{"id":1453,"date":"2022-06-12T20:10:53","date_gmt":"2022-06-13T00:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/asir\/?page_id=1453"},"modified":"2025-05-23T14:25:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T18:25:31","slug":"bio-demo-data","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/asir\/data-use\/data-usage\/bio-demo-data\/","title":{"rendered":"Bio-demographic Data Use Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"

Data collection and reporting processes regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion among Boston University\u2019s students, employees, and alumni are overseen by the university\u2019s Data Enablement Program.\u00a0 When working with these data, please use the following guidelines.<\/p>\n

1. Is bio-demographic data necessary for your business process?<\/strong><\/p>\n

While bio-demographic data may be interesting as it relates to your business process, do you need this information to carry out your function?\u00a0 Collecting and storing individually identifiable, \u201crecord level\u201d bio-demographic data creates risk of breach of confidentiality, or risk of error which may cause harm to the constituent (e.g. misgendering).\u00a0 The safest data is the data that you do not collect\/use.\u00a0 Please consider carefully whether this data is integral to your process, and if you have any questions, please contact asirhelp@bu.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Is the data you need already available?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Boston University is committed to providing a seamless data collection experience to members of the community.\u00a0 To that end, where required data is already collected about our students, employees, or alumni, it should be sourced from the system of record.\u00a0 A\u00a0list of the systems of record<\/a>\u00a0is available and will be updated as new data elements are collected.\u00a0 For technical specifications on accessing these data sources, please contact the office listed.<\/p>\n

\"\"If you are a BU Technology Service Owner, please review BU’s Standard for Storing and Using Name, Sex\/Gender, and Pronouns<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Can I collect bio-demographic data?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In cases where the data you require is unavailable through central resources, the following guidelines are in place for collecting this information.\u00a0 As previously noted, please make sure this data is required for your process, that you have the appropriate approvals to collect this information, and that you have reviewed BU\u2019s\u00a0Data Protection Standards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As policies or guidance is created around specific data collection efforts, this page will be updated.<\/p>\n