Overview.
Starting in the Fall of 2022:
The Pennant Student Records Snapshot collection contains point-in-time data from Pennant sources. The purpose of this data collection is to provide historical reference points that do not change, so that longitudinal reporting can compare like terms at like points-in-time. The primary source is the Banner database, which replicates to the Operational Data Store (ODS) and from there the data area extracted/transformed/loaded into the warehouse tables.
The snapshots are taken at specified times during the term (see the Schedule tab for details). The snapshot data are stored in tables that are almost identical in structure to the regular Pennant Student Records collection, with the addition of three columns in each table (see Tables and Data Elements for details).
There are two schemas for Pennant Student Records data: DWNGSS for the validation (lists of valid codes) tables, and DWNGSS_PS for the tables containing student and/or course data. The snapshots are point-in-time data related to the tables in DWNGSS_PS. The validation tables in DWNGSS are not captured in the term snapshots.
Once a snapshot is taken, it is considered “frozen” and the data in that snapshot are never subsequently updated.
All users of Student Data, whether they write their own queries, or use data or reports extracted by someone else, agree to abide by University policy regarding confidentiality of student records, and by the Family Educational and Right to Privacy Act. Failure to abide by the policies and laws governing student data can result in disciplinary action, including termination.
The Pennant Student Records Snapshot collection includes tables containing student and course information and are identical in structure to the tables in the Pennant Student Records collection. The naming convention is to use the same table names, with ‘SNAP_’ as the prefix. For example, SNAP_ST_DEGREE_TERM is the snapshot of ST_DEGREE_TERM. Please refer to https://www.isc.upenn.edu/pennant-student-records for details about the columns in each table.
Each table in the Pennant Student Records Snapshot collection also contains the following columns:
- SNAP_TERM: the term in which the snapshot was taken
- SNAP_TYPE: the type of snapshot, i.e., ‘C’ for census, and ‘F’ for final.
- SNAP_DATE: the date on which the snapshot was taken
Data will be appended to the snapshot tables over time, i.e., each snap_term’s and snap_type’s data will be added to the existing tables. This allows you to see the data as-of the specific points-in-time when the snapshots were taken.
In the following hypothetical example, a student went on leave of absence in-between the snapshots; their status and exit information changed. The ‘C’ensus row shows what the data looked like on the census date, and the ‘F’inal row shows what the data looked like on the final snapshot date:
| SNAP_TERM | SNAP_TYPE | SNAP_DATE | PENN_ID | DIVISION | DEGREE_CODE | STUDENT_STATUS | EXIT_ACTION | EXIT_DATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205010 | C | 2/28/2050 | 12345678 | AU | BA | AS | ||
| 205010 | F | 5/30/2050 | 12345678 | AU | BA | AL | L | 4/1/2050 |
Starting in the Fall of 2022, two snapshots will be created each term:
Census snapshot (SNAP_TYPE = ‘C’) – taken one week following the last day to drop a course in Pennant.
Final snapshot (SNAP_TYPE = ‘F’) – schedule TBD.
The structure of the Pennant Student Records Snapshot universe mirrors the structure of the Pennant Student Records universe. See https://www.isc.upenn.edu/pennant-student-records#Diagrams
with the following caveat:
All joins in the Pennant Student Records Snapshot universe include the SNAP_TERM and the SNAP_TYPE.
If you are writing your own SQL, you should also include SNAP_TERM and SNAP_TYPE in your joins.
So, for example, the join between the SNAP_ST_DEGREE_TERM and SNAP_ST_DEGREE_PURSUAL is:
SNAP_ST_DEGREE_PURSUAL.PENN_ID = SNAP_ST_DEGREE_TERM.PENN_ID and
SNAP_ST_DEGREE_PURSUAL.DWLD_CURRIC_ID = SNAP_ST_DEGREE_TERM.DWLD_CURRIC_ID and
SNAP_ST_DEGREE_PURSUAL.SNAP_TERM = SNAP_ST_DEGREE_TERM.SNAP_TERM and
SNAP_ST_DEGREE_PURSUAL.SNAP_TYPE = SNAP_ST_DEGREE_TERM.SNAP_TYPE
When looking at the diagram available from https://www.isc.upenn.edu/pennant-student-records#Diagrams, note that for Pennant Student Records Snapshot universe, all of the joins are the same as shown in that diagram plus the addition of the SNAP_TERM and SNAP_TYPE in every join.
The Business Objects Corporate Documents area provides access to pre-defined, prompt-driven reports that you can run to retrieve a standardized perspective on your data.
[list under construction]
In order to construct your own queries using the Pennant Student Records Collection in the Data Warehouse, you must complete the warehouse student data training in addition to the FERPA and Information Security modules, in Knowledgelink.
It is generally suggested that you do not use the Snapshot data collection until you are familiar with the Pennant Student Records collection.
Supplemental training materials.
[under construction]
Access to the Pennant Student Records Snapshot data collection is automatically granted to persons with access to the Pennant Student Records collection.
See https://www.isc.upenn.edu/pennant-student-records#Security for more information about requesting access, and prerequisite training
The Student Data User Group (SDUG) meets monthly. This is a general informal meeting where the central reporting team and the data steward can present topics, describe recent changes, and showcase examples of standard reporting practices. It is also a forum for and by the wider reporting community, and experienced report writers are encouraged to be "guest presenters." At every meeting, we try to have a general time for Q&A. Notification about meetings and links to virtual meetings are sent ahead of time to the user community's listserv: student-wh@lists.upenn.edu.
Slides from past SDUG meetings
In general, when you have questions about how data are used at the University of Pennsylvania, you should consult with the data steward, which for Pennant Student Records is the University Registrar. For discussions related to using this data collection, you may post to the moderated listserv: student-wh@lists.upenn.edu
For any other information about Business Objects, access forms, and general questions regarding using Penn's data from central administrative systems, please write to: da-staff@isc.upenn.edu