PASSWORDMANAGEMENT
2027 Social Mobility Symposium
Social Mobility: Higher Education That Delivers in the New Economy 鈥 Excellence, ROI, and Opportunity for the Future
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday and Friday, February 25 and 26, 2027, held in-person at California State University San Marcos.
As technology, artificial intelligence, and workforce demands reshape the economy, higher education faces a defining moment. Join us as we explore how colleges and universities can strengthen social mobility by helping students develop the skills, experiences and resilience needed to thrive throughout their careers. Together, we will examine how higher education can deliver excellence, economic value and opportunity in a world of constant change.
The symposium will feature an inspiring lineup of students, alumni, faculty, university presidents, superintendents, workforce innovators and leading experts on the future of work and social mobility.
INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING? Please email Carin Barber, Director of Strategic Projects at socialmobility@csusm.edu
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING? Please email Christine Andersen, Senior Director of Philanthropy at candersen@csusm.edu
DETAILED AGENDA & SPEAKER DETAILS
Coming soon!
Day 1: Thursday, February 25, 2027
- 7:30am-8:20am: Breakfast & Registration
- 8:30am: Program Begins
- 12pm-1pm: Lunch & Poster Session*
- 5pm: Program Ends with Reception Immediately Following
Day 2: Friday, February 26, 2027
- 7:45am-8:25am: Networking Breakfast
- 8:30am: Program Begins
- 12:00pm: Program Ends with Grab & Go Lunch Provided
Research and Promising Practice Poster Presentations
To share ideas and promote dialogue, we invite posters on research or promising practices
that support student success and contribute to social mobility and economic prosperity.
Posters may emphasize early childhood, K-12, higher education, and community partnerships
that promote social mobility. This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淪ocial Mobility: Higher Education
That Delivers in the New Economy 鈥 Excellence, ROI, and Opportunity for the Future.鈥
Posters can highlight in-progress and/or completed research or promising practices. We welcome both individual and collaborative posters, including partnerships across sectors. Accepted poster participants will design, print and bring their posters to the symposium. Presenters will be provided with space to display posters. During the symposium, we have a dedicated poster session time block, and we ask presenters to attend and engage with symposium attendees. The poster session will be on the first day (Thursday, Feb. 25) of the symposium around lunchtime.
Posters can highlight in-progress and/or completed research or promising practices. We welcome both individual and collaborative posters, including partnerships across sectors. Accepted poster participants will design, print and bring their posters to the symposium. Presenters will be provided with space to display posters. During the symposium, we have a dedicated poster session time block, and we ask presenters to attend and engage with symposium attendees. The poster session will be on the first day (Thursday, Feb. 25) of the symposium around lunchtime.
2026 Social Mobility Symposium
Workforce and Economic Mobility: Higher Education鈥檚 Role in Driving Opportunity
On Friday, February 6, 2026, California State University San Marcos hosted the 2026 National Social Mobility Symposium. The half-day webinar explored how colleges and universities can serve as catalysts for students鈥 lifelong success and play a role in shaping workforce and economic outcomes.
The program featured a dynamic panel discussion addressing employer expectations, talent pipelines, systemic barriers to career readiness, and national policy and innovation driving mobility. Attendees also gained insights into how institutions are evolving to meet the needs of today鈥檚 learners and tomorrow鈥檚 workforce.
WATCH: the .
In Their Words: Reflections from Symposium Attendees
Attending the [Symposium] at [糖心少女] offered me a unique opportunity to engage with thought leaders focused on how higher education can be a driving force for upward social mobility. The symposium is a testament to the transformative power of higher education in changing lives and uplifting entire communities and continues to center how we can improve access and outcomes for those who are not being effectively served.
Attendee
National Symposium
The most impactful aspects of the symposium were the incredible insights from Dr. Vargas and the powerful panel discussions. Dr. Ardoin's research data stood out as particularly inspiring, along with the voices of the students and the wisdom shared by the president's panel.
Attendee
National Symposium