SBU Libraries Supports SUNY CPD’s Data Literacy Essentials for a Second Year

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Ahmad Pratama

Today, data-informed decision-making is an essential part of how higher education institutions operate. To support SUNY professionals in building confidence working with data, the SUNY Center for Professional Development (CPD) offers the Data Literacy Essentials for Higher Education Professionals program. This two-course sequence program is designed for faculty, staff, and administrator across the SUNY system and beyond.

The first course in the sequence, Fundamentals of Working with Data, was developed by SBU Libraries’ faculty member and Data Literacies Lead, Ahmad Pratama, in 2025. Dr. Pratama taught the course three times in its inaugural year and will continue as instructor in 2026.

This online asynchronous course provides a comprehensive introduction to the basics of data literacy in higher education, covering the data lifecycle, governance, and analysis. Those who complete the course should be able to:

Understand the data lifecycle, basic data governance concepts, and common data terminology in the higher education ecosystem.
Understand data analysis basics including: 1) How to develop a research question that can be answered with objective and unbiased source data; 2) Basic statistical concepts and the most common analytical techniques to make sense of data; and 3) How to mine, refine, and prepare data for analysis.
Know how to conduct research involving human subjects including how to utilize surveys and engage with an Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Know how to identify the key takeaways from the data analysis (how they answer the research question) in an executive summary.
Critically evaluate data and data visualizations to recognize when it is being used incorrectly, unethically, or inappropriately.

Upon completion, participants also receive a digital badge that highlights their acquired expertise.

Fundamentals of Working with Data will be offered three times in 2026:

January 6 – February 16
May 12 – June 22
August 25 – October 5

Registration for the January session is now open; registration for the May and August sessions will open closer to their start dates.

The second course in the sequence, Storytelling with Data, builds upon the foundational skills from Fundamentals and focuses on communicating insights clearly and ethically through effective data stories. This follow-up course is taught by Dr. Samy Garas, a faculty member from SUNY Plattsburgh and completes the learning pathway for participants seeking a fuller understanding of both data analysis and communication.

Through its collaboration with SUNY CPD, SBU Libraries helps expand access to practical and approachable data training for higher education professionals within and beyond Stony Brook University community.