Establishing Modern Governance on a Data-Rich, Resource-Limited Campus
The time for a right-sized approach to data governance across higher education is now.
Unleash the Power of Your Valuable Data
Colleges and universities today generate and rely on a substantial amount of data, but it’s often locked away in disconnected systems. That data fuels essential decisions, from enrollment forecasting and student retention to predictive analytics and AI-powered support. Yet institutions often lack the resources to manage it effectively.
With Minimum Viable Data Governance (MVDG), there is now a path forward. Campuses can focus on governing what matters most without major budget approvals or infrastructure changes.
Take a look at where institutions are heading — and how to stay ahead of the curve.
“Minimum Viable Data Governance is the foundation your organization needs.”
Rex Washburn, CDW Head of Engineering – Data
Making the Case for Minimum Viable Data Governance
When educational institutions seek to unify governance across departments, MVDG provides a roadmap. It empowers leaders to prioritize initiatives aligned with their goals and resources.
64% of institutions are actively working toward meeting federal data protection standards like NIST SP 800-171.1
59% of institutional research offices offer data literacy training — a foundational step for scalable governance.2
Only 17% of faculty consider themselves advanced in AI literacy, underscoring governance needs for ethical AI.3
Thinking Small = Big Results
Instead of tackling a campus-wide data system overhaul, MVDG efforts focus on building practical, effective governance into day-to-day workflows. That means early wins, operational resilience and measurable gains without big budgets or dedicated governance teams.
of institutions report partial or near-compliance with non-research data protection requirements1
of IT decision-makers say the governance process is overwhelming4
of IT leaders are disappointed in the quality of data they receive5
The Benefits Speak for Themselves
CDW’s education specialists work alongside institutional leaders to create governance systems that deliver agility, trust and AI readiness without disrupting their academic mission.
By embracing MVDG, colleges and universities can:
Bolster confidence in data-driven decision-making and student support
Build a strong AI- and analytics-ready foundation rooted in privacy, security and data quality
Strengthen regulatory compliance across ever-evolving regulations
Empower faculty and staff with more accessible on-demand insights
Support secure data sharing across departments, systems and consortia
Foster a data culture where transparency, stewardship and trust are rewarded
Enable intelligent campus initiatives including predictive analytics, digital advising and operational automation
A Partner in Data Governance You Can Count On
At CDW, we help higher education institutions bring Minimum Viable Data Governance to life by embedding governance disciplines in campus data environments.
Through CDW’s Higher Education services, institutions gain:
Governance strategy mapped to academic, administrative and compliance needs
Implementation of data stewardship, data privacy and metadata management frameworks
Enhanced data quality controls, lineage tracking and protection workflows
Scalable infrastructure to support everything from secure cloud storage and AI models to regulatory auditability
CDW’s higher education experts deliver data-driven outcomes that support student success and institutional performance.
Sources:
1 Educause, “QuickPoll Results: NIST SP 800-171 Compliance Efforts and Challenges in Higher Education,” March 2025
2 2024 AIR National Survey, presented in SHEEO’s “Tackling Higher Ed’s Data Literacy Challenge,” May 2025
3 Campbell Academic Technology Services, “AI in Higher Education: A Meta Summary of Recent Surveys of Students and Faculty,” March 2025
4 ModelOp, 2025 AI Governance Benchmark Report, 2025
5 Flexera, 2025 IT Priorities Report, 2025