Trying to cut down costs while getting an education? Pasadena City College (PCC) offers an alternative. For each semester and intersession, students can search the schedule of classes for specific zero-textbook-cost (ZTC) courses in a variety of subjects, regardless of the classroom setting or credit level.
$1.2 million saved thanks to Zero Textbook Cost classes
Thanks to the Zero-Textbook Cost (ZTC) option classes brought to PCC by psychology professor Julie Kiotas and developed by the Open Education Resources (OER) committee, the college has saved students upwards of $1.2 million.
Special Election: Meet the Student Trustee candidates
Though its influence can waver from figurehead to activist, the position of student trustee has the platform to be a voice-a sole voice-for the nearly 30,000 students who frequent PCC’s halls.
New bookstore management guarantees nearly $1M in first year
In exchange for a $750,000 annual fee, the Pasadena City College Bookstore will now be run by a private company for the next five years. “The purpose of a bookstore is to provide services where students can pay significantly lower rates, can lease textbooks, can purchase cheaper textbooks, or may not even have to purchase textbooks due to open educational resources that exist today,” said Rajen Vurdien, Superintendent-President of PCC. During their session on Feb. 22, the Board of Trustees approved outsourcing the management of …
New zero-cost textbook classes minimize educational barriers
Recently, Pasadena City College took action to create an easier way for students to take classes without the need of purchasing expensive textbooks. Beginning during the Winter 2018 intersession, students are able to search the course catalog for classes that only use zero-cost textbooks. This applies to not only traditional classes, but also online classes. These classes will utilize only open educational resources (OER) available for free online. The initiative is part of the College Textbook Affordability Act that was passed back in 2015 by …
Cost-free degrees coming on campus
PCC students can look forward to completing their degree while spending $0 on textbooks, thanks to the $35,000 state fund from the zero-textbook-cost degree (Z-Degree).
New grants expand use of free online textbooks
PCC’s Open Educational Resources (OER) will receive more opportunities to promote free online resources to every student on campus, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the College Affordability Textbook Act in 2016.