The Report Card with Nat Malkus: What Can AI Replace in Higher Education? (with Hollis Robbins)

In this episode of The Report Card, Nat Malkus interviews Hollis Robbins, a professor of English at the University of Utah and former dean, about the transformative potential of AI in higher education. Robbins delivers a scathing critique of the current state of American higher education, particularly its general education requirements, which she argues are often taught by underqualified adjuncts in online asynchronous formats that prioritize cost and access over quality. She contends that these courses are largely a waste of time and money, especially in the age of AI, which can deliver the same 'known-knowns' far more efficiently. Robbins makes the bold case that AI should replace human instructors in general education, not because it's superior in all ways, but because it's already better than the average teaching experience. She emphasizes that the real value of higher education lies in intellectual and moral formation, critical judgment, and engagement with the frontiers of knowledge—areas where human professors still excel. The conversation explores how universities must shift from content delivery to fostering deep thinking, discussion, and personal development, with AI serving as a tool for information access. Robbins warns that universities are failing to adapt, with leadership avoiding the hard questions, and calls for systemic change driven by university presidents and state legislatures. She envisions a future where AI-powered, small-seminar models—like those at St. John's College or Covenant College—become the new standard, combining human mentorship with AI-driven knowledge delivery. Despite skepticism, Robbins remains optimistic that AI will ultimately improve higher education by forcing institutions to confront their inefficiencies and rediscover their core mission.