Dashboard Introduction and Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the Smithsonian Dashboard!
As a public trust, the Smithsonian is committed to using data and empirical evidence to assess its performance and report results to its stakeholders.
The Dashboard presents metrics used to assess performance results and organizational accountability across the major programs and functions of the Institution, as well as numbers that tell the story of the Smithsonian’s amazing scope and reach.
Metrics are organized under three major areas where the Smithsonian carries out its mission – the increase and diffusion of knowledge:
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Research: We create knowledge through high-impact research in science, art, history, and culture.
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National Collections: We preserve our national and natural heritage, as well as aspects of other cultures, by caring for and expanding the National Collections.
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Public Engagement: We share knowledge and engage with the public on-site, online, and across the nation and world through compelling exhibitions, educational programs, and media products.
The Dashboard presents metrics in two additional areas:
- People and Operations: Our mission-supporting functions.
- One Smithsonian: Qualitative examples of interdisciplinary and cross-Smithsonian activities that bridge the other areas and tackle big issues.
To learn more, see the Smithsonian Strategic Plan.
Navigating the Smithsonian Dashboard
Navigation aids
The navigation bar at the top of each page (under the section title) will take you to the five sections of the Dashboard and back to Dashboard Home.
Smaller navigation bars below the introductory text will take you to the performance areas in each section.
Clicking on the “up” arrow located at the lower right side of the page will take you back to the top of the page.
How can I get more information from the displays?
Frequently the Dashboard provides more information from second and third level information platforms or sources.
- Sometimes the Dashboard offers further information from other Smithsonian websites. Look for the light blue hyperlinks.
- The metrics often provide the option of filtering by Smithsonian unit or other units of measure. Click on the “down” arrow on the right to see the drop-down selection.
- Sometimes the graphic displays on the right have an option for additional metric presentations. Click on the gray buttons.
- “Hand” icons indicate there is more information when you place your cursor over an object (or click on the object if you are using a mobile device).
Accessibility
- For a list of keystrokes for navigating the graphic visualizations, refer to the following link: http://onlinehelp.tableau.com/v10.3/pro/desktop/en-us/access_keyboard_navigation.html
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Smithsonian Unit?
For administration purposes, the Smithsonian refers to individual museums, research centers, education centers, and offices as "units".
What is a Fiscal Year?
A Fiscal Year (FY) is the 12-month period that defines the U.S. government budget. It runs from October 1 through September 30. For example, FY 2017 began on October 1, 2016 and ends on September 30, 2017. FY 2018 is from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018.
What is a Quarter?
A Quarter (Q) is a three-month period of the financial calendar. The four Quarters that define the U.S. government budget are Q1 = October to December, Q2 = January to March, Q3 = April to June, and Q4 = July to September.
Other Questions?
Contact us at: dashboard@si.edu
Museums, Research Centers, and other Units/Locations
| Acronym | Full Name | Short Name |
|---|---|---|
OSEC |
Office of the Secretary |
Secretary |
| ODI | Office of Diversity Initiatives | Diversity/OEEMA |
| OGC | Office of General Counsel | General Counsel |
BoR |
Board of Regents |
Regents |
| OREG | Office of the Regents | Regents Office |
| OIG | Office of the Inspector General | Inspector General |
OUSMER |
Office of the Under Secretary for Museums, Education and Research/Provost |
Provost |
| AAA | Archives of American Art | Archives American Art |
| ACM | Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia |
| AIB | Arts & Industries Building | Arts & Industries |
| APAC | Asian Pacific American Center | Asian Pac American Ctr |
| CFCH | Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage | Folklife |
| CHM | Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum | Cooper Hewitt |
| DWRC | Donald W. Reynolds Center | Reynolds Ctr |
| FS | Freer Gallery and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art | Asian Art |
| HMSG | Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden | Hirshhorn |
| MCI | Museum Conservation Institute | Museum Conservation |
| MSC | Museum Support Center | Museum Support Ctr |
| NASM | National Air and Space Museum | Air and Space-Mall |
| NASM-UHC | National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center | Air and Space-Udvar Hazy |
| NCP | National Collections Program | Collections Program |
| NMAAHC | National Museum of African American History & Culture | African American |
| NMAFA | National Museum of African Art | African Art |
| NMAH | National Museum of American History | American History |
| NMAI | National Museum of the American Indian | American Indian-DC |
| NMAI-NY | National Museum of the American Indian–New York, the George Gustav Heye Center | American Indian-NY |
| NMAI-CRC | National Museum of the American Indian Cultural Resources Center | American Indian-Cult Res |
| NMNH | National Museum of Natural History | Natural History |
| NPG | National Portrait Gallery | Portrait Gallery |
| NPM | National Postal Museum | Postal |
| NZP | National Zoological Park | National Zoo |
| OFI | Office of Fellowships and Internships | Fellows & Interns |
| RC | Dillon Ripley Center | Ripley |
| RG | Renwick Gallery | Renwick |
| SAAM | Smithsonian American Art Museum | American Art |
| SAO | Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory | Astrophysical Observatory |
| SCBI | Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute | Conservation Biology |
| SERC | Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | Environmental Research |
| SIA | Smithsonian Institution Archives | SI Archives |
| SIB | Smithsonian Castle | SI Castle |
| SIL | Smithsonian Libraries | SI Libraries |
| SISP | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Scholarly Press |
| SLC | Smithsonian Latino Center | Latino Ctr |
| SMSFP | Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce | NMNH-Fort Pierce |
| STRI | Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute | Tropical Research |
OUSFA COO |
Office of the Under Secretary for Finance & Administration/Chief Operating Officer |
Under Sec Fin & Admin |
| AP | Accessibility Program | Accessibility |
| OCIO | Office of the Chief Information Officer | Chief, Information |
| OCon&PPM | Office of Contracting & Personal Property Management | Contracting |
| OF&A | Office of Finance & Accounting | Finance |
| OFMR | Office of Facilities Management and Reliability | Facilities Mgmt |
| OHR | Office of Human Resources | Human Resources |
| OPMB | Office of Planning, Management and Budget | Budget |
| OSP | Office of Sponsored Projects | Sponsored Projects |
| SE | Smithsonian Enterprises | Enterprises |
| SF | Smithsonian Facilities | Facilities |
| SG | Smithsonian Gardens | Gardens |
| SIE | Smithsonian Exhibits | Exhibits |
| SOAR | Smithsonian Organization and Audience Research | Org. & Audience Research |
| SOPS | Smithsonian Office of Protection Services | Protection Serv |
OAPEA |
Office of the Associate Provost for Education and Access |
Asst Sec Educ & Access |
| SA | Smithsonian Affiliations | Affiliations |
| SCLDA | Smithsonian Center for Learning & Digital Access | Learning & Digital Access |
| SA | Smithsonian Associates | Associates |
| SITES | Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service | Traveling Exhibits |
| SSEC | Smithsonian Science Education Center | Science Education |
OASCEA |
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Communications & External Affairs |
Asst Sec Comm & Ext Afr |
| OGR | Office of Government Relations | Govt Relations |
| OIR | Office of International Relations | Intl Relations |
| OPA | Office of Public Affairs | Public Affairs |
| OSEP | Office of Special Events and Protocol | Special Events |
| OVS | Office of Visitor Services | Visitor Services |
OASA |
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Advancement |
Asst Sec Advance |
| OA&PG | Office of Advancement & Philanthropic Giving | Advancement |
Other |
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| SEEC | Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center | Early Enrichment Ctr |
