Survey Process

Background image: A student and staff talking casually

First launched in 2019, the My Experience Survey established a baseline for understanding the lived experiences of the Berkeley community.

Subsequent survey administrations allow the campus to examine trends over time, assess progress, and identify persistent challenges, particularly for individuals and groups experiencing multiple forms of marginalization. By organizing survey findings by year, UC Berkeley affirms a commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

What the survey examines

Across survey years, the My Experience Survey explores key aspects of campus climate, including:

  • Academic and learning environments

  • Interpersonal and social experiences

  • Health and wellbeing

  • Basic needs, including food and housing security

  • Professional development, mentorship, and leadership opportunities

  • Trust in institutional leadership and local unit climate

Survey findings are disaggregated where possible to better understand differences in experiences across populations while maintaining participant anonymity.

Guiding values

The design, release, and use of My Experience Survey results are grounded in the following principles:

  • Transparency: Using disaggregated data that is accessible and reliable, aligned to action, accountability, and measurable outcomes;

  • Agency: Providing customizable unit-level findings for multiple audiences to engage with the data while maintaining the anonymity of survey participants;

  • Alignment: Aligning initiatives, reports and committee recommendations to experiences from the campus community as articulated in the survey results;

  • Institutional transformation: Using the survey findings to inform changes in policies, procedures, and practices that will improve the campus experience and foster a culture of belonging.


Survey Development Group (2018-2019)

  • Andrew Eppig, Division of Equity & Inclusion
  • Oscar Dubon, Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion
  • Mia Settles-Tidwell, Chief of Staff Division of Equity & Inclusion
  • Tongshan Chang, Director, Institutional Research and Academic Planning, UCOP
  • Karie Frasch, Director, Office of Faculty Equity & Welfare
  • Marc Goulden, Director of Data Initiatives, Office of Faculty Equity & Welfare
  • Kena Hazelwood-Carter, President, Graduate Assembly
  • Sharon Inkelas, Special Faculty Advisor to the Chancellor on SVSH
  • Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Professor, Psychology
  • Andrew Smith, Assistant Dean for Research and Planning, Graduate Division
  • Angy Stacey, Associate Vice Provost (Retired), Office of Faculty Equity and Welfare
  • Jeff Royal, Institutional Researcher Graduate Division
  • Linda von Hoene, Assistant Dean for Professional Development, Graduate Division

Survey Release Steering Team (2020)

  • Andrew Eppig, Institutional Researcher, Division of Equity & Inclusion

  • Karie Frasch, Director Office of Faculty Equity & Welfare

  • Janet Gilmore, Public Affairs

  • Diana Harvey, Assistant Vice Chancellor Public Affairs

  • Sharon Inkelas, Associate Vice Provost, Office of Faculty Equity and Welfare & Special Faculty Advisor to the Chancellor on SVSH

  • Sunny Lee, Dean of Students Office

  • Sandra Messick, Communications, Division of Equity & Inclusion

  • Sara Quigley, Visualization Specialist, Graduate Division

  • Jeff Royal, Institutional Researcher, Graduate Division

  • Mia Settles-Tidwell, Chief of Staff, Division of Equity & Inclusion

  • Villy Somthida, Administrative Officer, Division of Equity & Inclusion

  • Denzil Streete, Chief of Staff and Assistant Dean, Graduate Division

Frequently Asked Questions

collapse all expand all

Why is Berkeley launching the My Experience survey?

  • By capturing the views, experiences, and concerns of the campus community - undergraduate and graduate students, staff, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and administrators - the survey will provide data enabling us to assess the current experiences individuals and groups are having on campus and inform policies and platforms for change at the campus, academic and administrative departments, office, program, and classroom levels.
  • This survey is a follow up to the 2013 UC-wide Campus Climate Survey administered by an independent consultant and will be Berkeley’s first locally-designed, comprehensive view of campus through the lens of equity and inclusion
  • The survey ties directly to three of Chancellor Christ’s top priorities - building community, improving the student experience, and increasing diversity
  • Going forward, the My Experience Survey will take place every four years

Why should I participate?

  • Your experience matters
  • Your participation will inform the campus about where to invest resources toward meeting the Chancellor’s priorities to build community, enhance the student, staff, and faculty experience, and increase diversity; it will also inform strategic planning and the direction of campus policies and opportunities
  • Through this survey, you can share what you think is going well and where you see opportunities for change
  • Responses will translate into tangible results

How will the confidentiality of my personal information/identity/responses be protected?

  • The survey is confidential.     
  • Your Cal Net ID is only used for authentication to ensure that people who are authorized to do the survey are able to do so
  • Your name, ID, or email address will not be stored with your responses
  • Individual responses will not be shared. Only aggregate responses will be reported
  • If aggregate responses are below 10 for a given group, they will be redacted to ensure privacy

How will the information be used?

  • The results will be used to assess and, wherever needed, change or improve existing policies and practices, share best practices that support the campus’ commitment to equity and inclusion, ensure accountability and transparency, propose and develop new policies and programs to respond to unmet needs that may surface.

Who is conducting the survey?

  • The Division of Equity & Inclusion is administering the survey, in partnership with the Graduate Division and the Office of the Chancellor

How is it different than the My Voice survey?

  • The My Voice survey was externally administered and the scope specifically focused on sexual harassment and sexual violence
  • This survey primarily focuses on individual experiences of students, staff, faculty, and administration on the Berkeley campus, with a focus on building community, enhancing the student experience, and increasing support for marginalized communities.  

What's the difference between the 2013 Campus Climate survey and the 2019 My Experience Survey?

  • The 2013 survey was conducted UC system-wide and administered by external consultants
  • The My Experience Survey is locally designed specifically for UC Berkeley by community members across campus including faculty, staff, students, campus organizations, committees, academic and administrative departments, and offices.

Are the questions the same as the last survey?

  • The survey has been redesigned to better address the UC Berkeley community
  • New focuses have been added in areas that have become more salient including basic needs security and mental health care
  • The survey will include more questions about experiences in units and departments to inform actions at the local level
  • The survey also includes questions about best practices and where survey participants experience positive changes to the campus       

What changes occurred as a result of the last survey?

  • Initiatives were launched to address specific groups identified as experiencing greater exclusion and isolation  
  • Increased trainings to inform the academic departments on best practices in creating inclusive classrooms
  • Expanded support for staff professional development and management pathways      

Who is eligible to take the survey?

  • Undergraduate and graduate students (Due to consent regulations, you must be 18 years old to take part in the survey.)
  • Staff – All job classifications
  • Postdoctoral scholars
  • Faculty
  • Administrators

When can I take it?

  • February 25 – April 25, 2019

Approximately, how much will it take to complete the survey?

  • About 30-40 minutes 
  • Your progress is saved as you go along. If you need to finish it later, log in again and continue from where you left off.

How do I access the survey?

  • Available online 
  • You will receive an email at your Berkeley.edu address with a link to the survey
  • Log in using your Cal Net ID
  • Printed surveys are available to staff members upon request in English, Spanish, and Chinese (simplified and traditional characters). To get a printed survey contact (510-643-0818)

Are there accommodations for people with disabilities? 

  • The survey is designed to be accessible for screen readers
  • There will be confidential phone assistance for anyone needing additional help (510-643-0818)

Who will have access to the raw data?

  • The survey data will be treated the same as other highly confidential records on campus. They are available to only a handful of people who are trained and credentialed to handle confidential records and will be reporting on broad populations
  • Data will be stored in secure locations with restricted access to assure privacy and confidentiality
  • Researchers who go through Human Subjects Review (a campus process) and have the proper training will be able to apply for extracts of the survey. The application does not guarantee access        
  • The survey will ask you about experiences in your department with your advisor/supervisor, and peers. Advisors, supervisors, and peers will not have access to your individual responses

When will the results be released and how?

  • A full report, including recommendations and action steps, will be released in fall 2019
  • Gatherings will be hosted to facilitate discussions of the findings