Data Sharing
Data Sharing Process (Administrative Data for Operational Use)
Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs) define the terms and conditions for sharing administrative data for operational purposes between university departments and, when applicable, with external entities outside of GW.
The Data Sharing Process requires a Data Requestor (a university department requesting administrative data from a university system or another department) to submit a Data Sharing Agreement request to the GW Data Governance (GW DG) team.
The request is reviewed to ensure that:
- The data supports a valid operational purpose
- The requested use aligns with university policies and data governance standards
- Appropriate approvals are obtained from the relevant Data Steward(s)
DSAs document and formalize:
- The operational use and purpose of the data
- The specific administrative data elements being shared
- Who will access and use the data
- Any restrictions or conditions governing its use
Data Requestors
Data Requestors must justify the operational need for the data and provide the following:
- A detailed business justification describing why the administrative data is required
- A clear explanation of how the data will be used to support operations
- Identification of the intended users (department and/or specific staff)
Data Requestors are responsible for ensuring that:
- Data is used only for the approved operational purpose outlined in the DSA
- Data is not repurposed or shared further without prior approval from GW Data Governance and the relevant Data Steward(s)
- Data is handled in accordance with its classification and sensitivity level
- Data is used in compliance with university policies, including the Data Management and Protection Standard
For data classified as regulated, additional privacy and security controls apply.
Further guidance is available in the Data Governance Center.
If you're managing research data, explore the research data services for guidance on data management plans, repository options, and responsible sharing.
For the Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health, visit Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library’s NIH Data Management & Sharing Plan (DMSP) Research Guide.
For all other GW schools and departments, visit GW Libraries and Academic Innovation’s Work with Data website.
Contact the Research Data Management Task Force with general questions related to data storage, sharing, and preservation.