Reimagine Apply

Why are there two different submissions?

California’s community colleges are updating how students get started. Some colleges have already moved to the updated version, while others are still using the existing system. Over time, all colleges will use the new submission platform.

When will the new admissions system be available?

Prospective students will be guided to the correct admissions system based on their college of interest. They will not need to select a specific system at any point in the admissions process.

The new system will roll out for different districts at different times, with the initial set of districts, Wave 1, launching by the end of September 2026. Later waves will follow in approximately four-month intervals.

How do I access the new system?

Note that the first step for every prospective student is to create an OpenCCC account.

People do not need to know which admissions system to access, just which college they want to attend. The landing page from the main California Community Colleges website will use a lookup function to send the prospective student to the right system to complete their submission.

Equipped with that account information, prospective students access the appropriate admissions process either directly from the website of the college they are interested in or from the main California Community College website. This website links to a landing page which will allow prospective students to select the college (by name, city, or zip code) they want to apply to, then sends them to the appropriate website for the new system or CCCApply.

Alternatively, a student can start the process directly from the college they are interested in attending. For example, a student who wants to go to San Diego Mesa College, a Wave 1 college, can navigate to that college’s webpage, click the Apply to Mesa link, then start the process.

Can I apply to colleges on both systems?

Yes. If your colleges use different systems, you’ll need to complete one form in each system. It takes a few extra minutes, but your personal information carries over so you’re not starting from scratch.

Will I lose my information between submissions?

No. Your OpenCCC account stores your personal information, including your name and contact details, and carries it across both systems. You won’t need to re-enter basic details.

Do I need to create separate accounts?

No. One OpenCCC account works across both enrollment systems.

What information or documents will I need?

To complete the initial process to apply to California Community Colleges, prospective students need information about their educational background, contact details, whether they meet requirements to be considered a resident of California, educational goals, initial college of interest and potentially more information depending on their situation.

Later in the process, documents to confirm some information may be required. For instance, people who want to explore options for financial aid will need to engage with their home college financial aid office to complete various forms (such as, FAFSA) and provide relevant materials.

What happens to applications started in the old system?

Once a college has transitioned to the new system, students who have started the CCCApply process but not completed it will need to restart the admissions process in the new system.

Note that data from applications completed using CCCApply will not be transferred to the new system. During the transition period, staff may need to refer to information within CCCApply and within the new system for students who apply for colleges using different application systems.

What if I experience technical issues while applying?

One goal of the new process is for intuitive and simple operation for potential students, though certainly support materials will be available. That said, there are also several ways for prospective students to reach support should they have questions.

Support is available through email, live chat and telephone, with live support from nearly 100 help desk technicians from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time on business days. Chatbot, available 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, is integrated with an online Help Center, and includes hand-off to live support. These support options are available in both English and Spanish.

Is the system available in multiple languages?

The system will initially be available in English only, with a Spanish language version to follow. Until other languages are supported, prospective students can use browser-based translation to see the user interface in different languages.

Live support is available in English and Spanish, and the chatbot is available in many different languages.

How will the new system change admissions workflows?

For Wave 1 colleges, the majority of admissions workflows do not have changes. At this earliest launch, some CCCApply questions have been shifted from the old system to a separate process to be completed by the local college, typically one that is already in place. If there is not a process already defined, staff will evaluate needs and work with their project team to capture required information.

One main goal of the new system is to remove redundant questions from the initial process. For example, a military veteran indicates their military status within the new system by answering just a couple questions. Verification of military status happens in conversation with the veteran affairs team at the college.

One function of the new system is related to review of submissions at the college level, with a system available to all colleges. A&R teams can see submissions in various phases, including in-progress, under review, and decision. (Colleges will go through training for this tool as they prepare to transition to the new system.)

What training opportunities are available?

Initial training sessions in webinar form include 4 topics: foundational training for all California community college staff who would engage with the new system, fraud detection and prevention, communications/outreach training, and administrative training for the new system.

How is project progress being shared?

Project updates come through various means, including materials shared through the Chancellor’s Office, including this Reimagine Apply website, articles in periodic newsletters, and presentations to stakeholder groups in conferences and meetings. Members of the working committees, Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group and Reimagine Apply Steering Committee, also share information with college staff directly.

Who serves as the district’s point of contact?

Districts that are transitioning to the new system have leads from various functional areas, like Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, Student Services, etc., included on the project teams, either in the Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group or the Reimagine Apply Steering Committee. Each district also has an executive sponsor.

How is applicant data protected?

Applicant information is protected with multiple security measures. When admissions information is submitted, encryption software protects the data during transmission, similar to sending information through a secure, locked channel. Once received, personal information is stored on secure computer systems in a controlled environment with protections against unauthorized access.

Information is only shared when necessary to provide requested services, such as sending student details to the chosen college. The system is also required to follow California’s Information Practices Act, which sets strict rules about how personal data can be collected, used, and shared.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office recognizes the importance of safeguarding the privacy of individual personal information. The Chancellor’s Office and its vendors follow robust, industry standard security protocols and privacy practices as required by the Information Practices Act (Privacy Statement and Notices Standard, Civil Code Section 1798 et seq.), Government Code Sections 11015.5 and 11019.9, and other applicable laws.

Is the system compliant with FERPA and other privacy standards?

The new admissions system follows the California Community Colleges privacy policy, to safeguard the privacy of individual personal information.

Who is leading the project?

The Chancellor’s Office leads, with a steering committee of 20 people from colleges and stakeholder groups, and more than 60 representative members from Wave 1 districts forming the Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group (IAG). The IAG includes members responsible for Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, Institutional Research, Student Services, and Technology Operations. In addition, Higher Digital has overarching project management responsibility through systemwide implementation.

How is the Chancellor’s Office ensuring a smooth, transparent rollout?

The Chancellor’s Office is leading communications to all interested parties through deployment. Online resources, such as the Reimagine Apply website, and this FAQ will be updated regularly. Other information sources include the Reimagine Apply Steering Committee, Reimagine Apply Implementation Advisory Group, public information officers for colleges in active waves, a Reimagine Apply community in the Vision Resource Center for system employees and approved partners, as well as briefings to stakeholder associations, webinars, and periodic newsletters from the Chancellor’s Office.

On the technology side, Higher Digital, Liaison (the primary technology vendor), and other technology stakeholders meet regularly to move the project through the development and implementation phase.

Where can I find help documents and how-to guides?

These resources, including a quick-start guide and help center, are in development and will be available for students applying to colleges through the new system.

Who do I contact for help with my application?

Once the system is deployed, support contact information will be available within the system. There is also a knowledge-based Help Center available within the system to address many common questions. In addition, students can reach out to the regular California Community College support channels for assistance:

• Online: ccchelp.info
• Phone: (877) 247-4836
• Email: support@openccc.net
• TTY: (877) 836-9332

Where can the public learn more about the project?

Continue to check this webpage for a summary of actions taken prior to the Design and Build phase, which started in October 2025, as well as ongoing progress.