Since Fall 2018, Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) and Low Textbook Cost (LTC) courses at GCC have saved students an estimated*
$8.8 million!
Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) classes offer free access to all textbooks, books, software, and homework systems required for the class.
Low Textbook Cost (LTC) classes have a required textbook and software 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!
In order to properly advertise classes, XB12 codes are due one month prior to the start of priority registration for a semester/session. See current due dates 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 (Tier 1) to the minimum that should be offered (Tier 5).
Tiers of access to required books and other course materials | Description | Corresponding XB12 Codes | Free, legal access (ZTC) | Available through Canvas course shell | Available for purchase at GCC Bookstore | Low Cost (LTC: under $40 total) | Reserve copy available at GCC Library |
Tier 1: Free access + Bookstore | All course materials are 1) legally free for the student to access (e.g. OER, open access, and/or through the Library) through their Canvas course shell and 2) there are low cost/at cost physical versions offered through the GCC Bookstore (for students with no- or low-quality internet access) | A, C, E, F, G | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | n/a | n/a |
Tier 2: Free access | All course materials are legally free for the student to access through their Canvas course shell | A, C, E, F, G | ✓ | ✓ | X | n/a | n/a |
Tier 3: Low cost + Bookstore + Library | Course materials are 1) low cost (under $40/course) and 2) are available for purchase through the GCC Bookstore (so that students with financial aid can purchase them) and 3) there is a print or digital reserve copy available through the Library | D | X | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Tier 4: Bookstore + Library | All course materials 1) are available for purchase through the GCC Bookstore and 2) there is a print or digital reserve copy available through the Library | Y | X | X | ✓ | X | ✓ |
Tier 5: Bookstore only | All course materials are available for purchase through the GCC Bookstore | Y | X | X | ✓ | X | X |
All content on this guide is licensed CC BY 4.0 International, except where otherwise noted.
Preferred attribution: Open Educational Resources (OER) & Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) at GCC by Glendale Community College (CC BY 4.0)