Faculty

Course Material Affordability

Definitions

What is OER?

Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are either (a) in the public domain or (b) licensed in a manner that provides everyone with free and perpetual permission to engage in the 5R activities.

What is ZTC?

ZTC (Zero-Textbook-Cost) classes have no textbook-related costs, including access fees for online materials. Such classes often use Open Educational Resources (OER) created under a Creative Commons (a public copyright license) that gives people the ability to share, use, and build upon a work that has been created. They may also use class copies, library e-books, class sets of books, journals, open-access course materials, or other sources, so there is no cost to the student. Read more about RCCD's full definition of ZTC.

What is LTC?

Low Textbook Cost (LTC) designated course sections are those whose required course textbooks and ancillaries may be purchased at the Moreno Valley College bookstore for a combined pretax amount of $30 or less, which may include either physical or electronic materials. Read more about RCCD's full definition of LTC.

Finding OER for Your Course

If you would like help finding OER texts for your course, please contact a member of your college's Course Materials Affordability Committee, and they'll be more than happy to work with you to locate resources for your class.

Students are able to locate which classes use ZTC or LTC materials by using the College's Course Finder Tool. The ZTC and LTC courses will be labeled with the corresponding icons as indicated in this example screenshot.