The Igniting Data Insights (IDI) initiative is a multi-year, phased effort to build a robust data infrastructure and deliver strategic value through integrated data. UAB has launched an initial three-year project focused on two key elements: 1) establishing the foundational infrastructure and 2) rolling out integrated systems across selected data domains. This phase is designed to demonstrate early impact and lay the groundwork for continued expansion beyond the initial timeline.
Foundational Infrastructure:
The project will focus on building the core infrastructure and governance framework necessary to support university-wide data needs. This includes:
- Implementing a centralized data lake to serve as the core platform for secure, scalable, and integrated data storage and access.
- Developing data governance to ensure policies, standards and processes are in place to ensure access, data quality, security, and accountability across the institution.
Phased Implementation:
Following the establishment of the foundational infrastructure, UAB will launch a phased rollout to demonstrate the value of the new system by integrating and leveraging key institutional data domains. The phased rollout will focus on:
- Integrating key institutional data domains, including
- Enrollment and Student Success
- Research
- Advancement and Development
- Developing reports, dashboards, and analytical insights for strategic decision-making across targeted areas of academic, research, and administrative functions.
These domains were selected not only for their strategic importance, but also because they are already progressing in conducting data needs assessments and laying the groundwork for integration, positing them to demonstrate early value through improved insights, collaboration, and decision-making.
In addition to these primary domains, supporting data from Finance, Human Resources, and other administrative areas will be incorporated during the phased rollout phase to enhance comprehensive analysis.
Expansion:
Upon successful implementation of the foundational infrastructure and validation of the initial use cases, the IDI initiative will focus on scaling the integrated data environment. This next phase will include additional institutional data domains and address a broader range of data needs across the university, provided that resources are available.
Building on the tested infrastructure and demonstrated value from the initial use cases, the expansion will address evolving insight needs in other areas of the university:
- Finance
- Human Resources and Administration
- Other Administrative Units
The expansion will focus not only on integrating these complex and sensitive data environments but also on developing advanced reporting capabilities, generating actionable insights, and supporting data-driven decision-making across all areas of the university.