Roles

Data-related policies and decisions are disseminated throughout the pyramid. Teams are empowered to surface data opportunities and address issues at the appropriate level.

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• Trustees of Dartmouth College

Data governance authority ultimately rests with the university - the "Trustees of Dartmouth College."

• Provost, Santiago Schnell
• Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Jomysha Delgado Stephen

Executive Sponsors ensure that an appropriate data governance structure is in place and operating effectively. They champion the Data Governance Program among Dartmouth leaders and serve as an escalation point for data governance issues.

Senior college officials who have planning, prioritization, communication, decision-making and policy-level responsibility for governance of institutional data in accordance with stated policies.

• Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Libby Barlow, Chair
• Data Governance Manager, Glenn Jensen, Secretary
• Dean of Libraries, Sue Mehrer
• Controller, Jen Renaud
• Chief Information Officer, Tom DeChiaro
• Chief Information Security Officer, Tom Nudd
• Human Resources, Associate Vice President, Cheryl Guerin
• Advancement, Executive Director, Janet Gilson
• Institutional Registrar, Beth Dowling
• Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Dean Lacy
• Office of the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Tammy Hickox
• Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, Director, Ann O'Hara

The Steering Committee's charge is to champion, monitor, and ensure the development and success of data governance at Dartmouth College.

Appointed senior university administrator with significant interaction with multiple institutional systems/applications serving as an authoritative source of data relied upon by the campus community.

• Senior Associate Provost for Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Libby Barlow

The Data Executor's accountabilities include ensuring the integrity and usefulness of Dartmouth's institutional data.

A full-time employee supporting the Data Governance Program and the Office of Institutional Research.

• Glenn Jensen

The Data Governance Manager operationalizes and advances Dartmouth's data governance and related objectives.  They develop processes to execute data governance objectives and identify further opportunities to enhance institutional data governance and data quality.  Their accountabilities include the following. 

• Collaborate with data governance sponsors to develop and enhance data governance policies, frameworks, and strategies.
• Develop and implement project plans, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring successful execution of institutional-level projects in alignment with objectives.
• Coordinate cross-functional improvements to data quality.
• Serve as primary liaison to Data Stewards.
• Manage data governance-related systems, including reviewing new features and upgrades, and advising on their implementation.
• Train and mentor colleagues in data governance.
• Review and disseminate data access requests to Data Stewards.

A cross-functional group originally assembled to establish the foundational elements of Dartmouth's data governance framework, including defining core concepts and drafting the Program's vision and mission. Having completed their initial charge, the Working Group continues to meet as an incubator for emerging ideas, surfacing new governance challenges, proposing refinements to the evolving framework, and identifying priorities for the broader program to take up.

• Library and Records Management - Daniel Chamberlain
• Human Resources - Linda Langley
• Advancement - James Barkley III
• Institutional Research - Libby Barlow
• Data Governance Manager - Glenn Jensen

University officials, generally Associate Deans, Associate Vice Presidents, or Directors, who are responsible for managing institutional data in a source system and have authority to grant access to data within their business unit.

Data Stewards protect the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of institutional data.  Their accountabilities include the following.

• Maintain data accuracy and availability.
• Review and approve or deny data access requests in a timely manner.
• Document business definitions for common data elements and make them readily accessible to users.
• Provide training to users on accessing data and understanding what they represent.
• Follow best practices such as the Principle of Least Privilege (only granting the minimum data access rights necessary to perform an intended function).
• Provide the Data Governance Manager with updates to information about source systems, Data Stewards, and Data Custodians.

University staff, generally managers of data systems or senior data analysts within business units, who are responsible for day-to-day operational activities including data creation, processing, storage, and disposal.

Data Custodians have functional knowledge of data within their area.  Their accountabilities include the following.

• Fulfill approved data access requests.
• Develop business definitions for common data elements within their area.
• Ensure data are used consistently across Dartmouth. 
• Provide user support for data-related questions.
• Conduct annual reviews of those who have access to data and update permissions as needed (e.g., position changes, policy updates).

Individuals who have been granted access to institutional data to perform assigned duties or functions at the university.  Their accountabilities include the following.

• Learn the data definitions provided by the Data Steward.
• Know and understand the risk level of the data they are handling.
• Limit data use to the articulated and approved need.
• Adhere to policies and procedures on the appropriate handling and dissemination of institutional data.
• Champion data-driven decision-making.
• Report any concerns about the privacy, security, accuracy, availability, or usability of institutional data.