Anders Drachen

The Wire, but for 21st century universities. Follow how idealistic students are gradually corrupted by organisational cynicism to juke the stats as they march through the system. S1: Admissions & parents. S2: Teaching. S3: Research. S4: Admin, athletics, alumni. S5: Politics.

S1: Watch our heroes succumb to the temptation of admissions test drill mills, personal essay fudging, and parental donations, while the admissions personnel is busy gaming the US News and World Ranking

S2: Witness teachers and students exchanging high grades for high student satisfaction scores, as a junior adjunct tries to grade impartially and is schooled by her vice dean about the economics of student fees, before learning that her contract gets discontinued.

S3: A postdoc learns the ropes of salami publishing, citation cartels, and shoddy stats as they investitage and sink a professor who just tried to come clean from a career of moral entrepreneurship. The season ends with the postdoc joining an old boy's clubs in grant funding.