Data Governance keeps data organized and consistent and defines who can and cannot access data. Data architectures can help enforce data governance and data security standards, enabling the appropriate oversight of the data pipeline to operate as intended.
Currently, the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) 's data and reporting infrastructure fails to meet business requirements and provide adequate data access, resulting in inefficiencies in reporting and analytics. Moreover, the Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP) project presents significant risks, necessitating a more comprehensive data solution.
In Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), Enterprise Technology & Services (ET&S) initiated a two-year USNH Data Governance and Architecture project to impact all USNH stakeholders and campuses. These projects are foundational, long-term technical programs (LRTP) for USNH. In FY24, ET&S concentrated on the discovery phase and the RFx (Request for Anything) process. Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) will focus on implementation.
The two major initiatives under data governance include:
Data Governance Framework
This initiative establishes the foundation for a robust data governance framework to ensure data quality, privacy, security, and compliance across USNH. It involves refining the roles of data owners, stewards, and custodians and collaborating with stakeholders to develop comprehensive policies, procedures, and guidelines. These efforts are vital for managing data classification, access controls, retention, and disposal, and safeguarding USNH data assets.
Data Architecture Project
The data architecture project aligns system-wide objectives and supports efficient reporting and analysis within the new Enterprise Resource Platform (ERP), Workday. This multi-year, long-range technology planning (LRTP) effort encompasses the technical design and deployment of data sources, transfer methods, and a data framework equipped with advanced visualization capabilities to meet business needs. This project is integral to the successful deployment of Workday, ensuring that data is leveraged to drive decision-making and strategic initiatives.
The FY24 LRTP goals were centered on identifying solutions and supporting change management throughout USNH to ensure successful implementation. For instance, ET&S conducted multiple data visualization demonstrations to familiarize users and key stakeholders with the tools.
The FY25 LRTP goals are to deploy the new data architecture and governance solutions in time to support the Workday go-live date. Additional spending will be required in FY26 and 27, with a smoothing out after that point.
These projects address critical needs and risks and modernize USNH's data architecture and governance.
