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CUMU Huddles

CUMU Huddles are informal, online learning communities for individuals from across the CUMU network to connect, learn, and collaborate around shared challenges and common goals. You can sign up for a CUMU Huddle at any time during the year.

Social & Economic Mobility Huddles

Higher education continues to be the strongest avenue for upward social and economic mobility and, as CUMU institutions, we have a unique and significant role to play in serving diverse students and helping them succeed across the graduation finish line. With COVID-19 and its many interconnected impacts continuing to place barriers in front of students, how are we rethinking our services, programs and other student-facing processes with fresh eyes and a student-ready perspective? And how are these efforts increasing our students’ capacity to transcend barriers faced by earlier generations and unlock their potential for lifelong success?

  • March 10, 2023 

    Title: Advancing the Social and Economic Mobility of Undocumented Students in Higher Education​.  

    Presenter: Josefina Espino, Coordinator DREAMer Resource Office at California State University San Marcos. 

    Abstract: Undocumented students face a variety of challenges to achieving the social and economic mobility that a college degree can help make possible. By providing individualized wrap-around holistic services to students, faculty, and staff who are undocumented or come from mixed-status families, and their immediate family members, the DREAMER Resource Office at CSU San Marcos assists them in overcoming these challenges. During this session participants will explore promising practices with evidence of effectiveness that could be adapted for implementation at their home institutions.  

  • April 25, 2023 

    Title: How to Center Students’ Mental Well-Being to Better Advance Social and Economic Mobility in Higher Education.    

     Presenter: Dr. Jason Schreiber, AVP & Dean of Students at California State University San Marcos. 

     Abstract: As institutions focus more on holistic student well-being as a means of supporting undergraduates, many campus leaders wonder where to start in initiating a well-being program. This workshop provided attendees with case studies of how one campus has supported student mental well-being across the co-curriculum.   

  • June 21, 2023 

    Title: Building Structures to Support Outreach, Belonging, and Success for Black Students.   

    Presenters: Rosa Barr-Williams, Coordinator for Strategic Partnerships, Shanelle Watkins, Black Student Success Initiatives Coordinator at California State University San Marcos. 

    Abstract: Participants explored some of the promising practices being implemented at California State University San Marcos to promote access and success for Black students of our region. During this session, the presenters shared lessons learned around community partner coalition building, nurturing a sense of belonging and engagement with the campus, and targeted efforts to enhance student success and empowerment on their pathway towards achieving social mobility through a college education. Participants had the opportunity to share their own promising practices as part of this community of learners.   

  • August 2, 2023 

    Title: Leveraging an Innovation Hub as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Mobility.   

    Presenter: Dr. Scott Gross, Associate Vice President for Industry Partnerships at California State University San Marcos. 

     Abstract: California State University San Marcos aspires to enhance its culture of innovation and entrepreneurship as a pathway to social and economic mobility. During this session the presenter shared a theoretical framework for appreciating the complexity of an innovation ecosystem and explored how it impacts social mobility.  He then described current efforts to build infrastructure and activities that will contribute to a thriving ecosystem.  In the spirit of an interactive session where we can exchange ideas and lessons learned, the content shared aimed to serve as a catalyst for conversation.   

  • October 15, 2023 

    Title: Developing Resiliency, Grit, and a Growth Mindset for K-16 Students to Pursue Social and Economic Mobility.  

    Presenters: Dr. Patricia Prado-Olmos, Chief Community Engagement Officer, Dr. Viridiana Diaz, Vice President for Student Affairs at California State University San Marcos. 

    Abstract: This CUMU Huddle explored how campuses are increasing students’ capacity to transcend barriers faced by earlier generations and unlock their potential for lifelong success. During this session participants built a common definition of social and economic mobility and linked the concept to their home institution by sharing ideas, program strategies, and best practices. The presenters shared the California State University San Marcos framework for promoting social and economic mobility and discussed it’s Alliance to Accelerate Excellence in Education program as a promising practice. 

  • December 13, 2023 

    Title: First-Year Student Initiatives to Support Degree Completion as a Catalyst for Social and Economic Mobility.   

    Presenters:  Dr. Dawn M. Formo, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Adam Petersen, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Ashley Gragido, UNIV Faculty Coordinator, First-Year and University Programs, Marnie Eldridge, Director of First-Year and University Programs 

    Abstract: Across its work in Academic Support, Experiential Learning, and its academic department First-Year and University Programs, the Office of Undergraduate Studies (OUGS) at CSU San Marcos is focused on student success and tasked with increasing retention and graduation rates at the University. Much of this work over the last several years has focused on developing students' academic resiliency, helping them to understand challenge as the heart of learning and reframing struggle as necessary for growth. In this session, we discuss how we have adopted this reframing as not only transformative for students but for the institution as a whole, recognizing that real work toward social mobility requires engaging with the very real challenges our students face, not just through scaffolded support but through the curriculum.