AI Won’t Fix Higher Ed but It Might Force Us To with Dr. Nik Janos

AI isn’t just changing how students complete assignments—it’s forcing colleges to rethink everything from course design to institutional purpose. In this episode, Dr. Nik Janos, sociology professor at California State University, Chico, joins Pete and Stephanie to talk about what higher ed needs to confront in the age of AI. From assessment systems written before the internet to the collapse of the TA pipeline, they explore what’s becoming obsolete, what still matters, and how backward design can help educators rebuild with intention.