Data Governance is a key driver of ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University’s approach to data management. The Data Governance Committee (DGC) will oversee the University’s Data Governance Program, processes, and information technology required to create consistent and proper handling of data and understanding of information across the University. Information is treated as an organizational asset and is readily available to support evidence-based decision-making and informed action to improve educational, operational, financial, and student success experience and outcomes.
The DGC will undertake a leadership role in the creation, implementation, and oversight of the University’s information and data management goals, standards, practices, and processes aligned with the goals of the University. The DGC will propose specific recommendations on how to improve data quality, ensure a balance between data access, data privacy, and data security, and raise the level of data literacy across the University.
As a strategic, cross-functional decision-making entity, the DGC will be responsible for the following:
Vision and Direction: Set the vision and direction for the future of the organization as it pertains to Data Governance matters. Promote Data Governance throughout the University.
Oversight and Decision-Making: Act as a centralized hub, make decisions, and provide oversight in relation to key Data Governance components, such as policies and processes, data acquisition, data distribution, data protection, data privacy, classification, certification, retention, information usage, data stewardship, and data disposition.
Implementation: Oversee the implementation of the Data Strategy and its initiatives.
Strategic Alignment: Champion and align the Data Governance Strategy with the University’s strategic initiatives.
Data-Informed Culture: Promote an organizational climate that embraces use of data in achieving University goals and making positive change through continuous improvement in all areas.
Data Governance Resource Management: Advocate for and oversee funding allocated for data management and governance activities.
The high-level goals of the DGC are to improve data quality, increase data literacy, and maximize data use in achieving organizational goals. The DGC will develop a Data Strategy (documented plan or systematic approach) that identifies who will be tasked with data-related projects, activities, and timeframes to acquire and use high quality data (accurate, timely and complete) throughout the organization.
Coach the organization’s senior leaders on the value and implications of good data and information assets and the importance of an organizational climate that embraces use of data and analytics as a strategic resource while achieving organizational goals.
Define, agree, and communicate the Data Ownership hierarchy. Define responsibilities at each level and identify appropriate staff in each area.
Identify and establish cross-functional working groups to drive the organization’s Data Governance practices.
Ensure that relevant stakeholders are kept informed of the changes introduced by the Data Governance framework.
Guide organizational and behavioral change as it relates to the use of data.
Establish and execute a Data Strategy and set priorities for associated Data Governance activities.
Provide data stakeholders with guidance and standards to enable stakeholders to develop common and accepted data definitions for all shared data.
Establish data quality policies, processes, and quality measures to improve the reliability, accuracy, and confidence in information.
Work with data owners, stewards, and custodians to implement data cleansing plans (i.e., data accuracy, integrity, and retention) and participate in the root cause analyses of data quality issues.
Seek out solutions, processes, and technological improvements/innovations that will foster improved data quality and reporting.
Balance access to information with the need for security and privacy of data.
Representation on the DGC needs to include the administrative, operational, academic, and financial sides of the organization, covering key data categories such as EHR data, patient experience data, and financial data as well as incorporate key organizational enabling functions like Information Technology (IT), Quality Improvement (QI), and Human Resources (HR).
The proposed membership of the DGC includes the following permanent members:
Data Management Officer (DMO)
Executive Director IRR – Data, Analytics, Reporting & Analysis
Chief Information Officer (CIO) – Information Technology
Information Security Officer (ISO) – Information Technology
University Registrar
Additional members of the DGC are representatives from the following units:
Academic Affairs
Accreditation & Assessment
Athletics
Budget & Financial Planning
Digital Learning
Enrollment Management
Finance
Health, Wellness, and Accessibility
Human Resources
Information Technology
Operations
University Library
To aid the successful implementation of the DGC, the following outlines expectations for attendance and active participation:
New Membership Selection: New DGC members will be appointed by Executive Leadership; the Chair of the DGC will be appointed by the Provost.
Ad Hoc Attendees: Ad hoc attendees may be requested in order to provide specialist input as required.
Quorum: Quorum for the DGC is considered when, at a minimum, 50% of the DGC members PLUS the Chair is present. The Chair will ensure that the list of attendees is robustly maintained.
AUTHORITY
To aid the successful implementation of the DGC, the following outlines the DGC’s authority:
The DGC derives its authority from the President with escalation and reporting on Data Governance matters referred to the appropriate working groups (e.g., data owners, cross-functional teams).
Authority lies with the DGC itself, as a committee, and not with any specific individual. The Chair’s role is to facilitate and manage the conversation of the DGC, to enable decision- making and to aid issue resolution.
To aid the successful implementation of the DGC, the following outlines the frequency that the DGC should meet:
Quarterly Meetings: The DGC will meet on a quarterly basis for one (1) hour and on an ad-hoc basis, as required.
In Person and Teleconference: Regularly scheduled meetings will be conducted in-person and by teleconference to ensure that all stakeholders have an opportunity to participate.
Periodic Review: Periodically, the DGC will review the frequency and duration of meetings in-line with the organization’s needs.
The DGC will have an assigned Chair to guide the decisions that need to be considered to solve the data issues that the organization brings to the DGC.
Chair’s Role: The Chair will provide oversight and guidance to the DGC.
Chair’s Responsibilities:
Chairing DGC meetings.
Delegating responsibility for action Items.
Ensuring action Items are addressed by their assigned owners.
Assisting decision-making as necessary by providing oversight and issue resolution.
Appointing the Chair: The Provost will appoint the DGC Chair.