Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Program
In late 2021, the U of A launched the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Program. In the Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 semesters, more than 900 University of Alberta faculty members declared their courses ZTC. Zero textbook cost means students do not incur any costs to access course materials, and it is an important measure to increase the accessibility of learning materials for all students.
Options for ZTC may include a mix of open educational resources (OER), licensed library content, or other instructor created materials.
Open educational resources are teaching, learning and research resources that are free of cost and access barriers, and carry legal permission for open use. National and international strategic efforts to reduce material costs in high-enrolment courses through OER means there is a growing amount of free open material for instructors who choose to remove paid resources.
Using zero-cost learning materials and quality OER ensures students have equitable access to the materials they need to learn, including textbooks, videos, audio, journal articles and more.
For Students
To find a class with the ZTC designation on Bear Tracks:
- Log in and select “Manage Classes.”
- Select the term for which you are interested in registering (e.g., Fall 2026).
- Enter the course search parameters you are looking for and click the search button.
- To see which courses are indicated as ZTC, scroll to the bottom of the left sidebar and select “Zero Textbook Cost” in the filter criteria.
Once filtered, the course listing will show you which courses are ZTC. You can also filter for ZTC classes through My Schedule Builder with the advanced search feature.
Courses not listed as ZTC? Ask your instructor about ZTC options or contact the University of Alberta Students' Union.
For Instructors
The program encourages instructors to register their courses as ZTC so they can be flagged in Bear Tracks. Students can then use ZTC as a search parameter when deciding which classes to take.
ZTC options may include open educational resources (OER), licensed library content, or instructor created materials.
If you are an instructor interested in exploring alternative course materials, the Library offers a search service to find Open Education Resources. Contact oer.support@ualberta.ca for assistance.
If you are interested in adapting an existing OER or creating a new one, the Library offers a platform and technical support for doing so. Contact oer.support@ualberta.ca for assistance.