SARIS is the research, information, and systems support facility of the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Previously known as the Student Affairs Research and Evaluation Office (SAREO), the operation is perhaps best known for PROJECT PULSE, a Gallup-type telephone polling service developed in 1972 to gather data from undergraduate students to assist administrators in formulating policies affecting students. SAREO was formally established one year later in 1973 to administer PROJECT PULSE and to coordinate and support Division-wide research activities. During its existence, the office has produced over 400 research reports on a wide variety of topics.

The need for a computer systems component was formally recognized in 1984 when additional staff members were charged with the responsibility to coordinate the Division's computerized information systems. Among its many responsibilities in computerization, SARIS manages the division-wide local area network linking most offices within the Division of Student Affairs.