Data Strategy

Data is a core asset of any organization, especially one making progress toward aspirational priorities. Like any asset, not using data to its fullest potential presents an opportunity cost. Augusta University has made strides toward a mature data infrastructure with support from the Division of Institutional Effectiveness, the Division of Information Technology, and data champions across campus.

Based on the standards set by industry leaders such as NACUBO, EDUCAUSE, and AIR, we know there are activities, methods and strategies that we can incorporate into our planning to enhance our data practices. To fully leverage the value available with our institutional data, there needs to be an ecosystem of best practices, data literacy, and a strategy to ensure we are optimizing our environment and capitalizing on innovation and advances in technology.

Data Strategy Goals

Goal 1: Data Analytics

Enhancing analytics at all levels of the institution by reducing redundancies, increasing automation, and ensuring timely, actionable reporting.

Goal 2: Data Literacy

Promoting a campus-wide data community where data users of all levels are empowered to identify, locate, interpret, and communicate data assets effectively to create a strong foundation for decision-making.

Goal 3: Strengthen Data Governance

Enhancing a structured framework to manage data practices, policies, and procedures that ensure quality, access, privacy, and compliance in alignment with USG and legal requirements.

Goals and Tactics

Streamline Data Analytics

Goal 1: Enhancing analytics at all levels of the institution by reducing redundancies, increasing automation,
and ensuring timely, actionable reporting.

Tactics

  • Tactic 1.1 Increased engagement with data tools.

  • Tactic 1.2 Searchable Data Index of Dashboards and Reports.

  • Tactic 1.3 Establishment of the AU Analytics Advisory Council.

  • Tactic 1.4 Data Repository contains data from all domains.

  • Tactic 1.5 Institutional data visual guidelines are standardized.

  • Tactic 1.6 Integration with ERP systems and new software.

  • Tactic 1.7 One analytics environment (Power BI) for all of campus.

Structure Data Literacy

Goal 2: Promoting a campus-wide data community where data users of all levels are empowered to identify, locate, interpret, and communicate data assets effectively to create a strong foundation for decision-making.

Tactics

  • Tactic 2.1 AU Data Literacy training program by Subject Areas (student, HR) and Roles (Dean, Chair).

  • Tactic  2.2 Create data literacy self-service training on data subject areas and by roles in the Data Community.
  • Tactic 2.3 Create data literacy hands-on training on data subject areas and by roles in the Data Community.

  • Tactic 2.4 Active AU Data Community of Practice (AU’s data analyst community).

Strengthen Data Governance

Goal 3: Enhancing a structured framework to manage data practices, policies, and procedures that ensure quality, access, privacy, and compliance in alignment with USG and legal requirements.

Tactics

  • Tactic 3.1 Data governance documentation and processes.

  • Tactic 3.2 Fully operational  Data Cookbook (AU Data Dictionary).

  • Tactic 3.3 Inventory of all AU Authorized Applications.

  • Tactic 3.4 Work with Cyber and Libraries to establish AU Data Lifecycle.

Data Strategy Roadmap