Data Governance Roles and Responsibilities
The increasing complexity and volume of institutional data necessitate clearly defined data governance roles to ensure its integrity, security, and effective utilization. These roles, encompassing Data Owners, Stewards, Custodians, and Analysts, are crucial for establishing consistent data standards, promoting responsible data management practices, and fostering a data-driven culture that supports strategic decision-making, academic excellence, and operational efficiency. By clarifying responsibilities and establishing frameworks for data access, quality control, and compliance, Vassar can leverage its data assets to enhance student success, improve administrative processes, and advance the College's mission.
Data Owner
A Data Owner is the ultimate authority for a specific set of data within an organization. They are responsible for its overall well-being, use, and accuracy. They set guidelines and policies for data access, reporting, and ensuring alignment with overall business objectives. They work closely with the Business and Technical Data Steward to define data quality requirements and ensure the data is managed effectively.
Business Data Steward
The Business Data Steward acts as the go-to person for their assigned data domain. They answer questions from colleagues, explain data definitions, and provide guidance on data usage. They have direct operational-level responsibility for the management of one or more types of institutional data. They implement data quality rules, monitor data quality, and work to resolve data issues. The Business Data Steward is also responsible for recommending the appropriate Data Classification of any information asset, defining a data retention policy if required, and reporting violations of data handling procedures.
Technical Data Steward
A Technical Data Steward works to support the data governance program and ensure the health and security of an organization's data through the use of technology. They will work with Data Owners, Business Data Stewards, and Technical Data Custodians, to make decisions on the use of technology to help govern the organization effectively.
Business Data Custodian
The Business Data Custodian enforces user access controls to ensure only authorized personnel can access specific data for a single domain. This aligns with policies set by the Data Owners of the domain. The Business Data Custodian is responsible for building and configuring application workflows to meet the requirements of the organization. To meet data quality requirements, the Business Data Custodian may be required to perform data cleansing operations and monitoring of data integration pipelines. The Business Data Custodian acts as the backbone for a single domain's data storage, and access.
Technical Data Custodian
The Technical Data Custodian focus is on the technical implementation of systems to ensure the College's data is safe, accessible, and has integrity. They manage the technical environment where the data resides. This includes maintaining the integration systems and securing the databases and storage systems that house the data.
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst is an individual who extracts and interprets meaning from data. They turn raw data into actionable insights that inform decisions. They are responsible for reporting suspected data quality issues and adhering to established data usage guidelines.
Data Coach
A Data Coach works to establish a risk and blame-free environment for all stakeholders to engage in conversations around data. The Data Coach shall be a trusted advisor for their area when it comes down to strategizing data efforts.
Here you can find who is assigned these roles at the College.