One Common Platform for Campus Data
Snowflake is UC Santa Barbara’s secure, cloud-based data platform that centralizes administrative and academic data,including HR, finance, procurement, and student records in a single, governed environment. It provides data warehousing, application data provisioning, and data integration services to support the diverse data needs of campus.
By bringing campus data together and regularly updating it from source systems, Snowflake provides a consistent foundation for cross-departmental analytics, reporting, and decision-making. Its built-in AI capabilities also create opportunities for advanced analytics and deeper insights.
What Snowflake Means for You
- A common source for campus data. Access data from multiple campus systems through one platform instead of navigating separate systems and manually combining extracts.
- Greater consistency across reports. Shared, governed data helps different reports and analytics tools use consistent definitions and produce more comparable results.
- Security and governance built in. Access is managed through appropriate permissions and aligned with UCSB’s data governance and security requirements, helping protect sensitive information while enabling authorized use.
- Less duplication and manual effort. Reuse shared data across reporting tools and applications rather than maintaining separate copies and redundant data pipelines.
Whether you are viewing a dashboard, analyzing data, or integrating campus applications, Snowflake provides a common foundation for working with institutional data.
How You Can Use Snowflake
Campus teams can use Snowflake in several ways, depending on their needs, technical expertise, and access permissions.
Business Intelligence and Reporting
Connect business intelligence tools such as Power BI, FinHub, or Tableau to Snowflake to create dashboards, visualizations, and reports using shared campus data.
Data Integration and Data Sharing
Support automated data exchanges between systems and develop tailored data extracts for application-specific needs. Direct integration with Snowflake can reduce manual file transfers and help streamline data delivery.
Direct Data Access and Analysis
Authorized analysts and technical staff can query Snowflake directly to explore data, answer complex questions, and perform detailed analysis beyond standard reports and dashboards.
Application Development
Use Snowflake as a data source for custom applications and campus workflows. Reusing centrally managed data can reduce the need for duplicate data stores and redundant integration processes.
Reach out to Snowflake Administrators to request a consultation.
When Should You Use Snowflake Data?
Snowflake is most valuable when data benefits from being combined across systems, governed consistently, or shared across multiple reporting and application needs.
Consider using Snowflake data when:
- You need a broader view. Combining data from multiple systems can answer questions that no single source can address on its own—for example, connecting workforce and student data for planning and analysis.
- You need consistent governance. Data can benefit from shared security controls, access management, and governance practices aligned with campus requirements.
- Multiple tools or teams need the same data. A shared, governed dataset can reduce duplication and help ensure that reports and applications use consistent definitions.
- You need historical analysis. Retaining data over time can support trend analysis and comparisons that may not be available from the source system alone.
- The source system has limited reporting capabilities. Snowflake can make data available for reporting and analysis when a source system's native tools do not meet campus needs.
Available Data
The datasets listed below are a sample of the data available in Snowflake. Additional datasets are available
Administrative Data
- UCPath (HR/Payroll)
- Concur (Travel & Expense)
- Jaggaer/Gateway (Procurement)
- Learning Management Course Completions (LMS)
Student Data
- Student Information System (Gaucho Blue)
- UAchieve Degree Audit
- Shoreline Student Events
- Recreation Center
- Explorance Blue Instructor Evaluation
- College Corps Services
