The Data Governance Council, comprised of campus officials with institutional data management responsibilities, manages and oversees UW-Madison’s Data Governance Program. They accomplish this in multiple ways, from leading data governance initiatives to developing procedures and standards that support the Institutional Data Policy to improving data quality.
Leading and collaborating on initiatives
AI use is an area of focus for the council. As a key campus stakeholder for the AI readiness and competencies effort, their data expertise is informing policy recommendations and guardrails for the institutional use of AI. Recently, they discussed data availability, authority, and the potential impact of AI.
Accessing data is critical for many roles at UW–Madison. The Data Governance Council is currently reviewing access procedures with the intent of better aligning user experience while continuing to ensure data is protected.
The council also serves as a key stakeholder for the Data Classification Initiative, a multi-year, cross-campus effort to reduce confusion, strengthen compliance, and lower security risk through improved data classification practices.
Impacting policy, standards, and data literacy
The Data Governance Council makes policy recommendations, including developing and managing procedures and standards that support the Institutional Data Policy. Recently, the council defined a new data domain, Health Information. They subsequently created the Institutional Data Domain Standard to guide the establishment of future domains. UW–Madison’s well-established data governance program continues to evolve in response to needs and changing environments.
The council actively promotes the appropriate and ethical use of data via education and data literacy. They helped craft Data@UW, an interactive online learning opportunity designed to introduce all employees to institutional data and their individual responsibilities. Additionally, they support UW–Madison’s Love Data Week, a celebration of data that invites institutions and individuals to explore how data shapes our world.
Resolving data issues
The council is committed to improving data quality and integrity by resolving data issues and encourages the UW–Madison community to submit issues or ask questions about institutional data. For example, you can ask which data steward to consult, seek guidance on compliance issues, or report a data issue.
The Data Governance Council impacts every institutional data user by improving access, promoting quality, establishing standards, and providing guidance on responsible data use.
Learn more
Governance and policy
- Data Governance Council
- Data Governance Program
- UW–Madison designates 2026 as the ‘Year of AI Readiness and Competency‘
- Data Classification Initiative
- Institutional Data Policy
Standards and data domains
- New Health Information data domain explained
- Data governance update: new Institutional Data Domain Standard approved