For too long, the national conversation on higher education has revolved around only elite and highly selective institutions, despite the fact that they serve only a fraction of students. According to Cal State San Marcos President Ellen Neufeldt, the purpose of higher education must include lifting students up, rather than keeping them out.
“As one of the top-ranked universities in the nation for social mobility, Cal State San Marcos is leading the charge to redefine student success, meet workforce demands and ensure that the American dream is within reach for more students and their families,” Neufeldt said.
To that end, CSUSM will host its national symposium on social mobility this month, bringing together leaders from across the country to discuss the future of higher education and the role it plays in advancing the social mobility of college graduates, as well as challenging longstanding rankings and policies that reward universities for selectivity and exclusivity.
The 2025 National Social Mobility Symposium will take place Feb. 20-21 on CSUSM’s campus, with a sold-out crowd of 400 of the nation's top thinkers, policymakers and education leaders.
The theme of the symposium this year is “Driving Social and Economic Mobility: Evolving Rankings, Shaping Policy and Building a Workforce for the Future.”
The keynote speaker on Thursday, Feb. 20 will be Nate Hilger, a nationally renowned author and economist who wrote the 2022 book “The Parent Trap: How to Stop Overloading Parents and Fix Our Inequality Crisis.” The keynote on Friday, Feb. 21 is Alejandra Campoverdi, author of “FIRST GEN: A Memoir” and the first White House deputy director of Hispanic media for President Barack Obama.
Some of the topics that will be explored at the symposium include:
- the intersection of social mobility and inclusive economic excellence in local communities;
- how rankings impact social mobility efforts on campuses;
- professional and personal perspectives being shared by students, alumni, faculty, university presidents and thought leaders;
- innovative and promising approaches to supporting student success through partnerships with businesses, K-12 schools, nonprofits and the community at large.
Other highlights of the symposium include hearing from distinguished leaders in K-16 education, such as Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities Board Chair and University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik, Ph.D., American Association of State Colleges and Universities President Charles L. Welch, and California State University Chancellor Mildred García.
Social mobility is defined as the ability of an individual or family to move up in social and economic status compared to their parents or previous generations, often measured by factors like income, occupation and education level.
CSUSM is a national leader in social mobility, consistently earning top rankings in the CollegeNET Social Mobility Index. Currently, the university is ranked No. 2 out of more than 1,200 schools, and it secured the No. 1 spot in 2022 – an achievement that underscores its unwavering dedication to student success and economic mobility.
Neufeldt, who is in her sixth year as CSUSM’s president, has long been recognized as a national leader in social mobility, going back to her previous stint as an administrator at Old Dominion University in Virginia.
What: 2025 National Social Mobility Symposium (event agenda)
Where: Cal State San Marcos’ University Student Union, 595 Campus View Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069
When: Thursday, Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, Feb. 21, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Parking: Media with proper credentials displayed may park in Campus Way Circle (navigate to 595 Campus View Drive, San Marcos, CA 92069)
Media: If you would like to attend, please contact Jerry McCormick, director of strategic communications, at JMcCormick@csusm.edu or 619-549-9438.
Latest News Release
- Mural Unveiling Highlights CSUSM's Ties to Native CommunityAfter giving a presentation at a local conference about equity in education in 2023, Eric Tippeconnic was approached by a middle school teacher from Bonsall. Tippeconnic, an artist and American Indian studies professor at Cal State San Marcos, had spoken to the audience about one of his specialties: the use of murals to portray land acknowledgements visually. And having been inspired by the talk, the teacher, Domingo Anguiano, wanted Tippeconnic to bring a visual land acknowledgement to his school, Sullivan Middle in Bonsall. Two years later, the vision that was born that day has become a reality. On April 23, Tippeconnic was among a crowd of about 250 people who watched the unveiling of his mural – which doubles as a land acknowledgment – in the courtyard between Sullivan Middle and Bonsall High School. Among the others in attendance were two CSUSM administrators, Provost Carl Kemnitz and Chief Community Engagement Officer Patricia Prado-Olmos; Joely Proudfit, chair of the American Indian studies department and director of the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center; Brandon Johnson, vice chair of the Pala Band of Mission Indians; Heather Golly, superintendent of Bonsall Unified School District; Joseph Clevenger, assistant superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education; and guests from various Native communities in Southern California. “This mural represents a school district making a significant step by centering the first peoples of this land,” Tippeconnic said. “A visual land acknowledgment is a more tangible and permanent step to include the original peoples of this land in the historical narrative.” After Anguiano met Tippeconnic at the conference, he invited him to Bonsall to talk to school officials and teachers about the project. Once it had been approved, Anguiano introduced Tippeconnic to Native students from the district who had expressed a desire to be involved in the mural. Last May, 10 students (five boys and five girls) participated in a photo shoot during which they sang Native bird songs and danced. Tippeconnic took those photos and rendered a composite drawing, which he then used as a guide for the mural. During the unveiling event, those same students depicted in the mural danced in front of their own images on the wall. “That was the absolute highlight for me,” Tippeconnic said. “It truly captured the spirit of the day. The positive feelings and vibrations were palpable.” Since the partnership with Bonsall began, Tippeconnic said, more than 30 Native students from the district who are considering college have visited CSUSM to tour campus and the CICSC. An enrolled member of the Comanche Nation, Tippeconnic is no stranger to visual land acknowledgements. Three years ago, he created an exhibit titled “Our Existence Is Our Resistance” in the CSUSM library that was entirely dedicated to the subject. “Native peoples, including those indigenous to California, have been systematically erased from U.S. history and are conspicuously absent from mainstream educational curriculum,” said Tippeconnic, who has been a tenure-track professor at CSUSM since 2020. “The Bonsall mural is a significant gesture to convey that inclusion and representation matter.” Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306
- Psychology Student Takes First Place at State CompetitionPsychological science student Bianca Delia was awarded first place in Behavioral, Social Sciences & Public Administration (undergraduate) at the 39th Annual CSU Statewide Research Competition last month. The event, which was held at Cal Poly Humboldt, brings together scholars from each of the 23 California State University campuses to showcase undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship and creative works. The top 10 projects from the CSUSM Symposium on Student Research, Creative Activities, and Innovation moved on to the statewide competition. Delia, a third-year student with a data science minor, was first drawn to neuroscience while taking professor Yasmine Sherafat’s biopsychology course in 2023. She then joined the research lab. Delia’s project investigated the role of NACHO, a critical chaperone protein that enables the expression and function of nicotinic receptors in the brain. Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- CALM Program Helps Reduce Textbook Costs, Saving Students MillionsWhen Cal State San Marcos students were asked how they'd spend the money saved by not having to buy textbooks, many said rent, food and even life-saving medication. Their responses showed that textbook costs are a financial burden for students struggling to afford basic necessities. The Cougars Affordable Learning Materials (CALM) program, managed by the University Library, has a solution. The CALM team works with faculty to adopt the use of low- and no-cost textbooks. This year alone, the CALM program saved students more than $4.6 million. The CALM team and CSUSM faculty across campus have reduced or eliminated the costs of textbooks for over 1,000 courses. To recognize participating faculty, the University Library hosted a CALM Faculty Awardees event on April 24. The 2024-25 CALM Faculty Awardees are Christopher Hardnack, George Brusch, Heather Cook, Kathy Fuller, Shannon Baker, Shannon Nolan-Arañez and Suzanna Krivulskaya. To see how much money each of these faculty helped students save, visit the CALM Faculty Awardees webpage. Fuller, a human development faculty member, is a CALM Hero. She CALMed five courses and saved students over $16,000 this academic year. Brusch CALMed five courses in the biology department, saving students almost $13,000. Asked what motivated him to use Open Educational Resources (OER) or low-cost textbooks, he said: "My major motivation for using an open-source textbook is because it is free. This alleviates the financial burden on students, making education more accessible and equitable.” CALM is part of the CSU Affordable Learning Solutions initiative started in 2010. The library’s CALM team – led by Kelly Ann Sam, interim head of user services and textbook affordability lead – aids faculty in replacing costly textbooks with lower-cost alternatives. This is accomplished by using high-quality OER, library materials, digital or customized textbooks, and/or faculty-authored materials. To address the high cost of textbooks, California Senate Bill 1359 aims to ensure that students have access to affordable course materials. It requires courses to be listed as zero cost in the schedule if students are not required to purchase any materials. Students actively can search for courses with the Zero Cost Course Material (ZCCM) logo when selecting classes. “It is essential that faculty confirm their ZCCM courses with the CALM team," Sam said. "By designating ZCCM courses in the class schedule before student registration, students are empowered to make informed decisions based on financial considerations. This allows them to save significantly on education costs each semester, potentially amounting to hundreds of dollars.” For more information, visit the CALM website or contact calm@csusm.edu. Media Contact Brian Hiro, Communications Specialist bhiro@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7306
- Double Major Puts Family First on Path to DegreeAshley Lizarraga didn’t have the typical college move-in experience. In August 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lizarraga was coming from Rosarito, Mexico, where she lived with her parents and two younger brothers, to Cal State San Marcos' University Village Apartments. Born in the United States and raised in Mexico, Lizarraga has always prioritized her education. In high school, she crossed the border every day to attend high school in Chula Vista, drawn to the learning environment and opportunities in the U.S. It meant early mornings and long days, but she remained committed, and that drive continued when she enrolled at CSUSM. Lizarraga embraced life on campus, even in a time when many classes were still virtual. But her college experience soon expanded beyond academics. At 19, she became the legal guardian of her younger brother, Evaristo, to help him pursue a high school education in the U.S., an opportunity she knew could open doors for him just as it had for her. A few years later, she welcomed her youngest brother, Esteban, who is now thriving as a high school junior at San Marcos High. In a few weeks, Evaristo and Esteban will join their parents at Mangrum Track & Field to watch their sister cross the CSUSM commencement stage and become the first family member to earn a college degree. “I feel like my professors and the friends I have made at school have all helped me so much,” said Lizarraga, who is double majoring in finance and political science. “I really felt that this is my community, and I felt so supported by everyone. All of that has made my journey here so much easier.” It hasn’t always been an easy journey. Lizarraga was working three jobs before an internship with the San Diego Diplomacy Council ended. She still works at a local restaurant and on campus for Associated Students, Inc., as the vice president of finance and operations where she manages a $2.1 million student-driven budget and leads initiatives that directly support students. Caring for her brothers, working multiple jobs and studying doesn’t leave much free time, but Lizarraga is grateful to mentors like Ashley Fennell, ASI’s associate executive director, for providing a strong support system. “She’s been a caring supervisor who looks out for me not just as a student, but as a person,” Lizarraga said. As Lizarraga’s undergraduate career winds down, she is looking ahead to the next chapter. She has been accepted to several master's programs in finance and hopes to stay close to San Marcos to continue supporting her family while advancing her academic and career goals. As the first in her family to graduate from college, she’s proud to be setting an example and grateful for the support that helped her get to this point. “I’m deeply grateful to my family and to everyone who supported me along the way,” Lizarraga said. “I truly couldn’t have done it without them. This is just the beginning.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim Assistant Director of Editorial and External Affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- More Than 400 Attend Biology Conference on CampusCal State San Marcos welcomed more than 400 participants to campus on April 12 for the 48th annual West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference. The conference – planned by CSUSM biology professors Jane Kim, Sergio Nigenda-Morales and Carlos Luna-Lopez – is one of the oldest events for undergraduates to present their research. Some of the conference talk sessions included subjects such as microbiology, neurobiology and physiology. Svasti Haricharan, who started an independent lab focused on non-canonical roles of DNA repair proteins in promoting treatment responsiveness at Sanford Burnham Prebys in La Jolla in 2018, was the event's keynote speaker. Haricharan recently moved to San Diego State as associate professor of biology to continue her research. She is also a full member of the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego. The goal of the conference is to provide a forum for undergraduate researchers to present original data that they've generated in the fields of biology, biochemistry, biophysics and related fields, and to foster intercollegiate interactions among students and faculty who share a commitment to undergraduate research in the biological sciences. “CSUSM, President Ellen Neufeldt, CSTEM Dean Jackie Trischman and the Office of the Provost supported this conference from the beginning, allowing the planning team to have the time to prepare for the conference,” Luna-Lopez said. “This further demonstrates CSUSM’s commitment to undergraduate research and to form a supportive scientific community.” Media Contact Eric Breier, Interim assistant director of editorial and external affairs ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314
- CSUSM Named ‘Opportunity College and University’ by Carnegie ClassificationsCal State San Marcos has been designated as an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications, recognizing CSUSM as an institution that can serve as a model for studying how campuses can foster student success. The “Opportunity Colleges and Universities” designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area. In 2025, 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is about 16% of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification. “At Cal State San Marcos, social mobility isn’t just a goal – it’s our mission in action," CSUSM President Ellen Neufeldt said. "To be named an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications is a powerful affirmation of the work we do every day to ensure that our students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, graduate with the tools, support and opportunities to thrive in their careers and communities. This new classification recognizes the real, lived impact of higher education, and CSUSM is proud to be a national model for student success and equity.” The methodology for the new Student Access and Earnings Classification uses multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to evaluate student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities. More information about 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications, including the methodology, can be found here. In February, CSUSM was named one of 12 schools in the California State University system to receive a new designation known as “Research Colleges and Universities” (RCU). The RCU category recognizes institutions that typically do not offer many or any doctoral degrees and spend at least $2.5 million on research on average in a single year. The Carnegie Classifications are the nation’s leading framework for categorizing and describing colleges and universities in the United States.
