The foundation for pepnet 2 began in the late 1960s when the U.S. Department of Education provided funding to establish four programs for the deaf at postsecondary institutions across the country. As an increasing number of deaf and hard of hearing students began enrolling in mainstreamed colleges throughout the country, the focus of federal funding shifted in 1996 from direct services for students to technical assistance for postsecondary education institutions serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing. The four regional technical assistance centers were known collectively as the Postsecondary Educational Programs Network (PEPNet). The currently funded project, pepnet 2, was established in 2011 when the structure changed from four regional centers to one national center. Pepnet 2 builds on the rich history and strong reputation from its three previous funding cycles while simultaneously reflecting the new model of a national center.