Institutional Research: Evolution and Transformation of Campus Information into a Fully Integrated Decision Support System

Presentation Summary

Kimberly Register, University of California Santa Cruz
Co-Presented by:
Kathleen Dettman, UC Office of the President

The recently established Institutional Research Office at the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) is charged with transforming multiple data repositories (representing data collected from multiple campuses & research locations, each running disparate ERPs) into an integrated and broadly accessible Decision Support System. This large-scale effort will build on the demonstrated success of the University of California Santa Cruz’s (UCSC) data warehouse. Over the last 15 years UCSC developed a mature data warehouse that integrates information from its key business systems, while making information readily accessible to its constituency. This presentation will explore how the UCOP effort will benefit from UCSC’s experience with: 1) using a component-based approach to effectively integrate campus data and develop a robust reporting environment, and 2) leveraging constituent participation at every stage. A component-based approach to development identifies key elements of a reporting data set that can be redeployed in subsequent efforts, reducing implementation time and assuring linkages across data sets. Actively engaging campus constituencies in the full cycle of development ensures “getting it right the first time”, and best utilizes limited technical resources while building a broad base of support.