Data & Analytics
GVSU IT's Data & Analytics team leads the university's efforts to build a data-informed culture by providing trusted, integrated, and accessible information resources. The team manages the institutional Data Lakehouse, develops Power BI dashboards, supports data governance, and provides training to empower stakeholders to use data effectively. Their goal is to treat data as a strategic asset while preparing the institution for AI and advanced analytics.
Value to Students, Faculty, and Staff
The Data & Analytics team enables faculty, advisors, staff, and leadership to access accurate, well-governed data that supports student success, academic planning, and operational improvement. Through certified data sets, reporting tools, training, and consultation, Data & Analytics reduces data silos and strengthens decision-making across the university. The result is a more informed, efficient, and strategically aligned institution.
Whether you're exploring new projects, improving reporting, or supporting research and planning, they are here to provide the tools and support to make it happen.
More About Data & Analytics at GVSU
The Data & Analytics team partners with campus stakeholders to advance Grand Valley's journey toward becoming a data-informed, analytics-driven institution by:
- Institutional Data Lakehouse implementation
- Power BI dashboard development
- Certified data set creation
- Data governance framework development
- Student success analytics initiatives
- AI readiness and advanced analytics projects
- Cross-campus data integration projects
The Data & Analytics team supports the university by offering:
- Data Integration & Hosting: Centralized, secure institutional data environment.
- Certified Data Sets: Trusted, governed data sources for reporting and analysis.
- Dashboards & Reporting: Power BI development and visualization services.
- Consultation & Collaboration: Support for projects, reporting needs, and analytics initiatives.
- Training & Data Literacy: Workshops, resources, and one-on-one guidance.
- AI & Advanced Analytics Readiness: Building the foundation for future analytics capabilities.
The Data & Analytics team works with stakeholders across GVSU to meet institutional goals. Some examples include:
- Faculty & Researchers: Program assessment, accreditation reporting
- Advisors & Student Success Teams: Retention and student success insights
- Administrative Departments: Operational dashboards
- University Leadership: Strategic planning and KPI reporting
The Data Analytics Team was fast, helpful, efficient and practiced excellent communication and collaboration. Working with the team was a pleasure, and we were able to build a complex Power BI dashboard for the executive team and problem-solve a variety of issues with our data in record time.
GVSU Data Governance Methodology
Data & Analytics supports the full data lifecycle - from collecting and validating data to integrating, governing, and enriching it - ensuring institutional data is trusted, secure, and actionable.
- Data Capture: Collecting and managing institutional data.
- Data Validation: Ensuring data accuracy and quality.
- Data Cleaning: Preparing data for analysis and reporting.
- Data Migration: Extracting, transforming, and integrating data across systems.
- Data Enrichment: Enhancing data through integration, visualization, and analytics.
- Data Governance: Establishing ownership, access, security, and quality standards.
All of these activities work together to create a trusted data ecosystem that supports analytics, strategic planning, and student success.
Data Lakehouse
At the heart of the Grand Valley State University Data & Analytics environment is the Data Lakehouse - a centralized home where institutional data securely lives and is made accessible for the campus community. The Data Lakehouse brings together information from multiple university systems into a single, trusted location, ensuring that data is consistent, reliable, and easy to explore.
By providing a unified foundation, the Data Lakehouse enables faculty and staff to:
- Access certified datasets for research, reporting, and analysis.
- Build interactive dashboards and visualizations in Power BI securely.
- Integrate data across departments to gain broader institutional insights.
- Rely on a secure, well-governed environment designed to protect sensitive information.
The Data Lakehouse serves as more than just a storage solution; it is the backbone of GVSU's data ecosystem, supporting collaboration, transparency, and evidence-based decision-making across the university.
For more information, please visit the Data Lakehouse page.
Data Literacy Training and Support
The Data & Analytics team offers resources and support to help you make the most of GVSU's data, no matter your experience level. We can help you:
- Learn the basics: Introductory training on data concepts and tools.
- Build skills in Power BI: Create reports, dashboards, and visualizations.
- Data storytelling: Design visualizations for proper audience interpretation.
- Explore certified datasets: Understand how to access and use trusted data sources.
- Get one-on-one support: Personalized guidance to answer questions and solve challenges.
- Access resources: Guides, tutorials, and workshops to grow your data literacy
Submit a service request to inquire more about training with the Data & Analytics team.
Have an Idea? Start Here.
Have a project in mind? Submit an IT Service Request to connect with the Data & Analytics team. Whether assistance is needed with data integration, reporting, dashboards, analytics, or collaboration, the team is ready to support your efforts.
By working together, data can be transformed into meaningful insights that support decision-making and student success across the GVSU community.