The Data Definitions and Standards Project began in the Fall of 1995 with broad involvement from Colleges, Institutes and representatives from the Universities. The Porject's goal is to establish a common method and format for the reporting of Post Secondary information in support of decision-making and accountability, and enhance institutional performance analysis capability. In June 1996, the CCEO endorsed, in principle, the concept of implementing the data standards using a data warehouse approach, and a feasibility study was launched with that endorsement. Data would be transformed from operating systems to populate a local relational database with standard data. Aggregates of that data would be summarized in a multi-dimensional data warehouse for inquiry and analysis by the institutions.
Validated data is sent from institutional databases to a central database.
Assessment phase to resolve control, access and audit issues. The recommended approach would allow early delivery of benefits to institutions participating in the preliminary implementation. A substantial assessment phase would focus on optimizing the usefulness of the databases for the institutions and resolving control, access and audit issues. At the conclusion of the preliminary implementation assessment, there will be another decision point for the Ministry and the System, regarding the approach to System-wide implementation. Assumptions for cost estimating are contained in Appendix B .