Spotlight: What is BIRDIE?

NORMAN, Okla. - “When we first were reorganized back in 2019, we didn’t have a name,” Melissa Nestor, BIRDIE Lead, said. “BIRDE is short for Business Intelligence Reporting and Data Engagement.”

BIRDE is a part of the Data group with OU IT. They are tasked with helping groups on campus access their data and showing them how they can utilize it for their scenarios.

“The mission of our team is really to empower the citizen reporter,” Nestor said. “So we go into departments and try to up their game. Sometimes that means we are going in and making their reports because they don’t have anything and sometimes it is providing new technologies and trainings so they can do it themselves.”

The BIRDE team’s goal is to empower users to find their data answers themselves, and to become self-sufficient, though they are always there to assist.

“BIRDIE is a resource available for all departments between the three campus locations,” Nestor said.

The need for this access to data has grown with the focus on OU becoming a data-driven university.

“A lot of colleges want more information on students in general because they are trying to focus on student success,” Nestor said. “We are getting a lot of queries right now, which I think is great.”

As needs grow BIRDE is looking to help these departments become more self-sufficient through networking and communication.

“One of the things we are trying to work on going forward is with the administrative departments with a lot of questions,” Nestor said. “Creating greater networking and communication to get the community together. If everyone is doing the same things, why don’t we do it at a university level so we can save everyone that time? Create efficiencies and double down on the community building and working together.”

Nestor and the BIRDE group plan to host ‘get-togethers’ so those regularly accessing this data and creating new reports can connect with others on campus. Keep an eye out on OU IT News or OUIT Facebook (@OUITSolutions), Instagram (@ou_it), or X (OUITSolutions) for details on these future meet-up opportunities.