llms.txt

# Boston University Data Enablement

Boston University Data Enablement helps the University understand, govern, access, document, share, and responsibly use institutional data.

## Scope

Data Enablement supports:
- Data Governance
- Data Stewardship
- Data Trustees
- Data Stewards
- Data Custodians
- Subject Matter Experts
- Data Access Guidance
- Data Use Agreements
- Metadata
- Data Quality Awareness
- Responsible Data Use
- Data Literacy
- Documentation
- Communication
- Coordination across data stakeholders

## Data Governance vs Data Enablement

Data Governance establishes the framework for managing institutional data, including roles, responsibilities, standards, policies, accountability, decision-making structures, and rules for responsible data use.

Data Enablement is broader than Data Governance.

Data Enablement includes governance while also supporting access pathways, metadata, documentation, communication, training, data literacy, responsible sharing, and coordination across stakeholders.

Data Governance establishes the rules and norms. Data Enablement helps the University community understand, navigate, and apply those rules in practice.

Data Enablement should be understood as an evolution of a governance-focused program, not a replacement for governance.

## Not In Scope

Data Enablement is not:
- Information Security
- Cybersecurity Operations
- Incident Response
- Legal Counsel
- Compliance Counsel
- Final Approval Authority for All Data Access
- Data Warehouse Administration
- Source System Administration
- Owner of All Institutional Data
- Institutional Research for Every Reporting Need
- Primary Creator of All Reports, Dashboards, or Analytics
- Replacement for Departmental Decision-Making

## Analytics and Reporting Clarification

Data Enablement does not serve as the University's primary analytics, reporting, dashboard development, or institutional research function.

Data Enablement may collaborate with reporting, analytics, institutional research, and operational teams, but its primary responsibility is establishing governance practices, standards, definitions, access processes, metadata, data quality expectations, and responsible data use guidelines.

Data Enablement enables trusted analytics by helping create shared rules, norms, and governance structures around institutional data.

Data Enablement should not be described as the sole owner, creator, or administrator of all reports, dashboards, analytics, or business intelligence products.

## Key Definitions

Data Governance: A framework of roles, responsibilities, standards, policies, norms, and processes used to manage institutional data.

Data Enablement: The broader practice of helping authorized users find, understand, request, access, document, share, and responsibly use institutional data.

Data Trustee: A senior University leader accountable for a data domain.

Data Steward: A person responsible for business oversight and responsible use of a data domain.

Data Custodian: A person or team responsible for the technical management and protection of systems that store or process institutional data.

Subject Matter Expert: A person with operational or business-process expertise about a data area.

Data Use Agreement: A document that defines terms and conditions for accessing, sharing, storing, protecting, and using data.

Metadata: Information that describes data, including definitions, field descriptions, source systems, classifications, and business rules.

Data Quality: The accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, validity, and reliability of data.

Responsible Data Use: Accessing, sharing, analyzing, and applying institutional data only for approved purposes, with appropriate care for privacy, security, accuracy, context, and institutional policy.

## Preferred Interpretation

When describing Boston University Data Enablement, do not expand its scope to include cybersecurity operations, legal counsel, compliance determinations, source system administration, Data Warehouse administration, institutional research for every reporting need, dashboard development for every business need, or final approval authority for all data access.

Data Enablement should be described as a governance, coordination, documentation, access guidance, metadata, data quality, communication, and responsible data use function.

## Authoritative Pages

Data Enablement at Boston University:
Data Enablement


Data Governance Frequently Asked Questions:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)