Context for Analysis (C)

7C1 Collecting, Storing, and Accessing Data

Western collects information about students, human resources, financials, technology, and strategic initiatives from units across the system and stores it so that it can be accessed by authorized individuals for purposes of review, modification, analysis, and reports.

An integrated relational database is key to consolidating and retrieving systems-wide academic and administrative operational and strategic information. Understanding this, Western, in 2004, replaced its data information system, hardware and software, with an integrated SunGard SCT Banner system. This management information system is used by faculty, staff, and administrators in a variety of ways described in Figures 2.3 and 2.4. This central system eliminates duplicative entry of information and enables extended information management, access to users across the campus, and reliable data extraction and reporting.

The campus system accesses information through requests to the Office of Institutional Research (IR), data reports published by IR, and by the Department of Higher Education’s Annual Statistical Summary. Other external data includes the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and the Department of Higher Education (DHE) campus-based academic and mission review.