Recommendations and Decisions on the Use of Institutional Data
Each item in this record documents a particular novel request to study or analyze University institutional data. A brief summary of the request is provided for context; however, the decisions and conditions specified apply to any similar request to use the same type of data.
1. Use of Canvas data to identify at-risk students
Presented Use Case: The Committee evaluated a request by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford to use a cloud-based service called Dropout Detective to analyze Canvas data for Bradford students. The solution alerts the student's academic advisor if it detects Canvas utilization patterns that indicate a student may be at risk of dropping out of school.
Decision: Canvas data may be provided to contracted University vendors if the following conditions have been met:
- The vendor has been cleared through the Vendor Security Review process.
- The contract contains confidentiality language reviewed and approved by the Office of University Counsel.
- The vendor may not use student data to train AI models.
- Student data may not be sold or transferred to third party and the data may only be used for the intended purpose.
- Students whose data is analyzed must be notified that their information will be used.
- Information used to identify at-risk students may not be used to evaluate faculty performance.
Use approved by Provost Joseph McCarthy and Vice Chancellor and CIO Mark Henderson on September 17, 2024.
2. Research Use of Graduate Student Application Data
Presented Use Case: The Committee evaluated a request from a research team in the School of Medicine to study applicant data from a specific program.
Student application data may be used for research purposes provided the following conditions are met:
- All student data used must be deidentified and this task is the responsibility of the research team.
- No person whose records are under study may be involved with the deidentification process.
Decision: Upon the recommendation of the Committee, this request was approved by Provost Joseph McCarthy and Vice Chancellor and CIO Mark Henderson on September 17, 2025.