Data Dictionary and Elements
This page describes the data elements collected by the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS). Valid values and data validation rules that can be performed prior to data submission are listed where appropriate.
Contact the NSWERS Helpdesk (help@nswers.org or 402-472-5238) for additional information regarding NSWERS data collections.
Data Element Names
The following syntax is used throughout this document when referencing data elements.
Format: *NSWERS Field Name [File Specification: Field Name (Field Number)] where:
- An asterisk (*) indicates the data element is a mandatory field. A non-blank or non-null value must be supplied in all mandatory fields for each record, or the data loading process will reject the record.
- For all other data elements (i.e., nonmandatory), use the decision tree to determine the appropriate value.
- NSWERS Field Name represents the name of the data element commonly used by the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS).
- File Specification indicates the formal name of the file specification.
- Field Name indicates the formal name of the field within the file specification.
- Field Number indicates the position of the field within the file specification.
Notes of Importance
- Where possible, provide values as they were collected during the reporting term. If this is not possible, provide the value as it is currently stored in the data system.
- Any values that contain a comma must be enclosed with double quotes.
- Data fields should be ordered in the same sequence as identified in this document.
- All files should be submitted in .csv format.
To maintain data privacy and security, and to preserve the informational chain of custody, NSWERS staff cannot edit original source data files. It is the responsibility of each data contributing partner to resolve errors discovered during data submission, validation, and certification processes. Corrected data files should be re-uploaded by partners into the NSWERS data system.
Decision Tree: Reporting for Nonmandatory Data Elements
Data Specifications
Scope
All students enrolled in a Nebraska public school district.
File Names
| File Specification | File Name | Elements |
|---|---|---|
|
K12 ACT State Contract NEW
|
#####_k12_actstatecontract_YYYY_##.csv | 349 Elements |
| K12 Attendance | #####_k12_attendance_YYYY_##.csv | 6 Elements |
| K12 Career Education Programs | #####_k12_programs_YYYY_##.csv | 6 Elements |
| K12 College Board | #####_k12_collegeboard_YYYY_##.csv | 181 Elements |
| K12 Detailed Attendance | #####_k12_detailedattendance_YYYY_##.csv | 5 Elements |
|
K12 Educator Certificate NEW
|
#####_k12_educatorcertificate_YYYY_##.csv | 17 Elements |
|
K12 Educator Endorsements NEW
|
#####_k12_educatorendorsements_YYYY_##.csv | 7 Elements |
|
K12 ELPA21 NEW
|
#####_k12_elpa_YYYY_##.csv | 15 Elements |
| K12 Enrollment | #####_k12_enrollment_YYYY_##.csv | 8 Elements |
| K12 Staff Assignments | #####_k12_assignments_YYYY_##.csv | 9 Elements |
| K12 Staff Demographics | #####_k12_staff_YYYY_##.csv | 13 Elements |
| K12 Statewide Assessment | #####_k12_assessment_YYYY_##.csv | 11 Elements |
| K12 Student Course Records | #####_k12_courses_YYYY_##.csv | 13 Elements |
| K12 Students | #####_k12_students_YYYY_##.csv | 46 Elements |
|
REMOVED K12 Act |
#####_k12_act_YYYY_##.csv |
| Where | Represents |
| ###### | Institution Identifier (i.e. “NDE”) |
| YYYY | Academic Year Ending |
| ## | Optional sequence Number |
Academic Year Ending
The academic year is understood as July 1 – June 30. Postsecondary data will be organized by academic year using Academic Year Ending. For example, the Academic Year Ending field for 2020 – 2021 will simply read: “2021”.
Notes of Importance
- Any values that contain a comma must be enclosed with quotes.
- Data fields should be ordered in the same sequence as identified in this document.
- All files should be submitted in .csv format.
Scope
All students enrolled in courses (for credit AND/OR noncredit) at the postsecondary institution for the academic year.
| File Specification | File Name | Elements |
|---|---|---|
|
2-Year Postsecondary Academic Awards UPDATED
|
#####_ps2_aa_YYYY_##.csv | 6 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Addresses | #####_ps2_addresses_YYYY_##.csv | 10 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Courses | #####_ps2_courses_YYYY_##.csv | 16 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Enrollment | #####_ps2_enrollment_YYYY_##.csv | 37 Elements |
|
2-Year Postsecondary Financial Aid NEW
|
#####_ps2_financialaid_YYYY_##.csv | 6 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Courses | #####_ps2_ncndcourses_YYYY_##.csv | 12 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Transcript | #####_ps2_ncndtranscript_YYYY_##.csv | 8 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Terms | #####_ps2_terms_YYYY_##.csv | 5 Elements |
| 2-Year Postsecondary Transcript | #####_ps2_transcript_YYYY_##.csv | 13 Elements |
| Where | Represents |
| ###### | IPEDS Institution ID |
| YYYY | Academic Year Ending |
| ## | Optional sequence Number |
Academic Year Ending
The academic year is understood as July 1 – June 30. Postsecondary data will be organized by academic year using Academic Year Ending. For example, the Academic Year Ending field for 2020 – 2021 will simply read: “2021”.
IPEDS Institution ID
| 180902 | Central Community College |
| 181303 | Metropolitan Community College |
| 181312 | Mid-Plains Community College |
| 181765 | Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture |
| 181491 | Northeast Community College |
| 181640 | Southeast Community College |
| 181817 | Western Nebraska Community College |
Notes of Importance
- Any values that contain a comma must be enclosed with quotes.
- Data fields should be ordered in the same sequence as identified in this document.
- All files should be submitted in .csv format.
Scope
All students enrolled in courses (for credit AND/OR noncredit) at the postsecondary institution for the academic year.
| File Specification | File Name | Elements |
|---|---|---|
|
4-Year Postsecondary Academic Awards UPDATED
|
#####_ps4_aa_YYYY_##.csv | 6 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Addresses | #####_ps4_addresses_YYYY_##.csv | 10 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Courses | #####_ps4_courses_YYYY_##.csv | 15 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Enrollment | #####_ps4_enrollment_YYYY_##.csv | 40 Elements |
|
4-Year Postsecondary Financial Aid NEW
|
#####_ps4_financialaid_YYYY_##.csv | 6 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Courses | #####_ps4_ncndcourses_YYYY_##.csv | 12 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Transcript | #####_ps4_ncndtranscript_YYYY_##.csv | 8 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Terms | #####_ps4_terms_YYYY_##.csv | 5 Elements |
| 4-Year Postsecondary Transcript | #####_ps4_transcript_YYYY_##.csv | 11 Elements |
| Where | Represents |
| ###### | IPEDS Institution ID |
| YYYY | Academic Year Ending |
| ## | Optional sequence Number |
Academic Year Ending
The academic year is understood as July 1 – June 30. Postsecondary data will be organized by academic year using Academic Year Ending. For example, the Academic Year Ending field for 2020 – 2021 will simply read: “2021”.
IPEDS Institution ID
| 180948 | Chadron State College |
| 181534 | Peru State College |
| 181783 | Wayne State College |
| 181215 | University of Nebraska at Kearney |
| 181464 | University of Nebraska – Lincoln |
| 181428 | University of Nebraska Medical Center |
| 181394 | University of Nebraska at Omaha |
Notes of Importance
- Any values that contain a comma must be enclosed with quotes.
- Data fields should be ordered in the same sequence as identified in this document.
- All files should be submitted in .csv format.
General
This area describes the data elements sent to, and collected from, the Nebraska Department of Labor (NDOL) by the Nebraska Statewide Workforce & Educational Reporting System (NSWERS). Valid values and data validation rules that can be performed prior to data submission are listed where appropriate.
Scope
All students contained in the Student Match file provided to NDOL by NSWERS.
| File Specification | File Name | Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce Student Match | ndol_student_YYYYMMDDHHMM_[FULL|UPDATE]-MATCHED.csv | 3 Elements |
| Workforce Unemployment Insurance | ndol_wf_uiwage_YYYYMMDDHHMM_[FULL|UPDATE].csv | 11 Elements |
| Where | Represents |
| YYYYMMDDHHMM | Date and timestamp |
Notes of Importance
- Where possible, historical values should be reported as they were provided during the original reporting term. If this is not possible, provide the value as it is currently stored in the system.
- Any values that contain a comma must be enclosed with double quotes.
- Data fields should be ordered in the same sequence as identified in this document.
- All files should be submitted in .csv format.
Change Log
8/1/2025
2-Year Postsecondary Awards and 4-year Postsecondary Awards – Added ps_term_code field.
New Files
2-Year Postsecondary Financial Aid
8/28/2024
2-Year Postsecondary Addresses, 4-Year Postsecondary Addresses – Edited file to add optional country element, and edited Address State element to include Province for enrolled students in postsecondary institutions.
Updated all data file specifications to version 1.3.1. No changes in content or elements for files other than the items listed above.
8/1/2024
2-Year Postsecondary Enrollment, 4-Year Postsecondary Enrollment – Added two new data elements to be collected, Primary Program One Level and Primary Program Two Level, and adjusted data element position numbers accordingly.
2-Year Postsecondary Courses, 4-Year Postsecondary Courses – Added two new data elements to be collected, Dual Credit Flag and Associated High School.
2-Year Postsecondary Transcript, 4-Year Postsecondary Transcript – Text added to Course Grade Points for element definition clarification and expansion.
K12 Statewide Assessment – Text added for element definition clarification and a table of reason codes to be specified.
2-Year Postsecondary Addresses, 4-Year Postsecondary Addresses – Created new files specifically for collecting data on addresses for enrolled students in postsecondary institutions.
K12 College Board – Created new file to collect a variety of data elements related to assessments administered by the College Board, including PSAT, SAT, and Advanced Placement exams.
K12 Detailed Attendance – Created new file to collect data on detailed attendance information for all students enrolled in Nebraska’s public school districts for the requested school year(s).
8/1/2023
K12 Students, 2-Year Postsecondary Enrollment, 4-Year Postsecondary Enrollment – Text added for name clarification for First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, First Name Alias, Middle Name Alias, and Last Name Alias data elements.
K12 Students, 2-Year Postsecondary Enrollment, 4-Year Postsecondary Enrollment – Text added for birthdate clarification for Birthdate data element.
2-Year Postsecondary Academic Awards, 4-Year Postsecondary Academic Awards – Text added for clarification about enrollment records submission related to academic awards.
2-Year Postsecondary Terms, 4-Year Postsecondary Terms – Text added for term code clarification for Postsecondary Term Code data element.
2-Year Postsecondary Courses, 4-Year Postsecondary Courses – Added Course Instruction Mode and Course Type to Courses files from Transcript files, and adjusted data element position numbers accordingly.
2-Year Postsecondary Transcript, 4-Year Postsecondary Transcript – Removed Course Instruction Mode and Course Type from Transcript files, and adjusted data element position numbers accordingly.
2-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Courses, 4-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Courses – Created new files specifically for non-credit courses for non-degree seeking students for postsecondary institutions to use for these courses instead of the other Postsecondary Courses files.
2-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Transcript, 4-Year Postsecondary Non-Credit Non-Degree Transcript – Created new files specifically for non-credit courses for non-degree seeking students for postsecondary institutions to use for these courses instead of the other Postsecondary Transcript file.
UI Quarterly Wage Records – Text added for name clarification for Full Name, Last Name, and First Name data elements.
2/22/2023
K12 Students, Home Language Code – Added code 9000 for Dari language.
K12 Enrollment, Enrollment Codes – Added codes 213-217.
K12 Enrollment, Residence Status – Added code 9.
9/23/2022
2-Year Postsecondary Transcripts and 4-Year Postsecondary Transcripts – Added Grade Mode and Course Completion data elements.
K12 Students, Homeless Youth Indicator – Changed definition from Unaccompanied to eligible for Homeless Education services.
6/20/2022
Postsecondary Courses – Updated file definition for clarity.
2-Year Postsecondary Transcript, Course Credit Hours – Allowed for a -1.0 to identify continuing education courses.