RESOURCES

Where does the Data Hub initiative come from?

As a university founded in research, Tulane is committed to improving its curriculum by introducing initiatives that will challenge students and prepare them for success. In 2019, Tulane began planning for the QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) by discussing aspects of the university’s curriculum that could be improved upon. Provost Robin Forman invited students, faculty and staff to submit proposals for areas of improvement. Of these, six leading areas emerged, one of them being data literacy. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, data literacy proved to be a vital need in the community. Read more about this process in the Tulane’s QEP tab.

Who is leading the Data Hub?

Professor Patrick Button serves as the Executive Director of the Data Hub and Joey Couvillon is the Senior Manager. In 2023, the Data Hub will also have three Professors of Practice, a Senior Program Manager, and a Project Manager. The Data Hub will establish two guiding committees, one made up of faculty and staff, and another made up of students. These committees will help ensure the Data Hub fulfills needs from across the university.

I have ideas, questions, or concerns relating to the Data Hub and I’d like to get in contact. How can I do that?

Send any questions or concerns to datahub@tulane.edu. Our team is regularly monitoring the email and will respond shortly.

Where is the Data Hub currently in its development?

The Data Hub started in June 2022, with the appointment of Professor Patrick Button as the Executive Director. We now have a Senior Program Manager, Joey Couvillon, and part-time student workers. We are currently in the process of hiring project coordinator, three professors of practice, and additional student workers. We are setting the foundations for the Data Hub, including developing a communications plan, determining our focus and values, creating committees to guide the Data Hub, and setting up internal policies and procedures.

What can be expected in the 2022-2023 academic year?

In the fall of 2022, the Data Hub will focus on staffing, setting up our website, creating faculty, staff, and student committees to guide the Data Hub’s operations, and establishing internal processes. In Spring 2023, we will select our first Annual Data Theme, host events, establish more services and programming, and hire three professors of practice.

When will the Data Hub start offering courses?

We are in the process of hiring three Professors of Practice who will start teaching undergraduate courses in Fall 2023.

What courses will the Data Hub offer?

We will start offering “Introduction to Data” in Fall 2023 and will gradually roll out additional courses in the following semesters. The additional courses will depend on student interest, but we anticipate practical and introductory courses on data visualization, statistical software, and data analysis. We hope to offer practical courses that students in every program can benefit from. If you have course suggestions, please email us at datahub@tulane.edu.

Will there be majors, minors, and other programs in data?

Yes! We are working with schools on campus to offer more data majors or minors, or improve existing majors or minors that focus on data. We hope to have the draft plan for a data minor (or set of minors) ready in Fall 2023, to be approved by Newcomb-Tulane College by Fall 2024.

What kinds of non-course events and opportunities will the Data Hub offer for undergraduates?

Starting in 2023, we will gradually roll out events for undergraduate and graduate students to get involved in research. These include:

1. An Annual Data Theme, and numerous events associated with it
2. Student research presentation opportunities
3. Workshops, seminars, keynote lectures, and “Lunch and Learns”
4. Hackathons and bootcamps
5. Service-learning and internship opportunities
6. Research opportunities
7. Student grants through the Newcomb-Tulane college grant application process

Will there be research opportunities in data for undergraduates?

Yes! Currently we offer grants for students doing work that involves data, such as data collection or analysis, or presenting research that involves data. This funding is available through the Newcomb-Tulane college grant application process. In 2023 we will launch additional opportunities such as:

1. Hiring undergraduate research assistants to work with data
2. An undergraduate summer research program

I need assistance with data for my course or research project. Can the Data Hub help me?

For now, please contact your instructor or advisor. We plan to offer this support starting in 2023. This will likely include a “Data Help Desk,” as well as Data Mentors who will support students in data-focused courses.

Will there be networking opportunities through the Data Hub?

Yes, we will develop different types of programming and funding that connects students to faculty. The goal will be to improve access for undergraduates to data-focused research experience.

Are there grants for students working on projects related to data?

Students doing data-based work can apply for grants through the Newcomb-Tulane College grant application process. To be eligible for funding through the Data Hub, at least half of the budget needs to fulfill one of the following categories:

1. Expenses related to student research that collects or digitalizes data.
2. Expenses related to student research that analyzes data.
3. Travel to present data research or attend an event with a specific focus on data literacy, data analysis, or data management
4. On-campus or community projects with a focus on data literacy, data analysis, or data management.

Are there plans to develop courses for graduate students?

We are creating courses for undergraduates first, and we will eventually move toward developing graduate programs. Graduate students can audit undergraduate courses if they are of interest. We are currently looking into co-curricular programs for graduate students as well.

I need assistance with data for my course or research. Can the Data Hub help me?

For now, please contact your instructor or advisor. We plan to offer this support starting in 2023. This will likely include a “Data Help Desk,” as well as Data Mentors who will support students in some data-focused courses.

Will there be networking opportunities through the Data Hub?

Yes, we hope to develop programming that connects students and faculty, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, and working groups.

Are there grants for graduate students doing research on or using data?

We are in the process of creating these, and will announce them in Spring 2023, and will start distributing them in Summer 2023.

I would like to teach workshops or courses on data, or help mentor others using data. Do you have any job opportunities related to this?

Yes! We hope to hire several graduate students on a part-time, flexible basis to run workshops and assist with Data Hub programming. Please contact us and we can come up with a plan that leverages your experience and interests, or stay updated with our Handshake profile.

Can I get support through the Data Hub to increase data content in an existing or planned course?

We will support faculty and instructors, both with mentoring and funding, to add data content to existing courses. Please email  datahub@tulane.edu to get started. For now, in addition to chatting with you and providing feedback on your ideas, we do have incentives for those seeking to add data content to existing or new TIDES courses.

We plan to roll out the following programs in 2023:

1. Provide grants to instructors seeking to add data content to existing courses, or develop new courses focused on data (this would be similar to what we are doing now for TIDES).
2. Consultation services for faculty and instructors to help them add them design lessons and modules focused on data.
3. Workshops on teaching data topics.
4. Provide funding for faculty and instructors to hire teaching assistants or peer mentors in data-focused courses.
5. Provide readily available content such as cleaned-up data sets and lesson ideas for faculty and instructors, especially related to the Annual Data Theme.

What programs are planned to support instructors who teach data-focused courses?

We plan to roll out the following programs in 2023:

1. Consultation services for faculty and instructors to help them add them design lessons and modules focused on data.
2. Workshops on teaching data topics.
3. Provide funding for faculty and instructors to hire teaching assistants or peer mentors in data-focused courses.
4. Provide readily available content such as cleaned-up data sets and lesson ideas for faculty and instructors, especially related to the Annual Data Theme.