Should An Algorithm Decide UW Student Success?
UW Madison has started tracking students who rank at the bottom of their classes. Starting this year, a select number of undergraduates have their academic progress tracked by administrators. They’re flagged if they rank in the bottom fourth of their class for two or more classes. They’re also flagged if they have assignments more than five days late. The idea is to find the students who need extra help and get it to them, while there’s still time for them to turn it around.
But some faculty worry that matters are being taken out of their hands. Some students are concerned that taking away responsibility for their own success could be counterproductive.
Cormac LaLiberté, college news editor for The Daily Cardinal, looked into the program.
Mentioned on the show:
“UW-Madison students enrolled in data monitoring experiment without ability to opt out” [The Daily Cardinal]
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Madison
Another Madison school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict n...
Police Monitor Drama, More Parents Say No to Laptops, and Little Free DVD Library
This week, a Madison Alder made a motion for the Common Council to consider terminating the city’s contract with Interim Independent Poli...
Madison Restaurant News, Wage Gap for Latina Workers, and Nobel Prize Winner at UW
Today is Latina Equal Pay Day, which marks, on average, when in the year a working Latina woman has earned as much as a white, non-Hispan...
How the State Is Failing Disabled Wisconsinites
More than 7,000 disabled Wisconsinites are waiting for help navigating the state’s employment development program due to funding cuts. Ci...
Alders’ Group Chat Raises Eyebrows, Young Blood Taps Out at Northstreet, and Go Brewers!
Why were a dozen Madison city council members in a Signal group chat? Madison 365’s Rob Chappell broke the story last week, and on today’...
Madison’s Newest Alt Publication. Plus, Will Body Cams Prevent Police Violence?
The Yahara Flyer is a new single-sheet monthly publication in Madison from the co-founder of the now-defunct news website Tone Madison. S...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Madison
When Madison looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City...
Proposed Data Center Plan, Alleged Frat Hazing, and Mayoral Race Update
What will happen when the city’s one-year moratorium on new data centers expires in January? City officials released a draft framework th...
New Cafe Coming to Monroe Street and a Week Without Driving in Madison
A new cafe is set to open this month on Monroe Street. Waltzing Matilda’s is the newest venture from the team behind Bloom Bake Shop and...
Your Guide to October 2026 in Madison
Boo! The City Cast Madison team is here with your October guide. Host Bianca Martin, Creative Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and local comedia...