Abstract
Algorithmic decision-making is increasingly being adopted across public higher education. The expansion of data-driven practices by post-secondary institutions has occurred in parallel with the adoption of New Public Management approaches by neoliberal administrations. In this study, we conduct a qualitative analysis of an in-depth ethnographic case study of data and algorithms in use at a public college in Ontario, Canada. We identify the data, algorithms, and outcomes in use at the college. We assess how the college's processes and relationships support those outcomes and the different stakeholders' perceptions of the college's data-driven systems. In addition, we find that the growing reliance on algorithmic decisions leads to increased student surveillance, exacerbation of existing inequities, and the automation of the faculty-student relationship. Finally, we identify a cycle of increased institutional power perpetuated by algorithmic decision-making, and driven by a push towards financial sustainability.
Abstract (translated)
算法决策在公共高等教育中得到了越来越多的采用。随着高等学校的数据驱动实践的发展，新公共管理方法论（ neoliberal administration）也得到了采用。在这项研究中，我们对加拿大安大略省的一所公立大学的数据和算法使用进行定性分析。我们识别出学院使用的数据、算法和结果。我们评估了学院的过程和关系如何支持这些结果以及不同利益相关者对学院数据驱动系统的看法。此外，我们发现，对算法决策的日益依赖导致了对学生的过度监控，加剧了现有的不平等，并推动了教师-学生关系的自动化。最后，我们识别了一个由算法决策增加机构权力所驱动的循环，该循环由财务可持续性推动。
URL
https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.13969
