Since Fall 2018, Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) and Low Textbook Cost (LTC) courses at GCC have saved students an estimated*
$7.8 million!
Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) classes offer free access to all textbooks and course materials used in the class.
Low Textbook Cost (LTC) classes have a textbook and materials cost that is less than $40 total.
OER / Open Educational Resources are free and openly licensed educational materials that can be used for teaching, learning, and research. OER is just one type of material that can be used to make a class ZTC.
*Cost savings estimate is calculated using $100 as the average cost of a textbook, based on OpenOregon’s “Is the average cost of a textbook $100?” ZTC savings are estimated at $100/student and LTC savings are estimated at $60/student.
See how to search for Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) and Low Textbook Cost (LTC) courses on the Zero & Low Textbook Cost page:
GCC Faculty, is your course Zero or Low Textbook Cost? Make sure your course section is marked correctly in the Online Class Schedule so students can find it!
GCC policy is that instructors should list their course sections as Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) or Low Textbook Cost (LTC) at least one month prior to the start of priority registration for a semester/session. See current deadlines here: ZTC & LTC Deadlines (OER Events Calendar).
Below are the Best Practices for Equitable Access to Course Materials as defined by the GCC Academic Senate OER Committee, from best case scenario (A) to the minimum that should be offered (E).