For engaged institutions, data is more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s a way to understand impact, tell stories, and guide strategic decision-making. But having the data in one place is only part of the equation. The challenge lies in getting it into the hands of the right people, in the right format, at the right time. That’s where Collaboratory’s Reporting API comes in. The Reporting API turns Collaboratory from a single, powerful platform into a dynamic data source that fuels engagement insights across your institution.
What is Collaboratory's Reporting API?
Think of the Collaboratory’s Reporting API as a restaurant waiter – taking your “order” for specific data and delivering exactly what you asked for, fresh and ready to use. The “menu” is made up of API endpoints, each representing a different data set you can pull from Collaboratory: everything from community organization roles in activities to latitude and longitude for activity locations.
Unlike manual exports, the API provides real-time access to your institution’s Collaboratory data, so your internal systems – like dashboards, faculty reporting tools, or websites – always reflect the most up-to-date engagement information.
- Align with Institutional Priorities: Data is most effective when framed within a campus’ broader mission and strategic goals. Engagement stories must reinforce institutional identity and aspirations.
- Tailor Stories to Stakeholders: A compelling narrative should resonate with its audience. Whether speaking to faculty, administrators, or external partners, adapting the storytelling approach to align with different priorities and expectations is essential.
- Balance Numbers with Stories: While quantitative data can help to provide scale, it doesn’t fully capture the heart of community engagement. Pairing numerical data with reflections, case studies, and activity descriptions helps to illustrate and contextualize real-world impact.
What it Can Do
Collaboratory’s Reporting API makes it possible to:
- Automate data syncing into tools like Tableau, Power BI, Watermark, Interfolio, etc.
- Create custom visualizations that align with your institution’s branding and priorities (e.g., strategic planning, external reporting)
- Integrate engagement data alongside teaching, research, or student success metrics.
- Support enterprise-level data strategy by pulling Collaboratory data into a central data lake.
Examples of How Your Campus Can use the API
Embeddable Website Widgets
Faculty Annual Reporting
External Dashboards
Data Lakes
Showcase community partnerships directly on a college or departmental webpage.
Reduce duplicate data entry and ensure engagement work is reflected alongside teaching and research.
Highlight your campus’ engagement efforts and blend Collaboratory data with other datasets.
Combine engagement data with institutional research, HR, or enrollment data for cross-system analysis.
Getting Started
The process starts with a clear use case – whether it’s a dashboard, faculty reporting integration, or a public-facing visualization. From there, your IT lead can work with Collaboratory’s documentation and support team to bring your vision to life.
To use Collaboratory’s Reporting API, you’ll need:
- An active API subscription.
- A campus developer or IT point person to handle integration.
- API credentials and documentation from the Collaboratory team.
Want to Harness the Power of Community Engagement Data?
Discover how Collaboratory can help your institution capture, analyze, and leverage community engagement data for meaningful impact. Email us at info@cecollaboratory.com to learn more!
