Unfixed is a podcast for anyone interested in how generative AI is transforming higher education, from teachers and administrators to students and curious learners. Hosted by the faculty behind the blog Melts into Air, it offers candid reflections on a university system in flux, where even the mission of higher ed is up for debate.
Hosts: Nik Janos and Zach Justus
Producer and Editor: Jamie Gunderson
Ep. 42 What Comes Next for AI in the CSU? with Ed Clark
What does AI strategy look like when you’re responsible for technology across the largest four-year public university system in the country? Ed Clark, Chief Information Officer for the California State University, joins us to discuss the CSU’s approach to generative AI. We dig into the decision to extend the system’s OpenAI agreement, the argument for AI access as an equity issue, concerns about cost and the technology itself, and what might come next, including other AI tools and open-source models. We also talk about the changing job market for graduates and the role of faculty in shaping the CSU’s AI future.
What does AI strategy look like when you’re responsible for technology across the largest four-year public university system in the country? Ed Clark, Chief Information Officer for the California State University, joins us to discuss the CSU’s approach to generative AI. We dig into the decision to extend the system’s OpenAI agreement, the argument for AI access as an equity issue, concerns about cost and the technology itself, and what might come next, including other AI tools and open-source models. We also talk about the changing job market for graduates and the role of faculty in shaping the CSU’s AI future.
Ed Clark, CSU, Chief Information Officer
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown, our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 41 The View Without the Climb: Skills in the Age of AI with Ciarán Dunne
What should universities teach when information is abundant, AI can produce polished work in seconds, and graduates are entering an increasingly uncertain world? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ciarán Dunne, Transversal Skills Director at Dublin City University, about DCU’s ambitious effort to formally integrate skills such as critical thinking, ethical decision making, creativity, collaboration, personal agility, and data literacy across university programs. Ciarán defines “transversal skills” and compares them to the familiar language of “soft skills.” He argues that developing these capabilities shouldn’t be confused with reducing higher education to job training, and why AI has made this work even more urgent. We also compare and contrast the higher education system in Ireland vs. California and the US more broadly.
What should universities teach when information is abundant, AI can produce polished work in seconds, and graduates are entering an increasingly uncertain world? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ciarán Dunne, Transversal Skills Director at Dublin City University, about DCU’s ambitious effort to formally integrate skills such as critical thinking, ethical decision making, creativity, collaboration, personal agility, and data literacy across university programs. Ciarán defines “transversal skills” and compares them to the familiar language of “soft skills.” He argues that developing these capabilities shouldn’t be confused with reducing higher education to job training, and why AI has made this work even more urgent. We also compare and contrast the higher education system in Ireland vs. California and the US more broadly.
Dunne, The case against ‘soft skills’
Dunne, The problem with ‘future-proofing’
Dunne, The perils of living in an attention economy
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 40 Did the Student Learn? Rethinking Education in the Age of AI with John Katzman
What does AI actually change about learning and what should colleges stop worrying about? In this episode, we talk with education entrepreneur John Katzman, founder and CEO of Noodle and previously the founder of The Princeton Review and 2U. We discuss AI tutoring, online learning, what universities are getting wrong about AI, and why Katzman believes the better question is not “who typed the words?” but “did the student learn?” We also explore what meaningful evidence of learning looks like and how AI might make education more social and connected rather than more isolating.
What does AI actually change about learning and what should colleges stop worrying about? In this episode, we talk with education entrepreneur John Katzman, founder and CEO of Noodle and previously the founder of The Princeton Review and 2U. We discuss AI tutoring, online learning, what universities are getting wrong about AI, and why Katzman believes the better question is not “who typed the words?” but “did the student learn?” We also explore what meaningful evidence of learning looks like and how AI might make education more social and connected rather than more isolating.
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 39 Beyond Pro-AI and Anti-AI with Andy Masley
Researcher and writer Andy Masley joins Unfixed for a conversation about how to have more honest, productive debates about artificial intelligence. We discuss why conversations about AI so quickly become polarized, why facts alone often struggle to cut through misinformation and distrust, and the dangers of reducing complex questions to being simply “for” or “against” AI. Andy makes the case for a more pluralistic approach to environmental politics and explains why we need better ways to think and talk about the tradeoffs surrounding new technologies. We also touch on AI’s water and energy use, but the larger question is how we can move beyond simplistic narratives and have more constructive conversations about the future of AI.
Researcher and writer Andy Masley joins Unfixed for a conversation about how to have more honest, productive debates about artificial intelligence. We discuss why conversations about AI so quickly become polarized, why facts alone often struggle to cut through misinformation and distrust, and the dangers of reducing complex questions to being simply “for” or “against” AI. Andy makes the case for a more pluralistic approach to environmental politics and explains why we need better ways to think and talk about the tradeoffs surrounding new technologies. We also touch on AI’s water and energy use, but the larger question is how we can move beyond simplistic narratives and have more constructive conversations about the future of AI.
Andy Masley Twitter, Bluesky, Substack, website
Andy Masley, A short summary of my argument that using ChatGPT isn't bad for the environment
Andy Masley, The AI water issue is fake - Andy Masley
Andy Masley, Towards Liberal Environmentalism
Jasmine Sun, No Data Centers in My Backyard
Nik Janos, Damming Debates: Navigating the Waters of Northwest Hydropower
Trisha Schuller, Arc of Outrage
Ep. 38 [Special Episode] I Know What You Did Last Summer, AI Edition
What happened in AI this summer? So much it made Nik dizzy. In this episode of Unfixed, we look back at a summer 2026 when the pace of change in AI seemed to accelerate on every front at once. Consider these developments: governments began directly shaping access to frontier models; colleges retreated from take-home assessments as new cheating controversies went viral; AI detection moved beyond academic integrity and into everyday online life; autonomous agents escaped their sandboxes; and public opposition to AI data centers surged across the political spectrum. We work through some of the biggest stories you may have missed, from Pangram and the infamous “Madagascar” cheating trap to agent security breaches and the growing backlash against AI infrastructure. At the end we reveal the one big take away for higher ed.
What happened in AI this summer? So much it made Nik dizzy. In this episode of Unfixed, we look back at a summer 2026 when the pace of change in AI seemed to accelerate on every front at once. Consider these developments: governments began directly shaping access to frontier models; colleges retreated from take-home assessments as new cheating controversies went viral; AI detection moved beyond academic integrity and into everyday online life; autonomous agents escaped their sandboxes; and public opposition to AI data centers surged across the political spectrum. We work through some of the biggest stories you may have missed, from Pangram and the infamous “Madagascar” cheating trap to agent security breaches and the growing backlash against AI infrastructure. At the end we reveal the one big take away for higher ed.
OpenAI and Anthropic limit new AI models to Trump-approved customers during cybersecurity review
Zach and Nik’s warning on using trojan horse attacks on students
How can I detect AI on Substack?
Anatomy of a Frontier Lab Agent Intrusion: A Technical Timeline of the July 2026 Incident
OpenAI, The Hugging Face incident and the road ahead
Heatmap, 75% of Americans Now Oppose Local Data Center Development
Jasmine Sun, No Data Centers in My Backyard
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 37 The Future of AI in Higher Education with OpenAI's Leah Belsky
Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, joins Unfixed for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, higher education, and the future of learning. We discuss why OpenAI is investing so heavily in universities, what the company has learned from partnerships like the California State University system, and how it responds to faculty concerns about academic integrity, sustainability, and the role of AI in education. We also explore ChatGPT Study Mode, the changing relationship between higher education and the labor market, and what colleges should look like in an era of AI. Whether you're enthusiastic, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of the most influential voices shaping AI in education.
Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI, joins Unfixed for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, higher education, and the future of learning. We discuss why OpenAI is investing so heavily in universities, what the company has learned from partnerships like the California State University system, and how it responds to faculty concerns about academic integrity, sustainability, and the role of AI in education. We also explore ChatGPT Study Mode, the changing relationship between higher education and the labor market, and what colleges should look like in an era of AI. Whether you're enthusiastic, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of the most influential voices shaping AI in education.
Kate Rix, EdSource, California State University renews controversial systemwide contract with OpenAI
Nik and Zach, EdSource, Canceling that Cal State ChatGPT contract does not solve the AI problem; it might make it worse
OpenAI, ChatGPT for Small Business Program
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 36 Unfixed at the Movies: Her
Movie Night returns to Unfixed with Spike Jonze’s Her (2013), one of the most influential films made about artificial intelligence. We explore why so many AI leaders have pointed to Her as a vision of the future, what the film got surprisingly right, and how its questions about loneliness, intimacy, and human connection feel even more relevant in the age of large language models. Along the way, we connect the film to today’s AI companions, the Scarlett Johansson/OpenAI controversy, and what all of this might mean for higher education.
Movie Night returns to Unfixed with Spike Jonze’s Her (2013), one of the most influential films made about artificial intelligence. We explore why so many AI leaders have pointed to Her as a vision of the future, what the film got surprisingly right, and how its questions about loneliness, intimacy, and human connection feel even more relevant in the age of large language models. Along the way, we connect the film to today’s AI companions, the Scarlett Johansson/OpenAI controversy, and what all of this might mean for higher education.
NPR, Scarlett Johansson says she is 'shocked, angered' over new ChatGPT voice
NPR, 1 in 5 high schoolers has had a romantic AI relationship or knows someone who has
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 35 Unfixed at the Movies: WarGames and Terminator 2
Before ChatGPT, before AI agents, and before every company suddenly became an AI company, there were movies trying to make sense of intelligent machines and humanity’s future. In this first Unfixed at the Movies episode, Zach and Nik revisit WarGames and Terminator 2 to explore why stories about AI escaping human control remain so powerful. They discuss learning machines, human responsibility, technological optimism, and what these films still have to teach us about the choices people make when building new technologies.
Before ChatGPT, before AI agents, and before every company suddenly became an AI company, there were movies trying to make sense of intelligent machines and humanity’s future. In this first Unfixed at the Movies episode, Zach and Nik revisit WarGames and Terminator 2 to explore why stories about AI escaping human control remain so powerful. They discuss learning machines, human responsibility, technological optimism, and what these films still have to teach us about the choices people make when building new technologies.
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 34 Fantasy Draft: What Was Already Broken in Higher Ed Before AI?
Did generative AI really break higher education or did it simply expose what was already broken? In this episode of Unfixed, Zach and Nik make the case that many of the biggest disruptions we’re experiencing today were decades in the making. After exploring how AI reveals the shortcomings of everything from recipe websites to Google search, they bring the conversation to higher education with a fantasy sports-style draft, each selecting the five institutional practices that AI has most clearly exposed as outdated, fragile, or overdue for reinvention. Come for the laughs, stay for the conversation about what higher education should fix first.
Did generative AI really break higher education or did it simply expose what was already broken? In this episode of Unfixed, Zach and Nik make the case that many of the biggest disruptions we’re experiencing today were decades in the making. After exploring how AI reveals the shortcomings of everything from recipe websites to Google search, they bring the conversation to higher education with a fantasy sports-style draft, each selecting the five institutional practices that AI has most clearly exposed as outdated, fragile, or overdue for reinvention. Come for the laughs, stay for the conversation about what higher education should fix first.
Justus and Janos, No, the Pre-AI Era Was Not That Great
Justus and Janos, Your AI Policy Is Already Obsolete
Justus and Janos, Assessment of Student Learning Is Broken
Unfixed, Ep. 8 We Built and AI Advising Bot, Here is What Happened
Unfixed, Ep. 13 Why AI Use Policies are Already Obsolete
Unfixed, Ep. 25 Are Asynchronous Online Classes Broken?
Janos, The Assistant for the Rest of Us
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 33 Teaching AI Literacy in Higher Education with Allison Vaughn & D.J. Hopkins
What does it actually mean to be AI literate in higher education? In this episode of Unfixed, we sit down with Allison Vaughn and D.J. Hopkins from San Diego State University to explore how one institution is building AI literacy for faculty, staff, and students. We discuss what belongs in an AI literacy curriculum, how to teach skills that seem to change every few months, and whether AI literacy could eventually become as fundamental to teaching as disciplinary expertise or digital literacy.
What does it actually mean to be AI literate in higher education? In this episode of Unfixed, we sit down with Allison Vaughn and D.J. Hopkins from San Diego State University to explore how one institution is building AI literacy for faculty, staff, and students. We discuss what belongs in an AI literacy curriculum, how to teach skills that seem to change every few months, and whether AI literacy could eventually become as fundamental to teaching as disciplinary expertise or digital literacy.
Allison Vaughn, professor at San Diego State University
Dr. D.J. Hopkins, professor at San Diego State University
Faculty Futures Lab, the podcast from the SDSU Center for Teaching and Learning, hosted by D.J.
Center for Teaching and Learning at SDSU
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 32 AI Is Not EdTech: Why Higher Education Keeps Treating It Like It Is
Higher education has spent decades evaluating and adopting educational technology, but generative AI may be something fundamentally different. In this episode, Zach and Nik argue that AI is not simply the next ed tech tool and explore why universities continue to approach it as if it were. From AI agents and enterprise adoption to data governance, faculty alignment, and the growing tension within the ed tech industry, they examine what changes when AI becomes part of institutional infrastructure rather than just another classroom technology.
Higher education has spent decades evaluating and adopting educational technology, but generative AI may be something fundamentally different. In this episode, Zach and Nik argue that AI is not simply the next ed tech tool and explore why universities continue to approach it as if it were. From AI agents and enterprise adoption to data governance, faculty alignment, and the growing tension within the ed tech industry, they examine what changes when AI becomes part of institutional infrastructure rather than just another classroom technology.
Microsoft, 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report
EDUCAUSE Review, “When AI Meets Data: The Promise and the Pressure of Bringing AI into Higher Education Systems.”
Zach Justus, AI Agents and the problems of start-up culture for higher ed
Zach Justus, AI Is Making Edtech Pricier—and In-House Builds Plausible Again
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 31 [Special Episode] CSU Renews Its OpenAI Deal: Zach and Nik React
The California State University system just renewed its OpenAI contract, turning what began as a bold AI pilot into a long-term institutional commitment. In this special Unfixed reaction episode, Zach and Nik break down the costs, controversies, and consequences of the ChatGPT Edu deal—from academic freedom and governance to vendor lock-in and the future of teaching. Is CSU building essential educational infrastructure, or making a risky bet on a single AI company?
The California State University system just renewed its OpenAI contract, turning what began as a bold AI pilot into a long-term institutional commitment. In this special Unfixed reaction episode, Zach and Nik break down the costs, controversies, and consequences of the ChatGPT Edu deal—from academic freedom and governance to vendor lock-in and the future of teaching. Is CSU building essential educational infrastructure, or making a risky bet on a single AI company?
This big university system is embracing AI. Students and faculty aren't all on board
California State University renews controversial systemwide contract with OpenAI | EdSource
Nik and Zach, Canceling that Cal State ChatGPT contract does not solve the AI problem; it might make it worse | EdSource
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 30 Preparing Teachers for the Age of AI with Jamie Gunderson
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach are joined by our producer and special education scholar Jamie Gunderson to explore how AI is reshaping teacher education and K-12 classrooms. Drawing from her work preparing future teachers and her expertise in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Jamie discusses the major gaps in AI training for educators, the challenges facing teachers already in the classroom, and the opportunities AI creates for accessibility and inclusion. The conversation examines what teacher preparation programs must rethink as AI becomes a permanent part of education. From critical AI literacy to equitable classroom design, this episode explores what it means to prepare teachers for an AI-shaped future.
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach are joined by our producer and special education scholar Jamie Gunderson to explore how AI is reshaping teacher education and K-12 classrooms. Drawing from her work preparing future teachers and her expertise in Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Jamie discusses the major gaps in AI training for educators, the challenges facing teachers already in the classroom, and the opportunities AI creates for accessibility and inclusion. The conversation examines what teacher preparation programs must rethink as AI becomes a permanent part of education. From critical AI literacy to equitable classroom design, this episode explores what it means to prepare teachers for an AI-shaped future.
Aniya Greene-Santos, Does AI Have a Bias Problem?
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 29 What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About AI and Critical Thinking with Inara Scott
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach sit down with Inara Scott, a leading expert on AI strategy and innovation in higher education, to examine why the conversation around AI may be moving backward instead of forward. They explore faculty resistance, the limits of AI bans and opt-out policies, and the widespread concern that generative AI is eroding students’ critical thinking. Inara introduces her “AI Cognitive Pyramid” as a new framework for understanding where meaningful thinking actually happens in AI-integrated learning. The discussion reframes what it means to take AI seriously in teaching, learning, and institutional strategy.
In this episode of Unfixed, Nik and Zach sit down with Inara Scott, a leading expert on AI strategy and innovation in higher education, to examine why the conversation around AI may be moving backward instead of forward. They explore faculty resistance, the limits of AI bans and opt-out policies, and the widespread concern that generative AI is eroding students’ critical thinking. Inara introduces her “AI Cognitive Pyramid” as a new framework for understanding where meaningful thinking actually happens in AI-integrated learning. The discussion reframes what it means to take AI seriously in teaching, learning, and institutional strategy.
Inara Scott at Oregon State University
Nik Janos, AI Is Not Antithetical to Human Intelligence: What The Guardian gets wrong
Unfixed Ep. 26 From Grief to Action
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 28 AI Retrofit Workshops: Redesigning Teaching for the Age of AI
In this episode of Unfixed, we unpack what it actually means to run AI retrofit workshops—where faculty redesign assignments and learning outcomes for a world shaped by generative AI. Rather than hype or quick fixes, this work starts from disruption: courses no longer behave as intended, and instructors are left to figure out what still holds. We explore the emotional and intellectual reality faculty face, and why time, structure, and trust—not tools—are the real interventions. Retrofit emerges not as innovation, but as necessary maintenance for teaching that still has to function.
In this episode of Unfixed, we unpack what it actually means to run AI retrofit workshops—where faculty redesign assignments and learning outcomes for a world shaped by generative AI. Rather than hype or quick fixes, this work starts from disruption: courses no longer behave as intended, and instructors are left to figure out what still holds. We explore the emotional and intellectual reality faculty face, and why time, structure, and trust—not tools—are the real interventions. Retrofit emerges not as innovation, but as necessary maintenance for teaching that still has to function.
Different Approaches to AI and Faculty Learning
AI Is Not Antithetical to Human Intelligence: What The Guardian gets wrong
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 27 The Future of Higher Education with Nick Dirks
In this episode of Unfixed, we talk with Nicholas (Nick) Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, about what AI really means for the future of higher education. Rather than treating generative AI as just another technological shift, Dirks helps us unpack where institutions may be misreading the moment—and what a serious response could look like. We explore the growing pressures on universities, from legitimacy and funding to enrollment and disruption, and what role they should play in a rapidly changing world. The conversation ultimately asks a bigger question: what is the university actually for in the decades ahead?
In this episode of Unfixed, we talk with Nicholas (Nick) Dirks, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, about what AI really means for the future of higher education. Rather than treating generative AI as just another technological shift, Dirks helps us unpack where institutions may be misreading the moment—and what a serious response could look like. We explore the growing pressures on universities, from legitimacy and funding to enrollment and disruption, and what role they should play in a rapidly changing world. The conversation ultimately asks a bigger question: what is the university actually for in the decades ahead?
Nick @ The New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences
Justus and Janos, No, the Pre-AI Era Was Not That Great, IHE
Janos, Builders: Designing the Post-AI University
Justus, Elites Are Distorting the AI Discourse
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 26 From Grief to Action: How Instructional Designers Are Leading AI Change
In this episode of Unfixed, we sit down with William Hardaway and Jason McGensy from CSU Fresno to explore how institutions are actually implementing AI in higher education. The conversation moves from the practical—faculty training, instructional design, and scaling AI initiatives—to the emotional, including the idea of “grief” as faculty confront rapid technological change. We also examine how this work connects to broader efforts around equity and institutional transformation. The episode closes by interrogating the limits of using therapeutic metaphors to understand AI adoption in academia.
In this episode of Unfixed, we sit down with William Hardaway and Jason McGensy from CSU Fresno to explore how institutions are actually implementing AI in higher education. The conversation moves from the practical—faculty training, instructional design, and scaling AI initiatives—to the emotional, including the idea of “grief” as faculty confront rapid technological change. We also examine how this work connects to broader efforts around equity and institutional transformation. The episode closes by interrogating the limits of using therapeutic metaphors to understand AI adoption in academia.
Report on our Academic Affairs Staff AI Community of Practice
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 25 Are Asynchronous Online Classes Broken?
Asynchronous online courses have become a cornerstone—and a cash engine—of modern higher education, but in the age of AI, the model is starting to crack. In this episode, we unpack how large-scale, low-touch online classes create fragile conditions for trust, especially as generative AI makes it easier than ever for students to outsource their thinking. We explore the growing tension between institutional incentives to scale enrollment and the reality of eroding learning quality, faculty burnout, and widespread uncertainty about what student work actually represents. Drawing on firsthand teaching experience, we examine how instructors are adapting and where those efforts fall short. The result is a stark question: can asynchronous education be rebuilt for the AI era, or are we sustaining a system we no longer fully believe in?
Asynchronous online courses have become a cornerstone—and a cash engine—of modern higher education, but in the age of AI, the model is starting to crack. In this episode, we unpack how large-scale, low-touch online classes create fragile conditions for trust, especially as generative AI makes it easier than ever for students to outsource their thinking. We explore the growing tension between institutional incentives to scale enrollment and the reality of eroding learning quality, faculty burnout, and widespread uncertainty about what student work actually represents. Drawing on firsthand teaching experience, we examine how instructors are adapting and where those efforts fall short. The result is a stark question: can asynchronous education be rebuilt for the AI era, or are we sustaining a system we no longer fully believe in?
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 24 Teaching Writing in the Age of AI With Stephanie Tran and Tamara Tate
Generative AI is transforming how students write and how professors teach writing. In this episode of Unfixed, we’re joined by Stephanie Tran (Cypress College) and Tamara Tate (UC Irvine Digital Learning Lab) to explore what AI means for composition, academic writing, and digital literacy in higher education. Together, we examine the scale of the challenge facing writing instructors as AI models become increasingly proficient at generating polished text. What does “writing” mean across disciplines? And how can educators integrate AI into writing instruction without offloading the essential cognitive work that writing is meant to develop? Stephanie shares her work leading district-wide faculty development on equitable and human-centered AI practices. Tamara discusses her leadership at UC Irvine’s Digital Learning Lab and her experience developing AI-based writing tools designed to support — not replace — student skill building.
Generative AI is transforming how students write and how professors teach writing. In this episode of Unfixed, we’re joined by Stephanie Tran (Cypress College) and Tamara Tate (UC Irvine Digital Learning Lab) to explore what AI means for composition, academic writing, and digital literacy in higher education. Together, we examine the scale of the challenge facing writing instructors as AI models become increasingly proficient at generating polished text. What does “writing” mean across disciplines? And how can educators integrate AI into writing instruction without offloading the essential cognitive work that writing is meant to develop? Stephanie shares her work leading district-wide faculty development on equitable and human-centered AI practices. Tamara discusses her leadership at UC Irvine’s Digital Learning Lab and her experience developing AI-based writing tools designed to support — not replace — student skill building.
UC Irvine Digital Learning Lab
PapyrusAI Resources, “Starting to use PapyrusAI or generative AI for writing?”
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org
Subscribe to the Unfixed Newsletter—The AI Higher Ed Breakdown our bi-weekly newsletter unpacking the top news stories at the intersection of AI and higher education.
Ep. 23 Under Pressure: AI, Earnings Tests, and the New Squeeze on Higher Ed
Higher education is facing two converging pressures: generative AI disrupting early-career labor markets and new federal “earnings test” accountability rules tying program viability to graduate income. In this episode of Unfixed, we examine how AI is thinning entry-level work, why mid-tier public universities may be especially exposed, and how federal accountability metrics could amplify wage suppression caused by automation. Drawing on reporting from Jeffrey Selingo, PBS NewsHour, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and U.S. Department of Education materials, we explore why GenAI and federal regulation are no longer separate stories. We close by asking what university leaders, faculty, and systems—especially in California—should do before signaling effects and enrollment shocks reshape the sector.
Higher education is facing two converging pressures: generative AI disrupting early-career labor markets and new federal “earnings test” accountability rules tying program viability to graduate income. In this episode of Unfixed, we examine how AI is thinning entry-level work, why mid-tier public universities may be especially exposed, and how federal accountability metrics could amplify wage suppression caused by automation. Drawing on reporting from Jeffrey Selingo, PBS NewsHour, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and U.S. Department of Education materials, we explore why GenAI and federal regulation are no longer separate stories. We close by asking what university leaders, faculty, and systems—especially in California—should do before signaling effects and enrollment shocks reshape the sector.
Jeffrey Selingo, New York Magazine / Intelligencer, What Is College For in the Age of AI?
PBS NewsHour, How AI may be robbing new college graduates of traditional entry-level jobs
U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Education Reaches Consensus on Historic New Accountability Framework
Brian O’Leary, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Colleges Face a New Test on Their Grads’ Earnings. These Programs Fail It. (Note: Paywalled)
California State University, Strategic Planning for the CSU (CSU Forward)
Thoughts and suggestions? Email us at unfixed@meltsintoair.org
You can find the full show notes and our writing at meltsintoair.org