TCDL 2026

Since its launch in 2024, the Texas State University Open Datathon has grown from a small pilot into a multi‑campus event that engages students across disciplines in hands‑on data analysis, open data literacy, and collaborative problem‑solving. This presentation offers a three‑year retrospective on the Datathon’s development, tracing its evolution from the inaugural competition to its current expansion across both the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses. Using participation trends, engagement metrics, and qualitative student feedback, we highlight how the event’s structure, visibility, and educational impact have matured over time.

Across its three iterations, the Datathon has drawn students from a wide range of majors, including data science, engineering, business, health, social sciences, and the humanities. Pre‑ and post‑event surveys consistently show increased awareness of open data, greater confidence in navigating public datasets, and a stronger understanding of ethical data‑sharing practices. Comparing these survey results across all three years reveals clear trends demonstrating the value of hands‑on, challenge‑based learning for building practical data literacy and broadening student engagement with open science.

The session also reflects on the organizational lessons learned as the event scaled, including managing cross‑campus collaborations, coordinating space and technology needs, integrating hybrid participation, and balancing accessibility with technical depth. We discuss strategies that contributed to steady growth, effective marketing approaches, and the importance of strong partnerships with faculty, information technology services, the library, campus organizations, and local community.

Attendees will gain adaptable models, planning tools, and effective practices for designing and scaling Datathons or similar open data engagement programs at their own institutions. This proposal provides both a narrative of growth and a practical guide informed by real data and student‑centered insights.