At ODU, data drives innovation and having the right tools makes all the difference. Monarch Core Insights is built to empower decision-making at every level, supporting technologies that deliver clarity, accessibility, and forward momentum.
ODU has established a clear, two-tier analytics strategy to govern the use of data visualization tools across our institution. This framework ensures absolute data integrity for official institutional reporting while providing flexible, cost-effective, self-service capabilities directly to individual departments.
- Tableau is designated exclusively for Enterprise Analytics (the "Source of Truth") and is fully managed by the central Data Intelligence & Analytics unit.
- Microsoft Power BI is designated as the primary tool for Departmental Analytics – generated, managed and funded by individual departments.
Whether you are tracking core intuitional metrics or simply exploring data that matters to your team, Monarch Core Insights offers flexible, future-ready solutions to unlock our community’s potential.
Tableau is ODU's official enterprise business intelligence platform. It is a powerful tool designed to transform complex, university-wide data into clear, actionable insights. Tableau empowers executive decision-makers across academic and administrative units to monitor official trends, discover institutional patterns, and drive strategic initiatives forward.
Key Capabilities:
- Enterprise-Grade Integrity: Seamless, highly secure connections to ODU's central data warehouses and core Oracle systems.
- Curated Data Sources: Access to validated, pre-mapped institutional data models to ensure single-source-of-truth accuracy.
- Interactive Dynamic Dashboards: Dynamic, drill-down experiences featuring robust cross-filtering and automated data refreshes.
- Secure Institutional Collaboration: Unified university-wide publishing protected by strict role-based access controls.
- Mobile Ready: Access your analytics anywhere, on any device, with full functionality
When to Use Tableau at ODU:
- Official Institutional Reporting: Any data published for external regulatory bodies, compliance, or public consumption.
- Executive & Leadership Dashboards: High-level reporting designed for Cabinet, Provost, and Board of Trustees decision-making.
- Core Institutional Metrics: Official tracking of enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and key performance indicators.
- Data Warehouse Analytics: Direct reporting layered over the institutional enterprise data warehouse.
How to Access: Request access to official enterprise dashboards or discuss new enterprise reporting needs by contacting the central team at data@odu.edu.
Please Note: Access is not automatically granted and is determined based on your role and the sensitivity of the data in a dashboard.
Microsoft Power BI is ODU’s primary platform for localized operational reporting, ad-hoc analysis, and agile, department-specific dashboards. It gives individual units the flexibility to rapidly transform local data into insights without waiting on central development cycles.
Key Capabilities:
- Agile Data Connections: Quick integration with local databases (Oracle, Snowflake), cloud applications, and offline spreadsheets.
- Rapid Prototyping: A highly familiar, accessible desktop environment that integrates smoothly with other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Flexible Data Modeling: Freedom for departmental data users to blend unique datasets tailored specifically to local operational needs.
- Localized Control: Department-managed workspaces and tailored user-access permissions.
When to use Power BI at ODU:
- Department-Generated Data: Operational data captured, managed, and maintained solely within your specific unit.
- Local Operational Reporting: Day-to-day tracking of internal departmental workflows, schedules, or task management.
- Research Administration: Grant tracking, localized lab metrics, and specific research project management.
- Surveys & Ad-Hoc Data: Analysis of internal departmental surveys, feedback forms, and spreadsheet-based (.xlsx, .csv) files.
- Prototypes & Sandboxing: Building initial mockups or proof-of-concept dashboards before submitting them to the central team for enterprise consideration.
How to Access: Power BI workspaces and licenses are managed locally at the department level. Please leverage this purchase request form managed by the Digital Solutions & Innovations Team, to inquire about licensing.
IBM Cognos Insight represents our historical reporting infrastructure. It is strictly maintained to support legacy reports and scheduled data extracts. All new analytics development has transitioned to our current platforms.
Key Capabilities:
- Pre-Built Historical Reports: Access to legacy Enrollment, HR, and Finance reports
- Scheduled Data Extracts: Automated delivery of existing standard reports
- Export Options: Download in Excel, PDF, or CSV formats
How to Access: Request access to existing legacy reports by contacting itshelp@odu.edu.
Please note: This Platform is currently being phased out. The system is in a read-only state, and no new reports or extracts will be built in Cognos Insight.
Tableau is ODU's official enterprise business intelligence platform. It is a powerful tool designed to transform complex, university-wide data into clear, actionable insights. Tableau empowers executive decision-makers across academic and administrative units to monitor official trends, discover institutional patterns, and drive strategic initiatives forward.
Key Capabilities:
- Enterprise-Grade Integrity: Seamless, highly secure connections to ODU's central data warehouses and core Oracle systems.
- Curated Data Sources: Access to validated, pre-mapped institutional data models to ensure single-source-of-truth accuracy.
- Interactive Dynamic Dashboards: Dynamic, drill-down experiences featuring robust cross-filtering and automated data refreshes.
- Secure Institutional Collaboration: Unified university-wide publishing protected by strict role-based access controls.
- Mobile Ready: Access your analytics anywhere, on any device, with full functionality
When to Use Tableau at ODU:
- Official Institutional Reporting: Any data published for external regulatory bodies, compliance, or public consumption.
- Executive & Leadership Dashboards: High-level reporting designed for Cabinet, Provost, and Board of Trustees decision-making.
- Core Institutional Metrics: Official tracking of enrollment, retention, graduation rates, and key performance indicators.
- Data Warehouse Analytics: Direct reporting layered over the institutional enterprise data warehouse.
How to Access: Request access to official enterprise dashboards or discuss new enterprise reporting needs by contacting the central team at data@odu.edu.
Please Note: Access is not automatically granted and is determined based on your role and the sensitivity of the data in a dashboard.
Microsoft Power BI is ODU’s primary platform for localized operational reporting, ad-hoc analysis, and agile, department-specific dashboards. It gives individual units the flexibility to rapidly transform local data into insights without waiting on central development cycles.
Key Capabilities:
- Agile Data Connections: Quick integration with local databases (Oracle, Snowflake), cloud applications, and offline spreadsheets.
- Rapid Prototyping: A highly familiar, accessible desktop environment that integrates smoothly with other Microsoft 365 applications.
- Flexible Data Modeling: Freedom for departmental data users to blend unique datasets tailored specifically to local operational needs.
- Localized Control: Department-managed workspaces and tailored user-access permissions.
When to use Power BI at ODU:
- Department-Generated Data: Operational data captured, managed, and maintained solely within your specific unit.
- Local Operational Reporting: Day-to-day tracking of internal departmental workflows, schedules, or task management.
- Research Administration: Grant tracking, localized lab metrics, and specific research project management.
- Surveys & Ad-Hoc Data: Analysis of internal departmental surveys, feedback forms, and spreadsheet-based (.xlsx, .csv) files.
- Prototypes & Sandboxing: Building initial mockups or proof-of-concept dashboards before submitting them to the central team for enterprise consideration.
How to Access: Power BI workspaces and licenses are managed locally at the department level. Please leverage this purchase request form managed by the Digital Solutions & Innovations Team, to inquire about licensing.
IBM Cognos Insight represents our historical reporting infrastructure. It is strictly maintained to support legacy reports and scheduled data extracts. All new analytics development has transitioned to our current platforms.
Key Capabilities:
- Pre-Built Historical Reports: Access to legacy Enrollment, HR, and Finance reports
- Scheduled Data Extracts: Automated delivery of existing standard reports
- Export Options: Download in Excel, PDF, or CSV formats
How to Access: Request access to existing legacy reports by contacting itshelp@odu.edu.
Please note: This Platform is currently being phased out. The system is in a read-only state, and no new reports or extracts will be built in Cognos Insight.