ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026
From Access to Impact: Education as the Engine of Economic Mobility
This year’s theme, From Access to Impact: Education as the Engine of Economic Mobility, challenges us to move beyond opening doors and focus on what happens next: persistence, completion, career readiness, and long-term economic mobility. In a rapidly shifting policy and higher education landscape, this conference equips you with the knowledge, strategies, and professional network needed to lead with confidence and purpose. Across four dynamic days in San Diego, Wednesday, September 16 to Saturday, September 19, participants will engage in powerful conversations, practical professional development, and forward-looking sessions designed to ignite new ideas and strengthen program impact. Through evidence-based best practices, expert-led discussions, and collaborative learning, attendees will gain actionable tools that can be implemented immediately to elevate student outcomes and advance institutional goals. Download the paper registration form here.
Upcoming Events
Blog
From South Texas to Capitol Hill: Finding My Voice Through the Wolanin Internship
Through the Wolanin Congressional Internship, TRIO alumna Brianna Mendelson discovered how advocacy, relationship-building, and policy work intersect to expand educational opportunity. Her experience on Capitol Hill transformed her from a beneficiary of TRIO into a confident advocate determined to bridge healthcare and education policy to advance opportunity for future generations.
Support Us
If you are a student support services professional, thank you. You are an unsung hero for all the good that you do, and surely you know by now that COE has your back.
Partner
Through strategic collaborations, we work to strengthen quality, opportunity and access to education for all American students — the next generation of global leaders.
Join Us
Join more than 1,000 colleges and community agencies committed to postsecondary opportunity for low-income, first-generation students, students with disabilities in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., the Pacific Islands, and Puerto Rico!