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Data and Analytics Governance Framework

Data and Analytics Governance Framework

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This online version is for convenience; the official version of this policy is housed in the University Secretariat. In case of discrepancy between the online version and the official version held by the Secretariat, the official version shall prevail.

Approving Authority: Provost and Vice-President: Academic

Original Approval Date: November 14, 2024 

Date of Most Recent Review/Revision: N/A

Administrative Responsibility: Institutional Research and Planning

Parent Policy: 10.4 Information Governance

1.0 Data and Analytics Governance at Laurier

1.1 What is Data and Analytics Governance?

Data and Analytics Governance is a set of standards and processes that are followed by all members of the university community that ensures the confidentiality, accuracy, integrity and accessibility of data and analytics.

1.2 Why Data and Analytics Governance is Important

Governance helps to resolve many questions that people experience with data, reports, analysis and analytics.

Laurier’s data and analytics governance strategy includes the following principles:

1.2.1 Reduce the cost of operations. Data and analytics governance helps to streamline our processes so we can use various data sets more quickly.

1.2.2 Improve our employee experience. Rather than a proliferation of mixed quality data sets, everyone is able to reference a few reliable reports and dashboards to support decision making.

1.2.3 Ensure high data quality. Data and analytics governance enhances data discoverability, understanding and trust of data sets.

1.2.4 Simplify security and compliance. The right people have access to the appropriate data when they need it in a compliant and secure manner.

2.0 Laurier’s Data and Analytics Governance Framework

The main components of the data and analytics governance framework at Laurier are:

2.0.1 Information Management Policies and Guidelines outline how Laurier will manage its data and guidelines for compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

2.0.2 Privacy, Compliance, Retention and Security provide recommendations for record management throughout the lifecycle from creation to archival or disposal.

2.0.3 Institutional Systems, Architecture, Data Model and Integration provide optimal back-end design, structures, tools and connections for data across the entire university.

2.0.4 Institutional Data, Reporting and Analytics coordinates the delivery of information to end users using the best front-end reports, tools and systems to make informed decisions.

3.0 Data and Analytics Governance Committees

The advisory and decision-making structure at Laurier consists of three main components:

3.1 Executive Sponsor and Advisory Group

The terms of reference of the Advisory Group are:

  • To provide strategic direction, perspective, and prioritization in the development of a refreshed road map for institutional data & analytics governance at Laurier.
  • To take a comprehensive view not just focused on one program, department or area of interest.
  • To advise and help us to consider a wide range of variables that may impact the roadmap and how we might address them along the way.
  • To assist with the change management that may be necessary to achieve our goals.
  • To be an advocate and supporter of the various initiatives we will undertake in relation to data & analytics governance at Laurier.
  • To broaden and update our data policies to include data management, analytics management and information management.

The Advisory Group members are:

  • Provost and Vice-President: Academic (Executive Sponsor)
  • Associate Vice-President (AVP): Academic
  • AVP: Integrated Planning and Budgeting / Interim AVP: Enrolment Services
  • Legal Counsel
  • Manager Privacy and Records Management
  • Chief Information Officer
  • Director, Institutional Strategy and Analytics (Chair)

3.2 Data, Reporting and Analytics Integration and Enablement Team

The purpose of this team is to lead our efforts to operationalize the strategic priorities for the university related to data, reporting and analytics.

The members are:

  • Director, Institutional Strategy and Analytics (Co-Chair)
  • Associate Director, ICT Enterprise Applications (Co-Chair)
  • Enterprise Architect
  • Institutional Reporting Manager
  • Cognos Analytics Administrator
  • Data Warehouse Architect

3.3 Data and Analytics Governance Lead

The Lead is the Director, Institutional Strategy and Analytics. This individual is the chair of the two groups outlined above and participates in our existing IT governance committees. The Data and Analytics Governance Lead brings data and analytics governance items to the Digital Technology Steering Committee for discussion and brings items to the Digital Executive Council for review and approval. This individual’s role is to provide leadership and coordination for data and analytics governance across the various groups and for the university.

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