University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey (UCUES)

The survey will next be held in Spring 2024!

What is the UC Undergraduate Experience Survey?

The University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey is a survey of undergraduates across the University of California system.  This survey is conducted every other year during the spring. 

The survey is an opportunity for students to share experiences and input on a wide range of aspects of student life: academic work, academic advising, access to classes, interaction with faculty and peers, participation in student organizations, campus services, and future plans.

Who participates in the survey?

All undergraduate students at UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses are invited to participate.  Over 20,000 UC Santa Cruz undergraduates took the survey in the last five times the survey was conducted.  Across the UC system, about 60,000 students participate in any given survey year.

See the Prize Winners from the 2022 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey!

How are survey findings used to improve student life?

1. The UC Undergraduate Experience Survey allows students to give feedback that can be seen by faculty in each major and leaders throughout campus.  It is the only campus-wide student survey that provides comprehensive student feedback on the quality of academic experiences used in formal evaluation of academic majors.
2. The survey allows key campus decisionmakers to understand trends and evaluate changes in students' experiences.  Survey findings help decisionmakers throughout campus to evaluate curriculum in each major, teaching practices, advising, campus programs, student services, and the campus climate for the expression of diverse ideas and experiences.  The survey has been run since 2006.
3. The survey is designed especially for UC students and provides cross-campus comparative data for UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses.

Results Across All UC Campuses

• Interactive Data Tables:  Results across UC campuses and across years including 2022
• Reports and Survey Instruments: UC systemwide webpage for the UC Undergraduate Experience Survey
• Results for Many Surveys Across UC Campuses: Information Center at UC Office of the President

2022 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey Results

The 2022 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey at UC Santa Cruz was open from April 6, 2022 to July 1, 2022.  28% of students enrolled in Winter 2022 took the survey.

• Questionnaire for the 2022 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey
• Results:

	Interactive data tables for UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses, 2022 Results can be filtered by general subject area of study, as well as student level and student background characteristics.  Available on the systemwide surveys results pages (University of California systemwide Information Center).
	Interactive data tables on Advising for UC Santa Cruz, 2022 Results from the 2022 UCUES Module on Advising show the UCSC undergraduate students' experiences with advising provided by faculty and various campus units, as well as their advising needs related to academic progress, financial needs, and post-graduate plans.
	Undergraduate Student Suggestions for Improving Advising, 2022 (PDF)
	Undergraduate Student Experiences with the Climate for Diversity and Inclusion, 2022 (PDF)

• 2018-2022 Student Experiences in Academic Programs

Arts Division report Humanities report Social Sciences report PBSci report Baskin Engineering report

• Other Topical Reports:

	Undergraduate Student Financial Literacy Needs and Impact of Finances on Retention, 2022 (PDF)
	Undergraduate Student Satisfaction with Library Resources and Skills Levels in Library Research, 2022 (PDF)

2020 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey Results

The 2020 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey at UC Santa Cruz was open from May 5, 2020 to August 8, 2020.  29% of students enrolled in Winter 2020 took the survey.

• Questionnaire for the 2020 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey
• Results: Interactive data tables about COVID-19 and Remote Learning, UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses, 2020
• Results: Interactive data tables for UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses, 2020
• Results (PDF): UC Santa Cruz Student Experiences with Advising, 2020
• Results (PDF): UC Santa Cruz Student Experiences with the Climate for Diversity and Inclusion, 2020
• Results (PDF): UC Santa Cruz Student Participation in Research and Creative Projects, 2020

2018 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey Results

The 2018 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey at UC Santa Cruz was open from April through July 2018.  39% of students enrolled in Winter and/or Spring 2018 took the survey.

• Questionnaire for the 2018 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey
• Interactive data tables for UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses, 2018

2016 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey Results

• Questionnaire for the 2016 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey
• Results: Interactive data tables for UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses, 2016
• Results (PDF): UC Santa Cruz Student Participation in Research and Creative Projects, 2016

2014 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey Results

• Questionnaire for the 2014 UC Undergraduate Experience Survey
• Response Rate
• Satisfaction with Advising
  • Arts
  • Humanities
  • Physical and Biologicial Sciences
  • School of Engineering
  • Social Sciences
• Academic Engagement
• Campus Climate
• Community and Civic Engagement
• Financial Concerns and Other Obstacles
• General Satisfaction and Belonging
• Research and Creative Experiences
• Time Allocation

Results from previous years 2008-2012 are available upon request.

Research Papers and Presentations based on the UC Undergraduate Experience Survey

• Understanding Extracurricular Activities’ Impact on Employment Outcomes - Presented at California Association for Institutional Research, 2018
• Who Leaves UC Santa Cruz and When? Retention and Graduation among Freshmen Cohorts (2011)

Contact Information 

For more information about the UC Undergraduate Experience Survey, please contact surveys@ucsc.edu.