Data Governance Framework

NJIT’s Data Governance Framework provides a common structure for managing and using institutional data responsibly and effectively. It brings together ten interconnected areas that help the university establish clear accountability, improve the quality and understanding of data, protect information, support appropriate access and use, and continually strengthen data practices as needs and technologies evolve.

1. Establish Accountability for Data

Clarifies who is responsible for institutional data and how data-related decisions are made. Clear accountability helps ensure that responsibility and decision-making are understood.

2. Define and Standardize Data Meaning

Creates a shared understanding of important institutional data and terminology. This helps people interpret and use data consistently across the university.

3. Manage Data Quality

Supports data that is accurate, complete, timely, and appropriate for its intended use. Strong data quality improves confidence in information used for operations, reporting, and decision-making.

4. Govern Data Access and Appropriate Use

Establishes expectations for who should have access to data and how it may be used. This helps enable appropriate access while reducing the risk of misuse or unnecessary exposure.

5. Protect Sensitive and Regulated Data

Ensures that data requiring additional protection is identified and handled appropriately. This supports privacy, security, compliance, and responsible data handling.

6. Manage the Data Lifecycle

Addresses how data is managed from its creation or collection through its eventual retention or disposition. This helps ensure that data is appropriately managed throughout its useful life.

7. Promote Data Transparency and Traceability

Improves understanding of where data comes from, how it has been processed, and how it is used. This helps people evaluate and trust the data they rely upon.

8. Operationalize Data Governance Across the University

Integrates good data governance practices into university projects, systems, processes, and everyday work. This helps make governance part of how NJIT works rather than a separate activity.

9. Educate and Enable the Community

Provides guidance, learning opportunities, and resources to help the NJIT community work with data effectively and responsibly. This gives people the knowledge and support they need to put good data practices into action.

10. Monitor, Measure, and Improve Data Governance

Evaluates how well governance practices are working and identifies opportunities for improvement. This helps keep NJIT’s data governance practices effective as institutional needs, technologies, and uses of data change.