Charter

Charge

The Data Governance Committee (DGC) develops and recommends UNCG’s data strategy, a comprehensive vision and road map for collecting, managing, sharing, and using institutional data, and identifies opportunities to improve data analytics and other data-related processes and systems to enable collaborative, transparent, campus wide data-informed strategic planning and decision-making. The DGC is responsible for oversight of institutional data governance, data quality, and campus data literacy initiatives.

DGC members are expected to understand and represent the needs of their direct constituents (work group, department, school, college, division) as they relate to the governance, collection, storage, access, and usage of institutional data. Their role mandates a personal charge to effectively participate in data governance initiatives that advance the overarching strategic priorities at the university and ensures that institutional technology resources are aligned with the best and highest usage for the campus at large.

Scope

Data Governance at UNCG is comprised of the following committees: Executive Steering, Data Trustees, and Data Stewards. Each of these committee roles has a vested interest in furthering the mission of Data Governance and supporting a university-wide culture toward effective data creation, storage, management, and usage.

DGC members have the responsibility of managing UNCG data assets within their individual Functional Areas (e.g., Advancement, Finance, Human Resources, etc.) and more broadly across the university. Data Governance members are responsible for initiatives, issues, and escalations to promote data quality and integrity, appropriate and ethical use of data, compliance, and data literacy and awareness.

They ensure and support the effective management of data assets of the university by:

• establishing policies, procedures, standards,
• advocating for appropriate resources,
• guiding and monitoring data governance efforts,
• establishing a framework and methods with clear responsibilities and processes to standardize, integrate, protect, and democratize institutional data, and
• optimizing institutional data quality and integrity by leading efforts to continuously improve institutional business processes and information.

Committee Authority

The Data Governance Committee is a decision-making body that provides oversight and management for all institutional data-related issues, implementing standardized coding schemas, data definitions, and policies regarding access and use of institutional data. Data Governance members are authorized to make campus-wide rules and key decisions regarding the treatment of institutional data and empowered to enforce the enterprise data governance program.

Decisions that may result in any one of the following conditions must be escalated to the Executive Steering Committee for a final decision:

• If a majority voting consensus cannot be reached among Data Governance members
• Need for additional fiscal resources beyond existing budget to support implementation
• Need for re-engineering of institutional business processes
• Requirement for university policy changes

For more information, please see the UNCG Data Governance website.

Roles and Responsibilities

DGC member responsibilities include:

• Collaboratively define and implement the Enterprise Data Governance Program: Establish institution-wide best practices in the form of policies, standards, requirements, guidelines, data definitions, and training to ensure the accuracy, consistency, trustworthiness, usability, security, and accessibility of UNCG’s data assets. This includes:
  • Developing, implementing, continuously evaluating, and maintaining institutional data management policies, standards, guidelines, and operating procedures.
  • Enhancing institutional data with consistent definitions and classifications according to established data management standards and guidelines.
  • Identifying, prioritizing, tracking, and resolving critical data issues to minimize redundancy and errors.
  • Establishing clear accountability for institutional data elements.
  • Assisting in enforcing data quality and adherence to standards.
  • Coordinating compliance requirements related to laws and regulations that have information management implications and impart a duty upon the University.
  • Facilitating institution-wide communication and collaboration related to data coding, use, and policies.
• Ensure Compliance with the Enterprise Data Governance Program: Manage the data sets under their authority in accordance with the established governance program.
• Develop and Manage a Comprehensive Data Strategy: Create a vision and roadmap for collecting, managing, sharing, and using institutional data. This involves:
  • Working with stakeholders across campus to facilitate the development of functional requirements for data, reporting and analytics, and standardization of enterprise tools and training.
  • Recommending business process revisions as appropriate to modernize outdated processes and align with current institutional data needs, integrating cross-divisional functions, enabling measurable business outcomes, ensuring ongoing data quality.
  • Identifying campus data sources and facilitating their incorporation into an enterprise data model.
• Provide Leadership to the Academic Unit Liaisons (A-Team): Ensure the accuracy, consistency, trustworthiness, usability, security, and accessibility of UNCG’s curriculum-related data assets.
• Foster a Campus Culture of Data Literacy and Analytics: Develop a holistic approach to building a campus culture of data literacy and analytics, including recommendations for training, support, and data quality accountability measures.

For more information on the individual roles and responsibilities of those within the Data Governance Committees, see Data Governance Committees.

Membership

Membership in the Data Governance Committee is based on appointment by the ESC.

One or more representatives from each Functional Area are appointed to the Data Trustees Committee and to the Data Stewards Committee.

Functional Areas

• Academic Affairs
• Advancement
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Campus Operations
• Information Technology Services
• Research and Engagement
• Financial Aid
• Registrar
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Student Affairs
• Undergraduate Student Success
• Graduate School
• Assessment
• University Libraries

The current member list can be found in the Committee Membership tab.

Accountability

Members are expected to:

• Review materials provided prior to each meeting and conduct additional inquiry or research, so they come to meetings prepared to discuss topics from an informed position.
• Attend each of the regular meetings and any additional meetings that may be required. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, instead of sending a delegate in their place, they should work with the Data Governance chair to review the content of the meeting and provide their input to any decision made during the meeting.
• Actively share information about Data Governance, including decisions made, questions considered, emerging issues, and opportunities for engagement and feedback with departments, schools, and divisions in a manner that ensures transparency and broad awareness.
• Understand and represent the concerns of their respective departments and campus constituents regarding issues related to institutional data governance.

Any Data Governance members who find they cannot meet these expectations should talk with the Data Governance chair about appointing a new representative. Additional information on Data Governance expectations can be found in the Data Governance Meeting Procedure.

Committee Procedures

• The Data Trustees and Data Stewards Committees will each elect their respective Chairs, hereinafter referred to as the “Data Governance Chair”, who will serve a one-year term before reelection.
• A Chair cannot serve for more than two consecutive terms, but can be reelected after one year.
• The Data Governance Chair will establish procedures for communicating decisions and periodically reviewing and updating the Data Governance charge as needed.
• The Data Governance Chair is responsible for capturing minutes and communicating meeting outcomes to all levels of Data Governance.
• Data Trustees meet quarterly, and Data Stewards meet monthly throughout the calendar year.
• The Data Governance Chair serves as liaison to the Data Trustees Committee and is responsible for recording and communicating Data Governance decisions to campus.
• Data Governance activities are shared with the ESC annually.

Contacts for Additional Information and Reporting 

Responsible Executive: Donna R. Heath, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer (CIO), drheath@uncg.edu 

Responsible Administrator: Enterprise Data Governance Team, edgteam@uncg.edu

Reviewed and updated 8/13/2025.