Dear Berkeley undergraduate student,
We invite you to take the spring semester Student Pulse Survey. These confidential, three-minute Pulse Surveys capture your feedback so UC Berkeley can better support you. As a token of our appreciation, if you complete the survey, you will have a chance to win a $100 gift card of your choice.
The Spring 2025 Pulse Survey is Now Open
This Pulse Survey asks for your thoughts on your experiences around finding housing while at UC Berkeley, Cal Student Central services, learning about generative AI, and mental health. A link to the Pulse Survey is below and appears as a task in CalCentral. The survey results are private and will only be displayed in the aggregate. The last day to submit your responses is Friday, February 14, 2025.
Results from Fall 2024 Pulse Survey #2
- Around 75% of students said they would be interested in using a mobile device in place of the physical Cal 1 Card. Some students (26%) would also be open to using fingerprint technology.
- Campus continues to assess the possibilities of new ID technology and will factor your input into these efforts.
- Approximately 26% of students felt difficulty focusing on their academics due to concern over the US Presidential election a few times this semester, while 3% had difficulty focusing on academics daily.
- Group counseling sessions are free and a great way to find support. Some sessions you might find helpful: Mindful Meditation; Managing Emotions; Empowerment Through Expression; and Worry, Stress and Your Health. Same day one-on-one counseling is also available; call (510) 642-9494.
- About 63% of undergraduates who are low income Agree or Strongly Agree with the statement “I feel overwhelmed by budgeting or managing my finances”.
- The Center for Financial Wellness, housed in the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, has peer-to-peer Financial Wellness Coaches specially trained to help students with managing money through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and online tools tailored to students’ personal needs.
- Results show 41% of students had not heard of the Center for Financial Wellness. While 28% of students “ have heard of it but don’t know what they do.”
- The Center for Financial Wellness offers group presentations, perfect for student organizations, intramural teams, group living environments, etc., to learn more.
- The majority of students would like to learn about the following financial topics: Saving/Investing (70%), Taxes (58%), and Budgeting (54%).
- Upcoming workshops include topics like "Love Your Wallet - Budgeting & Saving," "Get Tax Ready: Expert Guidance with United Bay Area," "Your Guide to Money Saving Apps," and more. We'll use your feedback to shape upcoming workshops.
- The survey shows 26% of students have not spoken with anyone regarding learning about how to manage their finances during their time at UC Berkeley.
- Individual 30-minute appointments are available. For those who prefer to learn on their own, the Financial Literacy Hub offers a variety of resources.
- Unfortunately, 6% of students lacked a safe, regular, adequate nighttime place to sleep sometime during fall 2024.
- Contact the Basic Needs Center for help finding stable housing. You are not alone, we are here to support you.
Survey Drawing Winners
Congratulations to the following recipients of $100 gift cards from Fall 2024 Pulse Survey #2:
- Nancy Dai, Psychology undergraduate student
- Name withheld, Computer Science undergraduate student
- Sudha Chivukula, Applied Mathematics undergraduate student
- Sahar Takriti, College of Letters & Science undergraduate student
- Maria Gregg, Law graduate student
- Cassidy Bruner, Information & Data Science graduate student
Additional information about the Pulse Survey, including results from previous surveys, is available on the Undergraduate Education website. If you have any questions or concerns with the Pulse Survey, please contact UE_DataTeam@berkeley.edu.
A Note about Campus Surveys
The Pulse survey is the first of several surveys the campus will conduct this semester. Your feedback helps improve the services you receive; we appreciate you taking the time to respond to these surveys.
- National College Health Assessment (random sample of students) - data will be used to improve physical and mental health services.
- My Experience (faculty, staff and students) - data will be used to improve campus climate on issues of inclusion and belonging.
- Cost of Attendance (random sample of undergraduate students) - data will be used to help set cost of attendance figures and inform financial aid support.
- Handshake Employers Survey (Handshake users) - data will be used to improve relationships with employers for internships and jobs.
Thanking you in advance for taking the time to participate in this and other surveys; we wish you every success this semester.
Fiat Lux,
Oliver M. O’Reilly (he/him)
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Lisa García Bedolla (she/her/ella)
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division
Stephen C. Sutton (he/him)
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
This message was sent to all UC Berkeley undergraduate students.