Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Open Educational Resources (OER)

Welcome to Merced College’s ZTC OER Initiative

At Merced College, we’re committed to reducing textbook costs for students and supporting faculty innovation through Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Open Educational Resources (OER) courses.

These programs promote equitable access to learning materials by using freely available, openly licensed, or no-cost digital resources for teaching and learning.

What Are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

OER are teaching and learning materials that can be freely used, adapted, and shared by anyone. They are typically released under a Creative Commons or GNU license that clearly specifies how they may be reused, remixed, and redistributed.

Examples of OER materials include:

• Textbooks
• Course readings and journals
• Quizzes and assignments
• Streaming videos
• Course packs and lab materials

What Is Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC)?

Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) refers to courses that use only free learning materials—meaning no cost to students for required readings or textbooks.

While OER and ZTC frequently overlap, “ZTC” is the designation used in California course schedules for classes with no required textbook costs. Many ZTC courses use OER materials, but some may rely on other freely available or library-provided resources instead.

At Merced College, you’ll see the ZTC symbol in the class schedule for courses with free textbooks:

Why Switch to OER/ZTC?

Benefits for Students

• Save money—no expensive textbooks
• Equal access to course materials from day one
• Online access anywhere, anytime

Benefits for Faculty

• Freedom to modify, remix, or combine materials
• No edition-change hassles or publisher restrictions
• Stipends available for switching to ZTC (See ZTC Grant for more information)