rutaBAGA: A Visualization Approach for Bias Awareness in University Admissions

University admissions is a complex decision making process where cognitive and implicit biases, may impact the way reviewers individually and collectively make decisions. Education-based methods like training courses often have limited impact due to the subconscious nature of these biases. This paper introduces a visualization system, rutaBAGA, that promotes heightened awareness of implicit biases through real-time system interactions. The system enables reviewers to scrutinize their own processes to ensure fair and consistent review procedures. We present the results of a controlled study that shows (i) implicit racial bias correlates to observable differences in university application review behaviors and decisions and (ii) our system can affect individuals' review processes. Additionally, we present a case study where rutaBAGA was used in the 2022-2023 Ph.D. admissions cycle in the Computer Science department at a private university demonstrating rutaBAGA's potential to iteratively transform university application review processes to ensure adherence to fair procedural goals.