Zero Textbook Costs (ZTC)
What is ZTC?
Zero Textbook Costs (ZTC) means there is no cost to students for required textbooks, workbooks, lab manuals, readers, or specialized software such as online homework systems. Our goal at Sierra College is to solidify more ZTC degree and certificate pathway options for students. This would help reduce students’ cost of attending college while continuing to provide quality educational materials.
Making Learning Affordable
Zero and Low Textbook Costs
Our long-term mission is to offer openly licensed textbooks and ancillary materials in most, if not all, Sierra College classes at little or no cost to students.
Taking this step is in compliance with California Senate Bill (SB) 1359, which requires all California Community Colleges to identify Zero Textbook Costs (ZTC) course sections on their course schedules for students.
In some instances, classes at Sierra College offer Low Textbook Costs (LTC). This designation means a student will pay $30 or less for all required instructional materials for the selected course section. This designation is based on the pre-tax price of new materials, as assigned by the instructor and available for purchase through the Sierra College Bookstore or alternative platforms.
Why Students Should Consider ZTC Courses
Watch a short video about how ZTCs can help students break down financial barriers to higher education.
ZTC Options at Sierra College
View a list of degree and certificate options at Sierra College offering Zero Textbook Costs (ZTCs) using open educational resources (OERs).
“When students don’t have to choose between buying a textbook and buying groceries, their confidence and success in the classroom soar. They spend more time learning and less time worrying about the price tag of higher education. Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) isn’t just about saving money—it’s about removing barriers, opening doors, leveling the field, and ultimately, amplifying students’ voices. ZTC represents equity in action, and equity begins with access.”
Tara Franks, PhD, Communications Studies
What is OER?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials, such as textbooks and ancillary works, that are freely available and openly licensed for use, adaptation, and redistribution. Best of all, they are available at little or no cost to students.
Want to Get Involved in OER?
For those interested in getting involved in OER development, Sierra College has funds and opportunities for faculty to create OERs as part of a grant. To learn more about creating OERs in the near future, please contact Tara Franks or Ben Wingard. You may also review ProDev materials about OER.
Core Benefits of OER
- Free and open access: Available to anyone at no cost.
- Open licensing: The materials are released under an open license (Creative Commons) that grants specific permissions beyond what traditional copyright allows
- The 5R permissions – The open license allows users to:
- Retain: Make, own, and control copies
- Reuse: Use the content in a wide range of ways
- Revise: Adapt, adjust, or modify the content
- Remix: Combine the content with other material to create something new
- Redistribute: Share copies of the original or your new version with others
Examples of OERS
Open Educational Resources include digital media collections from around the world (as defined by OER Commons), such as:
- Course modules, lectures and homework assignments
- Lab and classroom activities
- Pedagogical materials
- Games, simulations and more
Resources at Your Fingertips
OER Resources
- California Open Online Library for Education (COOL4Ed): The site includes C-ID/course materials, ZTC resources created by California Community College (CCC) faculty, MERLOT smart search, SkillsCommons Library and an ISBN search tool to find free eTextbooks.
- OER by Discipline/Subject: Use a search tool to find collections of materials by subject matter or discipline.
- OER Initiative: Learn more about ZTC/OER Degree Pathway grants, ZTC and OER in CCCs, XB12 and find additional resources
Professional Development
Course Offerings
- Register for OER Basics (OERI)
- Register for Accessibility Basics (OERI)
- @One Professional Development ZTC Series (CCC)
Recorded Webinars and Trainings
LibreTexts
LibreTexts is an OER creation and hosting platform. LibreTexts is a non-profit organization committed to freeing the textbook from the limitations and costs of traditional commercial textbooks. In order to build and/or remix LibreTexts materials, faculty must request a Conductor Account and become familiar with the platform.
- Request a LibreOne Account: Provides access to Conductor, a project management platform
- LibreTexts Commons and Conductor Resource Guide: Use the guide to troubleshoot or use the search box to find answers
- A Quick Guide to LibreTexts for New Instructors: This tutorial provides information on how to navigate LibreText in search of OER materials.
- LibreTexts Construction Guide 2.0: For faculty interested in creating, adapting or remixing OER content, this link explains how to do so.
- Navigating LibreTexts: View a short video to help faculty and students understand how to utilize tools within the LibreTexts platform.