A role-based permission system was implemented to provide appropriate access to both data in the warehouse and the Web reporting system. Each user has an individual ID and password, but what data they have access to depends on their job role at the university. This means that instead of managing more than 30,000 individual student, staff, and faculty profiles, the IT staff only has to worry about 150 easily defined roles. Both Willis and Thomas say that besides the obvious advantages to the IT department, the data warehouse and Web reporting center have satisfied the university's end users, although it did take a little while for all of the benefits to become apparent. Improving Service and Performance With the Web Using VCU's Web site, people get the information they need quickly and easily on their own.
Students check class schedules and transcripts.
Administrative staff run accurate, timely reports. And managers get the full picture of the university's activities and business. As Thomas says, people have found the advantages in working with accurate data. Better decisions are being made because they are based on consistent information. For VCU to go from nowhere to having a data warehouse and a Web reporting center in nine months is not only a credit to our staff but also to the products from Information Builders.