Northstar V3 Overview: Reporting

Introduction

The Reporting section of Northstar provides access to comprehensive collection of reports designed to support operational, academic, fiscal and compliance needs. Reports are organized for easy navigation and can be generated in multiple formats to support viewing, analysis, and submission requirements. New usability enhancements in Version 3 improve report discovery, reuse, and in-report navigation.

Reports Overview

Reports are listed to help users quickly locate relevant information. Depending on the report selected, results may be generated in one or more of the following formats:

PDF - Best suited for viewing, printing, and official documentation
Excel - Supports data analysis, sorting, filtering, and customization
Text - Commonly used for file transfers, imports, or system integrations

Selecting the Adhoc option displays reports that were created specifically for your college. These reports are tailored to meet institution-specific reporting needs and are available alongside standard system reports.

Not all pages in Version 3 are complete, and not all completed pages are available to every role. During early testing and preview phases, the system intentionally exposes additional context to help users become familiar with new functionality. As development progresses, this behavior will be refined and access will be more tightly aligned with role-based permissions.

In the navigation menu, page availability is indicated using visual cues:

	Blue links indicate pages that are enabled, have content, and are available to your role.
	A closed black lock icon indicates that the page has content but your current role does have have permission to access it.
	An open lock icon indicates that the page currently does not have a corresponding legacy permission restricting access.
	Disabled links without a lock icon represent placeholder pages that are not yet available to any role.

How to Run a Report

To run a report in Northstar V3:

Navigate to the Reporting category.
If you know the format of the report, filter by the report type.
Enter the report name.
Enter the required report parameters (such as dates, programs, or locations).
Select Run Report to generate the results.

Once the report is generated:

Use the Columns option to control which fields are displayed on the page.
Use the export options to download or save the report results in the available format.

Favorites

The Favorites feature allows user to quickly access reports that are run frequently. Reports marked as favorites appear in a personalized list, reducing the time spent navigating through the report list.

Customize PDFs

The Report Editor, available under the Customize PDFs page, allows user to create customized version of standard reports. This feature enables users to start with a system-provided report and modify to meet specific reporting needs.

Edit Images

The Edit Images page allows administrators to manage images used throughout reporting and identification features within Northstar. This includes images displayed on report headers, student ID cards, and staff ID cards.

To begin, select the image type you wish to update - such as a report header, student ID card, or staff ID card - and upload the appropriate file. A Preview window is provided to review the image and confirm alignment and clarity before saving.

Once the image is saved, a full preview of the report header or ID card layout will be displayed, allowing you to verify how the image will appear in reports or printed materials. For best results, users should follow the recommended image size and format guidelines to ensure optimal display and print quality.

Submission Calendar

The Submissions Calendar provides administrators with a centralized view of reporting submission periods, helping ensure awareness of open, upcoming and recently closed reporting windows. This page is designed

Upcoming submissions are grouped by reporting cycle and include important details such as the reporting agency, submission type, effective dates, and snapshot periods. Each submission also includes direct links to the relevant Northstar reports, allowing users to quickly access the correct report required for completion.

Glossaries

The Glossaries page provides direct links to the USHE submission reports.

Reporting Summary

Reporting in Northstar Version 3 offers enhanced flexibility, improved navigation, and user-driven customization. With multiple output formats, Adhoc and institution-specific reports, Favorites for quick access, and the new Report Editor, users can efficiently retrieve, tailor, and analyze data to support informed decision-making and operational workflows.

If you have questions, comments or feature suggestions, please submit them using the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/NreuhQX1Df or send an email to support@northstarmis.org

Your feedback is essential in helping us improve the new Northstar experience. Thank you for your support and participation!