myCSUSM
2027 Social Mobility Symposium
Social Mobility: Higher Education That Delivers in the New
Economy – 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.
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
INTERESTED IN SPONSORING OR COLLABORATING? Please email Carin Barber at socialmobility@csusm.edu
*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’s theme is “Social Mobility: Higher Education That Delivers in the New Economy — Excellence, ROI, and Opportunity for the Future.”
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’s 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’ 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’s learners and tomorrow’s workforce.
WATCH: the Recording of the 2026 Webinar.
In Their Words: Reflections from Symposium Attendees
Attending the [Symposium] at [CSUSM] 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