[Campus Notice] UCR Data Catalog with Looker Reporting Launching Soon; UCR Cognos Analytics to Be Retired

[UCR Information Technology Solutions]

[image: UC Riverside Information Technology Solutions logo.]
What’s New: The UCR Data Catalog and Datasets in Looker

Starting early 2027, all campus users will be able to search for reports
and datasets in UCR’s new data catalog. Datasets and reports will also be
added to Looker, the campus reporting platform replacing Cognos.

Dear Colleague,

UCR ITS is excited to share updates on two initiatives that will make it
easier to find, understand, and work with campus data:

   -

   The upcoming launch of the UCR Data Catalog, a searchable data catalog
   -

   The addition of datasets and reports to Looker, campus’ official
   reporting platform


As part of the modernization of UCR’s data systems, the current reporting
tool, Cognos Analytics, will retire in February 2027.
What This Means for Campus

Today, Cognos users interact with a rigid report interface that makes it
challenging to pull data themselves or edit reports without support from a
BI Developer.

Starting early 2027, all campus users will be able to search for reports
and datasets in UCR’s new data catalog. Many of those reports — including
some UCR Cognos reports — will link out to Looker, the reporting platform
replacing Cognos.

Data from UCR Cognos is currently being rebuilt by the technical team in
Looker, which means users do not need to manually transfer data and reports
to Looker. Keep an eye out for monthly release notes from ITS to understand
which datasets and Cognos reports are currently available in Looker. New
reports are released monthly!
What’s New: The UCR Data Catalog and Datasets in Looker

Once live, the UCR Data Catalog will become the starting point for finding
campus data. You will be able to search by keyword and quickly find the
right dataset or report, along with clear definitions of what the data
means and who owns it.

Looker is where you'll view and work with most reports. You can view and
build dashboards, drill into details, and explore data more easily than
Cognos allowed. Data access in Looker will be granted automatically based
on affiliation. However, users may also request access to data via the UCR
Data Catalog.

Together, these tools mean less time spent hunting for the right report and
more time using data with confidence.
Timeline

   -

   September 2026 onwards: Monthly release of UCR Cognos reports in Looker
   -

   February 2027: UCR Cognos Analytics retires (all reports available in
   Looker)
   -

   Early 2027: Campus launch of the UCR Data Catalog


Note: Training information, along with Looker training details, for data
owners, data stewards, and users will be announced soon.
Why We're Making This Change

Cognos runs on outdated technology without any vendor support, and its
reports are difficult to update without specialized technical help. On top
of that, different departments have often ended up with their own versions
of the same report, leading to conflicting numbers and confusion about
which one is "right."

The UCR Data Catalog with Looker reporting is built to fix this: one shared
source for finding data, clearer definitions everyone can rely on, and
reports that are easier to update and maintain going forward.
Supporting UCR's Strategic Goals

This move supports two of UCR's strategic priorities: investing in the
success of the people who work, teach, and do research here, by giving them
better tools to make data-driven decisions; and building financial
stability, by consolidating reporting onto a single modern platform.

Thank you to UCR's Data Governance Advisory Board and the data owners and
stewards who have worked closely with ITS to improve the integrity of our
campus data and enhance how the university manages it. We'll continue to
share updates as we get closer to launch.


Sincerely,

Matthew Gunkel

Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor

Michelle Hardwick

Chief Data Officer



Information Technology Solutions

Computing & Communications Building

900 University Ave.

Riverside, CA 92521

951-827-4848 | its.ucr.edu
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