CUMU HUDDLES
CUMU Huddles are informal, virtual learning communities designed to build professional relationships across the CUMU membership around issues and topics that matter most to our urban and metropolitan campuses and our communities. They are a space for CUMU members to share ideas, process shared challenges, and connect with one another virtually for a minimum of six times during the year.
PRESIDENT/CHANCELLOR PROGRAMMING
CUMU offers exclusive programming for presidents and chancellors of member institutions.
2023 Huddles
Six meetings are scheduled for each Huddle—five virtual meetings and one in-person meeting at the CUMU Annual Conference. Meeting dates are listed below and are subject to change.
Social and Economic Mobility Huddle
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?

HUDDLE LEAD: Viridiana Diaz, vice president for student affairs, Cal State San Marcos
Workforce Development Huddle
CUMU members are examining their role as job creators to fill their own vacancies and needs, but also to support regional and industry demands. How is higher education responding to and leading the way to reimagine how we educate, train, and prepare the employees and leaders needed for tomorrow? How are we partnering with cities to attract and retain our students in the cities we call home? This CUMU Huddle will explore how our members are addressing pressing human capital demands, leading workforce development recovery in justice-oriented ways, and employing innovative local hiring strategies—all while grappling with the “Great Resignation” in their communities and on their campuses.

HUDDLE LEAD: Jennifer Kebea, president, Campus Philly
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Huddle
Hispanic students are entering the nation’s colleges and universities at increasing rates, influencing the growth in the number of institutions eligible for federal designation as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). As more of our campuses are achieving this designation and serving a more diverse student body than ever before, how do our practices align with the needs of our students? This CUMU Huddle is intended for higher education professionals from current and emerging HSIs seeking to deepen their understanding of Hispanic servingness.

HUDDLE LEAD: Amber Gonzalez, associate professor, child and adolescent development, Sacramento State
Understanding, Improving, and Sharing Our Work for Change: In this CUMU Huddle, we will explore best practices and next practices across a broad array of evaluation practices, broadly defined. We will explore the role of evaluation and how scholar-administrators can use it to understand, advance, and sustain partnerships, programs, and structures to support community engagement. We will have opportunities to share successes and struggles across our institutions, and will bring in speakers who are exploring the frontiers of this work.
