Look up university data definitions.
Key benefits of Data Cookbook
Searchability
Search function provides a variety of filters including functional areas, data sources, systems, tags, and more.
Standardization
Ensures uniform definitions of data elements across departments, preventing misinterpretation.
Improved data governance
Provides oversight of data definitions by data owners of the university.
Report definitions
From a report, provide a link to the page with its data definitions.
Show off your skills in the Data Viz Championship!
Join fellow students, faculty, and staff and participate in the Big Ten Academic Alliance’s Love Data Week (February 9–13, 2026)! Create a compelling data visualization, compete for Rutgers’ top spot, and represent the university in the Big Ten Data Viz Championship Showcase.
Data Cookbook overview
Video transcript
Data Cookbook provides the Rutgers community with a catalog of various objects available through the Rutgers enterprise data warehouse. It also supports reports across multiple platforms listing data points and governance details for each one.
This deeply functional resource can be used to search or browse functional areas, collections, data systems, specifications, definitions, tags, or tools.
The home page displays an infographic showing current and pending items available in the system. There are two search features available on the home page.
Use the quick search feature to display immediate search results and extend your search to other institutions outside of Rutgers University. Use the search bar to limit search results to items with the Rutgers University environment.
The Definitions tab can be used to search for a specific data point. Narrow down the search by selecting a subject area or a functional area. If you’re looking for a specific term, browse the available options alphabetically. The definition is displayed on the left side of the screen and other attributes of the data point are listed on the right. This can be minimized or expanded at any time.
Specifications refer to reports and dashboards. The Specifications tab can be used to find specific data points within a report or dashboard. Tags can be used to narrow down the search results. General information about the report or dashboard will be included in the Overview tab. Specific definitions are listed in the Definitions tab.
Collections can be helpful for looking at groups of Specifications. Under the Specifications tab, you can browse Collections.
The Data Systems tab can be useful for developers or technical employees.
For items that require your special attention, the watchlist is available. Navigate to an item.
To add a specification or definition to your watchlist, simply use the star icon in the upper-right corner.
Look forward to using the Data Cookbook to help meet your Enterprise Business Intelligence needs.
Data Cookbook terms
| Data Cookbook term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Functional areas | business topics |
| Data systems | front-end applications that collect and store information |
| Specifications | reports or dashboards |
| Definitions | data points and their descriptions |
| Tags | categories that make it easier to narrow down a search |
| Tools | applications in which the reports or dashboards are published |