Student affordability was flagged as a key concern in the recently released Igniting Purpose: Student Experience Action Plan. One of the main progress indicators for increasing affordability is to reduce the cost of class materials “including aiming to increase textbook affordability by having 35% of courses and class sections use the Zero Textbook Cost initiative by 2026.” Thanks to the efforts of all faculties, the University of Alberta is on track to meet this goal. Winter 2024 has seen the highest number of ZTC class sections, accounting for 32.8% across the U of A.
The U of A piloted the Zero Cost Textbook program in 2021, supporting the advocacy of the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) to further affordability and accessibility for course materials. The ZTC label was implemented in Bear Tracks to indicate courses where students can access all required course materials, free of cost.
Inaugural ZTCup Recipients
Nearly three years after the Zero Textbook Cost Program was implemented, the University of Alberta Students' Union (UASU) established the ZTCup awards program to “demonstrate deep appreciation for instructors who work to make higher education more affordable for all.” The awards were presented to the faculties with the most ZTC courses, Augustana and ALES, during the General Faculties Council meeting on February 26, 2024.
“We founded the ZTCup to increase opportunities to deeply thank and celebrate our faculties for making higher education more affordable,” says Pedro Almeida, VP (Academic) of the University of Alberta’s Students’ Union. “This is an incredible achievement for Augustana Faculty, the Faculty of ALES and all instructors who have worked hard to reduce barriers to student learning.”
Augustana was presented with two out of three ZTCup awards for 2024. Augustana has the highest number of ZTC class sections, representing an impressive 59.7% of their total class offerings. The faculty was also awarded for the largest growth in ZTC class sections from Winter 2023 to Winter 2024, with a 45.5% increase, compared to 14.2% the year prior.
“This recognizes how our tiny but mighty campus exhibits the imagination, suppleness and discipline required for bold curricular and administrative innovation that lead to helping not only Augustana but also U of A students as a whole," says Demetres Tryphonopoulos, dean of Augustana. “Though I am glad to accept these awards, the recognition belongs to all Augustana student leaders, instructors and support staff who have worked tirelessly on behalf of our students to manage the alarming rise in the cost of education.”
The Faculty of ALES was also recognized for having the second-highest class sections in Winter 2024 with 40.3% of their classes participating in the ZTC program.
"ALES is proud to participate in the Zero Cost Textbook initiative to help alleviate financial pressures for students while diversifying learning materials,” says Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of ALES. “Thank you to the faculty members, librarians and ATS and GTA staff who helped make this possible."
Supporting affordable education
The topic of student affordability was at the forefront of the ZTCup awards, with Almeida noting that with the escalating cost of necessities, more and more students face financial instability, food insecurity and even houselessness.
The students’ union reports textbooks as one of the largest expenses for students after tuition, rent and food. They estimate ZTC courses saved students up to $13 million in Fall 2023/Winter 2024, or about $320 per undergraduate and graduate student.
“It is not a secret that students are undergoing an affordability crisis at the moment,” says Almeida. “With the rising cost of living, increasing financial accessibility for higher education has become more and more urgent.”
In a 2023 survey by the Students’ Union, 14% of respondents had picked a course specifically because it was listed as ZTC.
Get involved in offering ZTC courses
ZTC courses are made possible through a combination of Open Educational Resources (OERs), Open Access publications, publicly available materials, works in the public domain and licensed Library materials. Instructors can access support for locating no-cost alternative course materials by contacting library staff at oer.support@ualberta.ca.
Courses with an optional textbook are eligible to be labeled as ZTC, providing examinable content is also available in lecture materials or another free format. Instructors can complete this form from the Office of the Registrar to designate their course as ZTC in Bear Tracks.
The Students’ Union notes that percentages are calculated based on how many ZTC class sections are offered, rather than number of courses, pointing out that strategically targeting courses with larger amounts of class sections would increase the percentage of ZTC classes exponentially.
“The University of Alberta is really a pioneer in the realm of Open Education,” says Almeida. “Faculties and staff are doing groundbreaking work when it comes to increasing student affordability.”