University of Missouri

Academic Affairs

Planning for the FutureInformation Repository:
Data Warehousing and Reporting
University of Missouri System

Minutes of Reporting Task Force Work Group

Thursday, September 11, 2003

President's Conference Room

ATTENDEES: Vice President Lehmkuhle, Bob Mullen, Jennifer Doll, Donna Johanning, Carol Larsen, Linda Koch, Cindy Martin, Matt Levsen, Steven Winters (for Pat Schwartz), Pat Morton, Nancy Zielke, Laura Stoll, Art Brooks, David Saphian, Larry Westermeyer
9:30 a.m. IFC members

Introductions and Team Charge (Steve Lehmkuhle)

Bob Mullen asked for introductions from each Working Group member. Vice President Lehmkuhle then reviewed the team charge with the following key points being reinforced:

• The group needs to derive a process so that the data needed can be collected.
• The characteristics of the software will need to be defined.
• The time frame in which the data is needed should be clearly stated.
• Immediate (short-term) and long-term schedules need to be developed.
• Data consistency is critical – we need data we can trust.
• A balance of interaction needs to take place between the functional users and the technical team within the IT environment that exists.
• A meeting of the functional group and technical group in the near future would be helpful.

In summary, it is important to create/define a basic architecture to build and serve the reporting needs.

Discussion took place on the type of needs that exist and how to address those needs. There have to be common “tools” that exist to be able to look at information, aggregate it, and get it down to a similar form. By building a data warehouse, you reduce complexity. In addition, access to static information is desirable, as well as that information that is consistently collected at the close of each day.

Review of Task Force Recommendations

Bob suggested that by using the recommendations adopted by the Vice Presidents we could now write an implementation plan with a timeline and help from the technical team. This will be an “Action Strategy” with an evolving data warehouse definition. Art Brooks will create a definition of “data warehouse” for the group to review at the next meeting.

Communication of Recommendations to the Campus Community

The majority of group members have reported on the recommendations to their functional groups at routine meetings. Others will report with an update to this meeting to their campus Chancellors, Deans, and Provosts. Dr. Lehmkuhle and Bob Mullen can answer any questions that may arise.

Discussion and Revision of Charge

Specific wording in the charge was reviewed and changes were made during the meeting. It was decided that David Saphian would make additional changes specifically to the phrase “end users” and he will also place the statements within the charge in the appropriate/logical order. David will send this out to the group for review as soon as possible. Work Group members should be prepared to review the charge at the next meeting.

Identification of Campus Sponsors and Point People

The following campus point people and sponsors have been identified:

• Columbia: Pat Morton (Point Person); Lori Franz (Sponsor)
• Hospital: Matt Levsen (Point Person); Sponsor to be identified
• Kansas City: Nancy Zielke (Acting Point Person); Sponsor to be identified
• Rolla: Randy Tucker (Point Person); Art Brooks (Sponsor)
• St. Louis: Larry Westermeyer (Point Person); Jim Krueger (Sponsor)

Review of Quick Wins

The group will respond to the other leads on the quick wins list.

Other Business and Future Meetings

Bob will meet with the financial aid directors within the next week.

Bob informed the group about a free half-day seminar entitled “Building a Data Warehouse in Ninety Days” to be put on by Informatica on Thursday, October 2 from 8:00 – 12:30 at the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac. A website to sign up for the seminar will be forwarded to the group.

This group will meet one additional time to crystallize our planning before meeting with an IT team or Vice Presidents Lehmkuhle and Caruso. The next meeting of the Functional Working Group Team will be on Thursday, September 25 from 9:30 – 3:00 p.m. in the Kirkwood Room of the Reynolds Alumni Center on the Columbia campus. At that time we will discuss a meeting with Vice Presidents Caruso and Lehmkuhle and others during the week of October 6.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol Larsen