It has been two decades since I began developing MU BERT (Marshall University Business Reporting and Intelligence Tool for Education). MU BERT was conceived as a self-service tool to assist Marshall University’s faculty and administrators with generating report data from our Enterprise Student Information System – Banner. Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive, ever-adapting resource, providing access to critical data in a user-friendly, web-delivered format. This initiative was sparked not out of convenience, but necessity — because no one else had the capability to create a self-service data and analytics tool, nor the ability to provide accurate data needed to make decisions being asked of by administration, in a timely manner.
Someone recently told me, “if you give people what they ask for, they will always continue to ask for more.” At first glance, this might sound daunting, like a never-ending cycle of requests and demands. But isn’t that exactly why we’re here? Our role is to serve, to provide, and to empower with the information needed for effective decision-making. There’s a fine line between delivering what people want and becoming the “Alexa” of the university — constantly responding to “Hey, Brian, what is…?” requests. While it’s important to provide accessible data and quick answers, there’s a risk of being seen merely as a data vending machine, dispensing information without fostering deeper understanding or strategic thinking. Yet, in my 20 years of developing reports within MU BERT, I have come to see this challenge differently.
Instead of viewing these frequent requests as a burden or a reduction of my role, I have embraced them as an opportunity for growth and innovation. Each question, each email, each “Hey, Brian,” represents a chance to understand needs more deeply, refine our data tools, and push the boundaries of what self-service data can accomplish.
By not only listening to the questions being asked, but by responding, I have been able to identify gaps in our data literacy and areas where our reports and dashboards can evolve. Rather than just supplying answers, I have aimed to educate and empower the Marshall community to ask better, more strategic questions. This approach transforms our data tools from simple repositories of information into dynamic resources that foster critical thinking and data-driven decision-making.
The goal is not to JUST become an on-demand information service but to cultivate a culture where data is used to drive strategic insights and meaningful actions. This journey has not just been about delivering data — it has been about shaping a more informed, engaged, and proactive campus community.
In this way, being the “Alexa” of the university is not a limitation-it is a platform. It is a way to engage directly with the needs of our institution, to innovate continuously, and to drive forward our collective understanding of how data can be used for the betterment of all. Embracing this role has allowed me to grow professionally and to help the university advance its data capabilities, fostering a collaborative environment where data isn’t just accessed — it’s actively leveraged to make informed, impactful decisions.
The Genesis of MU BERT: From Necessity to Innovation
MU BERT began on an old Dell desktop computer sitting in the halls of Prichard Hall where I first had a faculty office as a member of the Integrated Science and Technology Department. The need was clear: faculty and administrators needed/wanted a better way to retrieve and utilize data from our student information system. Back then, Banner was kludgy and ran on a Java-based client that was as finicky as the Huntington weather has been as of late. They needed timely, accurate information to make informed decisions at all levels of the institution without having to wade through 10 screens to get information on who the students were and their attributes. And so, MU BERT was born.
Designed for both faculty and administration, the tool offers a myriad of reports, each tailored to provide timely insights that aid decision-making. Over the years, I expanded its capabilities to include a student interface, partnering with the registrar’s office to convert their paper course schedule to a dynamic, searchable schedule of courses. This student interface was expanded to enable students to access information about their academic advisor, print their class schedule in a friendly format, download said schedule to their phone calendar, retrieve course syllabi, and even generate potential schedules based on course availability and their favorite days/time blocks to take classes. It evolved from a simple web-based platform to generate complete lists of students within a major and class list into a cornerstone of data accessibility and self-service analytics at Marshall University.
A Testament to BERT’s Impact
Looking back on these 20 years, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of accomplishment. Not just in what MU BERT has become, but in the countless hours spent refining reports, enhancing the tool’s functionality, and, most importantly, learning. The development of MU BERT has been instrumental in helping me understand the intricacies of higher education data, master advanced software engineering and database design methods, and hone my SQL skills — all of which are critical to my role today.
The numbers speak for themselves: just in August of this year, faculty and staff generated 160,000 reports. Year-to-date, that number stands at 863,500, with a total of 1.56 MILLION reports since January 1, 2023. On the student side, the engagement is equally impressive, with 203,500 views this month alone, 1.11 million since the beginning of the year, and 2.02 MILLION views since January 1, 2023. These statistics are not just numbers; they represent the daily reliance on MU BERT by our university community to make informed decisions, support student success, and drive institutional improvement.
Looking Ahead: A Continued Commitment to Data Empowerment
As I reflect on these past two decades, I am incredibly proud of what I have built — a tool that not only meets the needs of today but is also adaptable for the future. The reports and insights generated by MU BERT and my recent work with Power BI continue to push the envelope of what is possible in self-service data and analytics. We have moved beyond just providing answers to enabling our faculty, staff, and students to ask better questions — questions that drive strategic thinking and innovation.
In many ways, MU BERT has been more than just a reporting tool; it has been a journey of learning, growth, and collaboration. It has challenged me to stay ahead of the curve in a constantly evolving landscape of higher education and data analytics. And as we look to the future, my commitment to providing robust, accessible, and actionable data remains stronger than ever whether it be a listing of students in BERT or powerful visualizations within powerBI. Because, in the end, giving people what they ask for is not just about meeting demands — it is about empowering them to achieve more.
Here’s to 20 more years of data-driven excellence at Marshall University, no matter the toolset, but always with data!
Brian M. Morgan
Chief Data Officer, Marshall University