Data Context & Best Practices

Interpreting Data Through a Contextual Lens

Updated on June 13, 2025
Understanding the historical context of data at Hamilton College is essential for accurate analysis and sound decision-making. Institutional data is continually gathered, stored, and analyzed within the College Data Warehouse and accessed through various platforms. However, data is dynamic—its accuracy and interpretation depend on how and when it was collected, as well as the institutional changes that have taken place over time. Each dataset is shaped by factors such as data collection methods, policy revisions, and organizational shifts. Being aware of these influences is key to producing meaningful and trustworthy analysis.

Update on System Transition and Data Impacts

•  Hamilton College’s transition from Ellucian Colleague to Workday for HR and Finance has significantly impacted data workflows and reporting processes.
•  Financial and HR Data from June 2024 and earlier is considered historical and remains stored in the College Data Warehouse.
•  All new data is now generated in Workday and subsequently extracted to the warehouse.
• The Data Governance team is actively updating the data catalog with new definitions and specifications based on Workday-generated reports.
•  These reports often include fields and structures not previously available in Colleague.
•  Differences in data fields, naming conventions, and reporting categories between systems require careful attention when analyzing faculty and staff data across time periods.
• Analysts must be aware of potential reporting discrepancies due to these system changes. Some data structures in Workday may not fully align with historical records from Colleague or Hamilton College's previous formats.
• We are currently in a transition project to implement the Workday Student ERP system, replacing Colleague with an expected ‘Go Live’ data of June 2027.
• This upcoming change will further impact how student-related data is classified, stored, and reported.
• The new ERP system will require extensive planning to ensure continuity, accuracy, and integrity of data across platforms and timeframes.

Best Practices

A credible data analysis is more than just pulling numbers—it demands critical thinking, contextual awareness, and thoughtful validation. Here are some best practices to ensure accuracy and draw meaningful insights:

Before comparing data across time periods, review the definitions through the use of the Hamilton College Data Cookbook to ensure consistent terminology and standardized reporting.

Always investigate inconsistent or unusual data. The Hamilton College Data Cookbook is the trusted source for changes. If anything changes within the institution, such as policies, system updates, reporting practices, personnel changes, etc., the Hamilton College Data Cookbook will be updated.

Remember, the data stewards are the subject-matter experts (SME) of their data domain. Therefore, when you are unsure or just need to know, contact the data steward for the functional area or reach out to Business Intelligence with your questions.

Be prepared for the ERP change to Workday Student. Training on the new system will be available and changes in current data definitions and specifications may change. Familiarizing yourself with data governance, data/information policies, and operational processes to ensure more dependable results.

All Data Governance Resources