Data Strategy Task Force
The University of Illinois System Data Strategy Task Force completed its work in FY2024 and delivered recommendations, guiding principles, and long-term goals to support the effective management, governance, and use of institutional data across the University of Illinois System.
The Data Strategy Program establishes a framework for improving data governance, privacy, literacy, quality, accessibility, and decision-making across the system while supporting innovation and operational excellence.
Systemwide Data Strategy Program Goals
Through robust data governance frameworks and a commitment to data literacy, the University of Illinois System seeks to transform data into actionable insights that support strategic decision-making and operational effectiveness. The following goals were identified through the Data Strategy Task Force process and are intended to guide ongoing data strategy efforts across the system.
- Empower data-informed decision-making and operational efficiency systemwide while promoting awareness of institutional data, its value, and the need for governance.
- Establish clear roles, responsibilities, principles, and practices that support the secure and effective governance of data as a strategic asset.
- Support student success through aligned data services, processes, analytics, reporting, privacy practices, and operational improvements.
- Expand data literacy and promote a data-informed culture that fosters collaboration, confidence in data quality, and responsible use of institutional data.
- Integrate privacy, security, and compliance into all aspects of the Data Strategy Program while supporting innovation, transparency, and trust.
- Improve data quality, accessibility, consistency, integrity, and usability across the University of Illinois System.
Institutional Data Definition
Institutional data is information, regardless of medium, generated, collected, stored, maintained, transmitted, enhanced, or recorded by or for the University of Illinois System to conduct university business. It includes data used for planning, managing, operating, controlling, or auditing university functions, operations, and mission-related activities.
For purposes of the Data Strategy Program, institutional data generally excludes data already governed by existing procedures, including certain health and research data.
Vision
The University of Illinois System will use the power of data to inform decision-making, transform operations, support strategic initiatives, improve access to information, and enhance the experiences of its community. Through responsible governance, strong privacy practices, and expanded analytics capabilities, the system aims to maximize the value of data while fostering innovation, efficiency, and student success.
Task Force Structure (Archived for Reference)
The information below describes the organization, scope, and focus areas of the FY2024 Data Strategy Task Force that developed the recommendations and goals presented above.
Background
The Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) process of identifying, evaluating, and managing risks complements and enhances university and departmental risk-mitigation efforts. By understanding the interconnected nature of risks across the U of I System, leadership can address them with enhanced coordination and a holistic perspective. The System Executive Risk Management Council oversees the ERM program, ensuring a balanced view of risk and fostering collaboration among the universities to achieve a collective impact. This approach enables the U of I System to proactively respond to risks and capitalize on opportunities through a dynamic action agenda that actively involves the three universities.
In alignment with the FY2024 agenda, the System Executive Risk Management Council identified data strategy, including data management and information privacy, as a key area of focus. They established a system-wide task force dedicated to examining both individual and collective efforts across the system regarding data strategy. The task force, led by co-chairs Matt Riley, University of Illinois Chicago Chief Information Officer, and Kelly Block, System Offices Chief Information Officer, operated under the executive sponsorship of Nick Jones, the Executive Vice President, with guidance from Joda Morton, Director of ERM, who facilitated and advised the group.
Task Force Responsibilities and Deliverables
To create data strategy subgroups based on four areas of focus
Assess current state
Propose future state
Provide recommendations to reach future state
Provide an implementation road map (including policies and responsibilities)
Identify and list resource gaps
Areas of Focus
1. Student Data and Innovation - led by Josephine Volpe, Associate Vice Provost Advising Dev, Enrollment, UIC
The Student Data and Innovation subgroup will focus on defining a strategic data framework and goals to support student success and experience, data literacy and best practices among student-related decision-makers, and innovative use of student data.
2. Information Privacy - led by Shefali Mookencherry, Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Privacy Officer - UIC
The Information Privacy subgroup will define the framework for consistent privacy capabilities, policy, and governance to enable data strategy in a principled manner. We will explore current state privacy capabilities, privacy expectations, alignment with compliance, and requirements and resources necessary to create consistent privacy programs across the University of Illinois System.
3. Governance for Institutional and Academic Data - led by Dimuthu Tilakaratne, Assistant Vice President Decision Support, AITS, SO
The Data Governance and Management subgroup is focused on defining the framework and goals (data governance) that will enable and sustain the use of data in a managed environment. We will explore operating models, policies, standards, enablement, and accountability.
4. Technology and Operations - led by Hannah Christensen, Manager Data & Technology Innovation, UIUC
The Technology & Operations subgroup will focus on developing recommendations for the architecture and design of systems and identifying tools to enable and deliver the outcomes and goals recommended by the Governance, Student Data Innovation, and Information Privacy subgroups.
Task Force Guiding Principles
- We understand that institutional data are owned by the Board of Trustees. These data assets shall be appropriately governed, leveraged and managed to benefit stakeholders as appropriate while protecting institutional assets and interests.
- We will emphasize trust, accountability, and inclusion in the use of data by protecting data as a critical asset while providing access to data as safely possible to support innovation and efficiency of university operations.
- There is real value in institutional data, and we will ensure accurate and quality data is available and accessible to members of the system and public as appropriate.
- We will be transparent about the data we collect, how it will be protected, and the appropriate use of the data.
- We will educate our community on the appropriate and effective use of data, including understanding, safe handling, data capabilities, data lifecycle, and privacy of that data.
- We recognize that there is inherent risk in retaining or making data available, and we commit to appropriate risk assessment and management.
- Data and data products are valuable persistent assets critical to successful operations, continuous process improvement, proactive planning, predictive analyses and historical record.