Progress Report: The Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Movement is Growing at VIU!
When we first announced that Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) markings were coming to VIU, we knew it would be a game-changer for affordability. Today, we are thrilled to share an incredible update on how that vision is becoming a reality.
As of this semester, 94 courses and/or course sections at VIU are now officially coded “ZTC” in the registration system!
What does this mean for you?
It means that for nearly 100 course sections, the "textbook hurdle" has been completely removed. When you see that ZTC icon during registration, you can hit "enroll" knowing that you won't be hit with a $200 surprise at the bookstore. Instead, your instructors are using Open Educational Resources (OERs), library-licensed materials, or custom-created content that is free for you to access from day one.
Example of coding a Zero Textbook Cost course for registration.
Celebrating Open Education Week
To keep the momentum going, we just wrapped up Open Education Week, a global celebration of free and accessible learning. Here at VIU, we hosted two major events to bring students and faculty together around the ZTC movement:
The Open Education Book Fair: We brought back the nostalgic vibe of a classic school book fair—but with a twist: everything was free. Students stopped by the Upper Caf to browse high-quality, openly licensed textbooks and chat with folks from VIUSU and BCcampus.
Faculty Roundtable: Change starts in the classroom, which is why we hosted a drop-in roundtable for VIU faculty and instructors. This was a space for professors to connect directly with OER experts, VIU Librarians, and the Centre of Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL).
Bringing back the classic book fair vibes—minus the price tags
Students stopped by the VIUSU tables in the Upper Caf to grab some free treats and learn how Open Educational Resources (OERs) are making high-quality course materials free for everyone at VIU.
BCcampus chatting with members of the VIU Community about Open Education Resources and the impact of cost indicators in course registrations.
The Open Education Book Fair showed students what free textbooks are available on campus and what 94 courses and/or course sections already use zero cost course materials.
In the News: CHLY Covers the Movement
The energy on campus even caught the attention of our local airwaves! We were thrilled to have CHLY 101.7FM stop by the Book Fair to interview our very own Brandi Klee, as well as experts from BCcampus.
In the interview, Brandi highlighted why this project is so vital:
"Students have been saying that textbooks are extremely costly and sometimes not even necessary for them to pass their classes with flying colours... you could be looking up through free access educational resources and saving $200."
🎧 Listen to the full interview here: VIU Students' Union host free open textbook fair - CHLY 101.7FM
The Momentum is Building
While 94 courses is a massive milestone, we aren’t stopping there. Our team has been working closely with the Registrar’s Office and faculty across all departments, and the list of ZTC-coded courses is growing every week.
How You Can Keep the Momentum Going
We want to see that number of 94 climb to 200, 500, and beyond. Here is how you can help:
Look for the Code: Watch for the ZTC indicator when planning your schedule.
Thank Your Prof: If your class is ZTC, let your instructor know it made a difference.
Ask the Question: Ask your profs, “Could this course be Zero Textbook Cost next year?”
We Want to Hear From Faculty!
Are you a prof at VIU with feedback about the Zero Textbook Cost Project? We’d love to hear from you. Your insights help us improve the project and support more instructors in making the switch to zero cost course materials.
