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MSUDATA UNIVERSITY REPORTING SERVICE

Offered by

Administrative Information Services

Michigan State University

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

MSUDATA is the name for a set of University databases that can assist units by making authoritative data available for reporting and analysis. The databases exist on a secured server that permits connection using "Open DataBase Connectivity" (ODBC) via the campus network. Starting as an outgrowth of the Student Information system, MSUDATA initially focused on enrollment, academic history, and admissions data. Financial aid, student account data and fund-raising information were added later. Data associated with the Course Load Instruction and Funding Modeling System (CLIFMS) and contracts and grant data are the latest additions. Plans are being made to add general ledger and other University administrative data.

The goal of the MSUDATA service is to provide authorized faculty and staff with secure, easy to use access to University data to without requiring a significant investment in software. MSUDATA works over the campus network with many of the software tools found in typical office desktop computers (e.g., Microsoft ACCESS), so long as the tools support the ODBC standard for data access. Users can connect to MSUDATA and report directly from it, or they can combine information from MSUDATA with information from local databases for custom reporting and data analysis.

 

MSUDATA ACCESS

Database access is supported by any ODBC-compliant software such as Microsoft Access. The recommended workstation configuration required to access MSUDATA databases depends on the tool to be used. As an example, to use MS-Access to generate queries to one of the databases, you need the following:

A SQL-Server "loginid" will be assigned by AIS Data Administration when access to MSUDATA has been granted by the University Data Resources Administrator (see below). SQL Server Client Utilities also must be installed on your PC and ODBC Data Sources need to be defined. Instructions for installing this software will be sent to you once you have completed any required training and a loginid has been assigned.

 

TRAINING AND SUPPORT

Several training opportunities are available for new users of this service and may be required before permission to use MSUDATA databases may be granted. For instance, clients desiring access to the SISINFO, SISFIN and SISFRZN databases must be trained on the meaning and use of Student Information System data. The Client Advocacy Office (CAO) offers this training on an arranged basis.

For information regarding the current training on a variety of end-user tools such as Microsoft Access, see the (http://train.msu.edu//) Libraries, Computing and Technology Training Program Catalog or call the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420 extension 311.

 

SERVICE AVAILABILITY

The MSUDATA databases are usually available for use 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The information stored on MSUDATA is updated regularly. The frequency of update is specific to each database. Some databases, such as enrollment data, are updated daily while others, such as fund raising data, are updated on weekly basis. In addition, certain databases are the result of historical snapshots taken on the same approximate date at regular intervals (e.g., quarter of term, end of term, etc.). This provides data that can be used in historical analyses. Because the data tables that make up each database are updated regularly and secured centrally, clients are assured that the queries they construct and run are accurate and that the access to the data (much of which is confidential) is controlled. System availability may vary somewhat due to update processing schedules.

 

CHARGES

There is no charge to MSU faculty and staff to use the MSUDATA databases.

 

WHAT TO DO NEXT

For information on training requirements and what you need to do to obtain access to the databases described above, please contact the University Data Resources Administrator, Rochele Cotter, at the Client Advocacy Office (353-4856 or cotterr@pilot.msu.edu).

For other information on training available, please contact the AIS Help and Support Center at 353-4420, ext. 311. They can register you in any Computing and Technology courses that may be helpful in working with the MSUDATA databases.

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