UT Data Hub Access Request Process

 

What is the UT Data Hub?

The UT Data Hub is a centralized data platform that provides secure access to institutional data for analysis, reporting, and decision-making. The UT Data Hub allows you to:

  • Access institutional data securely from multiple university systems in one location
  • Connect using your preferred tools including Tableau, Power BI, Python, R, SPSS, DBeaver, and more
  • Discover and understand institutional data using Alation, our metadata catalog and documentation platform
  • Combine data sources for comprehensive analysis across multiple domains
  • Work with your CSU's data through dedicated "spokes" (secure data schemas specific to your CSU). Each spoke contains pre-configured data models and tables relevant to your CSU's analytical needs

How Do You Access Institutional Data?

The UT Data Hub uses a PostgreSQL database connection that you access through:

  1. A secure VPN connection using person-specific credentials
  2. Database connection credentials specific to your access level
  3. Your analytical or BI tool of choice

Once connected, you can query institutional data directly, build visualizations, create reports, or perform advanced analytics—within your approved data access scope.

Note: Appropriate use of institutional data is often defined on a case-by-case basis, however, please review the standard Statement of Appropriate Use to get an idea of what can be done with your Data Hub access.

Not sure where to find the data you need? Use Alation to explore available data sources, browse data definitions, and understand what's available.

Ready to Request Access?

Submit Your Request

What Happens After You Submit 

 

1. Acknowledgement and Initial Review

Once you submit your request, our team will:

  • Review your request for completeness
  • Verify any existing data access you may have
  • Reach out if we need additional information

What you'll receive: An acknowledgement email with an estimated timeline and the next steps in the process.

2. Authorization and Permissions Verification 

Our team will:

  • Confirm existing and legacy permissions
  • Translate your request into technical requirements
  • Plan the specific access that will be provisioned

Note: If you do not submit verification of data access permissions and we cannot verify legacy permissions, we will direct you to request permissions from the appropriate Data Steward. To expedite your access to the Data Hub, we recommend getting documented permissions before submitting your request to D2I.

What you'll receive: You typically won't hear from us during this phase unless we cannot verify your data access permissions. If your request is not approved, we will reach out to explain why.

3. Technical Access Provisioning 

Our team will:

  • Grant access to the necessary data schemas
  • Set up VPN credentials if needed
  • If applicable, create or configure access to your CSU's Data Hub Spoke

What you'll receive: Once access is provisioned, we'll let you know that we are moving on to the enablement phase.

4. Enablement and Onboarding 

This is when we help you get up and running. Our team will:

  • Send you a comprehensive onboarding email with links to connection instructions, documentation, and resources
  • Schedule and conduct training sessions if needed (based on your experience level and request complexity)

5. Ongoing Support

We provide:

  • Responsive support whenever you have questions or encounter issues
  • Troubleshooting assistance for connection issues

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know what institutional data is available?

Use Alation (UT's metadata catalog) to search for institutional datasets, view documentation, and understand what's available before requesting access. We'll go over your access to Alation as part of your onboarding.

What if I don't know what specific data I need?

That's okay! In your request, describe what questions you're trying to answer or what business problem you're trying to solve. We'll help you identify the appropriate data sources and work with you to refine your needs.

Can I use the UT Data Hub if I'm not a technical power-user?

Yes! While some users connect directly via database tools or programming languages, you can also access the UT Data Hub data through user-friendly BI tools like Tableau or Power BI.

What if my data needs change after I'm granted access?

Your initial access isn't your final access. As your needs evolve, you can request additional data sources or permissions.

Does my CSU need our own UT Data Hub spoke?

Not necessarily. If you primarily need to access existing institutional data or reports, you may be granted direct access without a dedicated spoke. Spokes are typically created when you need to:

  • Combine institutional data with your own local datasets
  • Create custom analytical models or derived tables
  • Store and manipulate data specific to your CSU's needs

Questions or Need Help?

If you have questions about the request process or need assistance before submitting:

Already have access and need support? Email d2i-support@utexas.edu or reach out in your departmental Teams channel.