OER Overview

Zero Textbook Cost

Overview 

SDCCD recognizes the continued high cost of textbooks as a barrier that impacts student success. Inability to afford textbooks and course materials is an equity issue and it can be addressed through Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) & Open Educational Resources (OER) adoption. The primary goal is to reduce educational costs for students by providing free or low-cost learning materials that are available from day-one of their class and customizable to fit their learning needs. 

What is ZTC?

S.B. 1359 states Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) course materials “may include open educational resources, institutionally licensed campus library materials that all students enrolled in the course have access to use, and other properly licensed and adopted materials.” 
 
Zero textbook cost (ZTC) also means that students do not incur any costs for purchasing course materials. Zero-cost to the students does not guarantee zero-cost to the institution, i.e. subscription databases, library equipment loans. To create a ZTC course, instructors might use Open Educational Resources (OER); Open Access, Creative Commons, and public domain materials, along with teacher-created materials and electronic resources owned or licensed by SDCCD. 

What is OER?

Open Educational Resources (OER) are high-quality teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or have been released under an intellectual property license, such as a Creative Commons license, that permits their free use and repurposing by others. 

OER Materials may include: 

• Textbooks
• Course readings, articles, and journals
• Course packs
• Quizzes
• Videos
• Music

Why use Open Educational Resources? OER are free, ready-to-use content for your classes. Creators and users are free to retain rights, reuse content, remix content, revise content, or redistribute content. 

ZTC/OER at SDCCD

The San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) is at the forefront of the statewide movement to expand Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) and Open Educational Resources (OER). 
SDCCD faculty are leading innovative, equity-driven OER projects with ZTC pathways being developed at City, Mesa, Miramar and College of Continuing Education ranging from ASL, Communications, ICOM Academy, Psychology, Physical Education, and Teacher Education.

To support transparency and informed enrollment, SDCCD has included class schedule icons to help students identify:

• ZTC Courses — Courses that require no cost for instructional materials.
• *Coming Soon* Low Textbook Cost Courses — Courses where required materials cost $30 or less total. 

Faculty play a key role in ensuring student access, inclusion, and success. Whether you’re just curious or ready to adopt OER in your next course, resources and support are available. 

Student Voice

Across SDCCD students have shared their advocacy and resolution for open educational resources and zero textbook cost pathways options.

Here’s what students shared in the Fall 2024 districtwide survey:

• 59% said that having Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) materials was very or extremely important in their decision to enroll.
• ZTC courses are linked to higher success rates
• 70% agreed that OER and ZTC materials reflect diverse perspectives, helping them feel more seen and supported in the classroom.

When students have access to affordable, inclusive materials on day one, their chances of success improve. Faculty have a powerful opportunity to support equity and access by exploring OER options in their own classrooms.