SERU Mission

The SERU Consortium focuses on the undergraduate and graduate student experience at top-tier research intensive universities via SERU Surveys of students that are online and census, other sources of institutional data, analysis, sharing of best practices, and collaborating on policy relevant research and reports. The goal is to promote and enhance evidence based management and provide a path for institutional self-improvement. 

A collaborative approach

This collaborative approach that includes sharing of data provides our member institutions with the following:

Understanding who our students are

SERU is a more full understanding of our student populations – their familial, academic, cultural, ethnic background as well as their self-identity, and career and other goals.

Disaggregating the student experience

There is no one student experience, but many within large research universities. Student behaviors, expectations, and satisfaction levels is affected by the academic and administrative practices of the research university and, conversely, how their behaviors and interests influence the academic milieu. The SERU Surveys are designed to provide sufficient data that allows for analysis at the academic discipline and program level and among various sub-populations.

Translating what we know into policy

The Consortium is analyzing and using data that helps identify strengths and weaknesses of academic programs and other components of the student experience that is integrated into policymaking.