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) is a campus-wide survey of degree-seeking students at the University of Iowa. SERU originated at the UC-Berkeley Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE), and is currently used by a consortium of large public research universities to broaden our understanding of student experiences on campuses like ours.

CSHE provides an overview of both the undergraduate and graduate SERU survey design.  For more information about the history and development of SERU, see the SERU Mission at CSHE.
 

Survey Topics

SERU undergraduate and graduate student surveys are administered online to all Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD students. 

All students at SERU institutions receive the same set of Core questions, allowing us to compare responses of UI students with those of students on other campuses.  Students on our campus also are invited to respond to a set of UI-specific questions.

Undergraduate SERU Topics:

• Core Questions - Perceptions of academic programs, classroom experiences, financial concerns, food and housing security, future plans, impacts of pandemic conditions, research experiences, and overall satisfaction
• UI-Specific Questions - Obstacles to student success, perceptions of campus climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion

gradSERU Topics:

• Core Questions - Perceptions of academic programs, advising and mentoring experiences, financial concerns, food and housing security, future plans, impacts of pandemic conditions, obstacles to academic success, research and teaching experiences, and overall satisfaction
• UI-Specific Questions - Career and professional development opportunities, perceptions of campus climate for diversity, equity, and inclusion
   

Contact

SERU is administered at the University of Iowa by the Office of Provost. For more information, contact Wayne Jacobson, Assessment Director in the Office of the Provost.