See ZTC data at a glance
In April 2016, the LAVC Academic Senate passed a resolution to reduce the cost of textbooks and supplies for students, and to increase access to high-quality open educational resources (OERs). This resolution enabled LAVC to apply for and receive a $50,000 grant under Assembly Bill 798 (AB 798).
Since AB-798 funds were awarded, LAVC's OER initiative -- OER @LAVC -- has grown exponentially, offering workshops, stipends, grant opportunities, and other support for faculty OER adoption. In the intervening years, LAVC has received additional funding to encourage OER adoptions, including Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) grants and ongoing support from the ASCCC OERI Initiative.
If you haven’t already, please consider adopting open educational resources as an alternative to costly, traditional textbooks. Explore this guide to learn more about OER and discover resources. If you have additional questions, want to get involved, or need support, contact Meghan Cason.
See LAVC's growing list of ZTC course sections since 2016.
NEWS FLASH: Since 2011, College of the Canyons has seen a nearly 98 percent increase in the number of students graduating. Chancellor Diane Van Hook cites increased textbook affordability through OER adoption as a major contributing factor. Read the story here.
LAVC faculty and students discuss the benefits of Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) classes.
NEWS FLASH: An Overlooked Benefit of OER: Showing Students We Care
Funded by grants from the California Community College's Chancellor's Office (CCCCO), LAVC's ZTC Award Program seeks to establish several new ZTC degree pathways by 2027. Further, our program prioritizes strengthening our General Education ZTC pathway, which is critical to the sustainability of any ZTC degree.
We invite faculty across disciplines to apply for our ZTC Award Program. Faculty will be compensated for the professional development and curriculum development required to adopt, adapt, create, remix, and/or revise Open Educational Resources (OER) to replace their current texts.
Faculty may be compensated for attending ASCCC OERI Webinars and events. Please forward your registration to casonmg@lavc.edu. Here are the latest opportunities from the ASCCC OERI:
Wednesday, October 1, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Anthropology Open Educational Resources (OER): What's New and What's Needed
In this conversation, one of the co-editors of Traces (a new archaeology OER) will be joining us to discuss their work and final preparations for publication. In addition, we will discuss other new and forthcoming anthropology OER and identify gaps in the discipline collection.
Register for Anthropology OER: What's New and What's Needed
Wednesday, October 8, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Exploring Open Educational Resources (OER) in Hospitality Management: Best Practices and Needs
Join colleagues for a discussion about the existing OER options for Hospitality Management, what is currently being used, and what key needs still exist. We will also discuss barriers that prevent the adoption of OER and what resources need to be developed. Please bring your questions and ideas to contribute to this important conversation.
Register for Exploring OER in Hospitality Management: Best Practices and Needs
Wednesday, October 8, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Journalism and Newspaper Production Open Educational Resources (OER)
News production classes are an important component of the Journalism Associate Degree for Transfer, but the available OER may not be sufficient to support student success. Join journalism colleagues to discuss the OER that are currently used for news production classes and explore what resources may be needed to fill in any gaps. Bring your questions and suggestions and we will investigate the possibilities.
Register for Journalism and Newspaper Production Open Educational Resources (OER)
Thursday, October 9, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
American Government and Open Educational Resources (OER): Next Steps
Please join us for a webinar on OER and American Government and Politics. We will explore what OER has been developed as well as discuss plans to develop additional OER, including modules on methods and congressional action.
Register for American Government and OER: Next Steps
Thursday, October 9, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Exploring Open Educational Resources (OER) for ENGL C1000
Curious about how OER can support the new ENGL C1000 template? This conversation will give English faculty space to share ideas, explore existing OER texts, and identify gaps. Together, we’ll consider how common course numbering shapes resource adoption and what tools might ease the transition. Bring your questions and experiences; your insights will help guide next steps in making ENGL C1000 truly zero-textbook-cost.
Register for Exploring Open Educational Resources (OER) for ENGL C1000
Friday, October 17, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lifespan Human Development in Sociocultural Context: A Globally Inclusive Approach
Andréa Pantoja Garvey will share her labor of love, Lifespan Human Development in Sociocultural Context: A Globally Inclusive Approach, a rare lifespan development textbook with a strong global and intercultural perspective. In our conversation with Andrea, we will discuss how she created an openly-licensed psychology text that focuses on addressing students’ needs and the challenges she encountered along the way. In our discussion, we'll also explore platforms for hosting and updating, opportunities for collaboration, and finding resources to update existing OER.
Register for Lifespan Human Development in Sociocultural Context: A Globally Inclusive Approach
Friday, October 24, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sin Fronteras: Inclusive Open Educational Resources (OER) in Spanish
Today more than ever there is an urgency to embrace language teaching practices that are both inclusive and equitable. This interactive presentation will examine the outcomes of our efforts to foster diverse pedagogical and curricular approaches to enhance student learning, encourage critical-thinking, and ultimately promote and celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. More specifically, presenters will address the challenges and opportunities arising from fostering inclusivity in Spanish language instruction, offer strategies to include non-binary Spanish and voseo in the classroom, and share OER aimed at making Spanish language instruction affordable and accessible to effectively accommodate diverse learners and create equitable learning environments. This webinar is co-sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).
Register for Sin Fronteras: Inclusive OER in Spanish
Thursday, October 30, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Re-examine ADAPT to Create Chemistry Problems
In this webinar, we will demonstrate how to use ADAPT's molecular sketcher tool to create chemistry problems where students can build and manipulate molecular structures directly within their assignments. Join us to learn more about this tool and bring your questions.
Register for Re-examine ADAPT to Create Chemistry Problems
