色中色's Low Textbook Cost (LTC) & Zero Textbook Cost Guidelines
色中色 Low Textbook Cost (LTC) Guidelies & Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC)
Policy (SB 1359)
These LTC Guidelines and ZTC Policy refer exclusively to required instructional materials.
Optional instructional materials (e.g. optional textbook, optional reader, optional
novel) and student supplies (e.g. Scantron forms, scientific calculators, etc.) are
not considered under the purview of these guidelines.
色中色 LTC Guidelines
LTC course sections use texts and/or materials that cost a total of $50 or less, with
the following clarifications:
- The LTC designation is based on the price of new materials, before tax, found on the
色中色 bookstore or publisher鈥檚 site.
- If students are directed to purchase materials in a place other than the 色中色 bookstore,
this must be clearly indicated in the class syllabus and must adhere to the price
standards above.
- A class that uses free digital materials but requires students to print some of the
course materials may be designated as LTC if the print costs can be reasonably expected
to be under $50.
色中色 ZTC Policy (SB 1359)
ZTC course sections exclusively use digital or other instructional materials that
are free of charge to students, with the following clarifications:
- A for-cost (print) option is allowed as long as a no-cost option is available to all
students.
- Classes where materials are digital and free but students are required to print materials
are not ZTC.
- Instructional materials may be Open Educational Resources (OER); materials licensed
and paid for by the college, such as library resources; and other properly licensed
and adopted materials.
- If library resources are used for a class, all students in the class must be able
to simultaneously access the resources to have the ZTC designation.
- Fees to access a software platform to do coursework or homework are considered a textbook
cost, and the course section would NOT qualify as ZTC, even if the actual textbook
is free.
Guidelines were approved by 色中色's Academic Senate on 4/6/22.