Valencia utilizes a suite of powerful data tools, each designed for specific administrative, reporting, and analytical needs.
This guide helps you identify which tool to use based on your goals.
Available Tools
Tool
|
Purpose |
Best For |
Difficulty |
| Banner |
System of Record (ERP) |
Real-time data entry and single-record lookups |
Low to Medium |
| Data Lifecycle: Captures the data at the source |
| FAST |
Self-Service Portals |
Departmental budget management and interactive web-based reporting |
Low to Medium |
| Data Lifecycle: Provides a workspace to manage and interact with that data |
| Argos |
Operational Reporting |
Standardized, automated, and "pixel-perfect" reports for compliance |
Medium |
| Data Lifecycle: Delivers structured reports for operational accuracy |
| Power Bi |
Strategic Visualization |
Executive-level dashboards and long-term trend analysis
Examples include:
Departmental Monitoring: Create dashboard to quickly answer department‑level questions, and support day‑to‑day decision‑making.
|
Medium to High |
| Data Lifecycle: Power BI transforms data into visual strategic insights |
| SAS |
Advanced Analytics & Non-standard Operational Reporting |
Deep statistical research, predictive modeling, and data science
Examples include:
Non‑Standard Operational Reports: generating a unique list of students who meet specific criteria or have reached certain milestones for outreach.
Institutional Research: evaluating the impact of a specific strategy implemented for a defined group of students.
|
High |
| Data Lifecycle: SAS provides advanced statistical depth and forecasting |
Which tool should I use?
"I need to check a live record (e.g., student status) right now"
→ Use Banner
"I want to review my department's budget and forecast spending"
→ Use FAST
"I need a formatted list of all active employees sent to my email"
→ Use Argos
"I need a visual chart showing enrollment trends over 10 years"
→ Use Power BI
"I am building a model to predict student retention rates"
→ Use SAS