Quick Start

Available to:   Data access is determined by the appropriate Data Trustee.  Approval must be received prior to accessing a particular institutional data repository.

Cost: No charge except where vendor licensing fees may apply.

Dashboard Development & Consulting works closely and in conjunction with other IS&T services and processes in support of an end-to-end Reporting and Analytics service.  This service also collaborates with Data Governance to support the development, management, and enforcement of the University’s data policies.

Benefits

Provides a range of development and consultation services supporting the visualization and distribution of university data via supported reporting tools (e.g. Microsoft Power BI, MicroStrategy).  Clients are supported with capabilities to establish and enhance their own BI dashboards and visualizations, which provide a central location for users to access, interact with, and analyze information to provide new insights and make data-driven decisions.

Key Features

  • Supported dashboard and visualization tools, including Microstrategy and Power BI.
  • Dashboard and other visualization development services for more complex use cases, based upon client needs.
  • Training and support for developed reports in Microstrategy and Power BI.
  • Integration with the BU Data Governance processes, including Data Trustee access approval, data definitions and cataloguing, and other documentation to support data use.

What to Expect

Service availability is subject to request volume, priority, and complexity.  Project priority is determined by the Strategic Information Group (SIG) and/or the senior administration.  Availability of data within any particular data repository (source system or data warehouse) for Business Intelligence (BI) reporting is subject to the University’s Data Governance protocols and approval of the relevant Data Trustees.

Requirements

  • Self-service access to reporting tools requires completion of a basics course, such as the Microsoft EdX course “Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Power BI”.
  • Requests for dashboard development require support from the appropriate Associate Dean, Dean, or VP.
  • Access to data in Catalog of Analytical Data Repositories is subject to approval of appropriate Data Trustee.

Getting Started

Requests for access or support should be submitted to the IT Help Center, or through Analytical Services and Institutional Research.