Sept. 10, 2026

Reverse Engineering Degrees From Tomorrow's Jobs - with Dr. James Michael Burkett, President, U.S. Operations for Northbridge University

Key Takeaways

Northbridge University is inverting the traditional higher education model by building the university around the individual student rather than forcing the student to adapt to the institution.
Dr. James Michael Burkett explains how to reverse engineer academic programs directly from five to ten-year job projections within a single local market.
Eliminating closed credit ladders is essential for preventing students from getting lost in the transfer gap and improving overall institutional retention.
Higher education must continuously innovate to align curriculum with tomorrow's jobs, ensuring graduates possess the exact skills employers demand.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Dr. James Michael Burkett, President, U.S. Operations for Northbridge University

This episode, President Series #504, is powered by ⁠⁠⁠Ellucian⁠⁠⁠ - Higher Ed's AI-Enriched Platform!

This episode is sponsored by the InsightsEDU 2027 Conference - focused on attracting & retaining the modern learner - where we will be podcasting live from February 23-25 in Phoenix, AZ! Use code EDUP & save $100! Early-bird pricing ends December 15, 2026!

This episode is also sponsored by 2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference where we will be podcasting live from October 7-9 on the campus of Yavapai College!

This episode is brought to you by Beyond Survival: Reporting from the Front Lines of Higher Education’s War for Relevance is a documentary account from the front lines of the most consequential upheaval in higher ed in generations!

YOUR cohost is Tracy Kreikemeier, Chief Relationship Officer, EducationDynamics

YOUR host is ⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What does it mean to invert the model & build the university around the student instead of the reverse?
How do you reverse engineer a program from 5 to 10 year job projections in a single local market?
Why does a closed credit ladder keep students who would otherwise be lost in the transfer gap?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dr. James Michael Burkett?

Dr. James Michael Burkett is the President of U.S. Operations for Northbridge University, where he focuses on innovative approaches to higher education and program design.

What does it mean to reverse engineer degrees from tomorrow's jobs?

It involves analyzing future job market projections five to ten years out within specific local markets and building academic degrees backward to match those exact workforce needs.

How is Northbridge University changing the traditional student experience?

Northbridge University inverts the traditional higher education model by designing the entire university structure around the student's needs instead of making the student fit into rigid institutional systems.