CENTRAL VALLEY TRANSFER PROJECT UDPATE:
PPM 2.0 momentum on the rise across the state
as April 1 deadline nears – funding available to implement
CVHEC members Lemoore and Reedley are among the first four CC’s to launch live sites
BY TOM URIBES
CVHEC Communications Lead
(MARCH 16, 2026) — As rollout of the Program Pathways Mapper platform designed to help community college students on a transfer pathway accelerates, California Community Colleges campuses face an April 1 deadline to upgrade to and/or implement PPM 2.0.
Craig Hayward, vice chancellor of AI Strategy and Digital Transformation for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, said that “momentum for PPM 2.0 remains strong across all participating institutions during this final phase of onboarding” with 53 institutions statewide actively onboarding to PPM 2.0.
An additional 30 institutions were scheduled to begin their onboarding in February and March while six institutions still need to select an onboarding session, Hayward reported in a Feb. 23 update for the CVHEC newsletter.
Locally, 12 of 15 CVHEC community college members have been onboarded – or are currently onboarding – with the latest addition of Taft College, reports Transfer Project co-lead Tom Burke. (Four of CVHEC’s 4-year institutions are also on board: University of California, Merced; California State University, Bakersfield; California State University, Stanislaus; and Fresno State). See full CVHEC list.
“To ensure systemwide consistency and timely completion of the transition, all institutions must be onboarded to PPM 2.0 by April 1,” Hayward said.
The Foundation for California Community Colleges also announced that four campuses are the first to launch a live, student-facing PPM 2.0 site including two Central Valley Higher Education Consortium members: Lemoore College and Reedley College. They are joined by Moorpark College (Moorpark) and Chabot College (Hayward) in the live launch of the software that Hayward said “provides an important step forward in delivering clearer, more accessible academic pathways directly to students.”
Hayward said PPM 2.0 will provide institutions with enhanced PPM features that will benefit institutions:
- A more intuitive interface for administrators and students
- Improved workflows for efficient map creation and maintenance
- Stronger data integrity to ensure accuracy and reliability
- Enhanced accessibility with clear, up-to-date program pathways
“Together, these improvements position PPM 2.0 as sustainable shared infrastructure supporting guided pathways and student success at scale,” Hayward said.
The PPM team will be presenting at three upcoming statewide conferences including the Dual Enrollment Equity Conference March 16-19 in San Diego where a collaboration with CVHEC member-Bakersfield College and McFarland High School will be featured (details below).
Historic partnerships
PPM was first advanced through CVHEC’s Central Valley Transfer Project in 2021 in a historic partnership between CVHEC-members UC Merced, CSU Bakersfield, Bakersfield College and Merced College bringing together faculty from each institution with administrators for a seamless platform that students could utilize not just in planning a transferable pathway but in overall planning during their academic journey.
The Central Valley-driven platform was then adopted in 2023 by California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian first as a demonstration project before being incorporated last summer into the CCC Vision 2030 Transfer Workplan as one of five key activities to expand student access to clear, faculty-vetted academic and transfer pathways and marking a major step forward in how California’s public colleges guide students toward completion and transfer.
“With a 79% adoption rate across Central Valley demonstration colleges, PPM has already published over 150 intersegmental maps linking community colleges to UC Merced, and is on track for 94 percent adoption in the region by 2025-26,” the 2030 plan stated at the time adding that this strategic expansion supports Vision 2030 outcomes such as streamlining transfer, reducing excess units and improving transparency as well as equity success.
Implementing the “Central Valley Way” to adopt PPM statewide
In fall 2025, the chancellor’s office officially launched Program Pathways Mapper (PPM) 2.0 and began making available onboarding opportunities to its 116 campuses across the state.
Vision 2030 further cites that implementation of Program Pathways Mapper systemwide provides more students with access to program pathways and transfer planning information.
“This model of technology embodies the principles of guided pathways combined with intentional faculty-centric collaborations and is effective in meeting the goals outlined in the Governor’s Roadmap, such as providing a systemwide approach to mapping intersegmental curricular pathways, streamlining transfer and reducing excess units,” the plan states.
“The statewide effort aims to leverage processes and documentation developed in the Central Valley to support scaling PPM adoption across the state, with no-cost access to the platform being provided to all California community colleges.”
Colleges can apply for up to $60,000 in funding to support either the implementation of Program Pathways Mapper (PPM) or the sustainability of existing PPM maps.
This grant opportunity is made possible through a collaborative partnership between the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the Foundation for California Community Colleges and the Kern Community College District.
Funding is available to California Community Colleges (CCCs), California State Universities (CSUs), and University of California (UC) campuses under two options:
- Option A: Implementing PPM (up to $60,000)
For institutions new to PPM or those seeking to fully implement and institutionalize the platform. - Option B: Sustaining PPM Maps (up to $60,000)
For institutions with existing PPM maps focused on long-term sustainability and continued use.
Colleges may apply by submitting the PPM inquiry form. Institutions new to the software meet with the PPM team for a personalized demo and consultation before the sub-grant agreement is reviewed and executed.
All California institutions receive comprehensive, no-cost support throughout the process, including data assistance, system setup and ongoing customer support, Hayward said.
He added that college reps with questions about onboarding or other assistance may connect at support@programmapper.org.
Colleges may also connect with PPM team members at these upcoming events:
- Dual Enrollment Equity Conference (March 16-19 | San Diego, CA)
The PPM team will present on how Program Pathways Mapper supports equity in dual enrollment by increasing visibility of college courses, transfer pathways, and student-centered guidance for first-generation and rural students:
Breakout Session: Making Dual Enrollment Visible to First-Gen and Rural Students (March 18, 2–3 p.m. PT)
This session highlights collaboration with McFarland High School and Bakersfield College, showcasing how PPM helps students and counselors explore dual enrollment options, understand transfer pathways, and access clear, consistent program information.
- Spring 2026 CCCCIO Conference (April 8-10 | Burlingame, CA) — Visit the PPM team at its table to learn more about PPM 2.0 and connect with the team.
- Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Convening (April 20 | Sacramento, CA) — The PPM team will be tabling and available to discuss CPL visibility and pathway alignment.
Community colleges needing to onboard may schedule a PPM cohort here.
See also:
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