History of OER/ZTC at CUNY & BMCC
CUNY and BMCC have been leaders in the adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER) and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiatives. These programs are designed to alleviate the financial burden on students by providing free, high-quality educational materials.
Faculty and Student Engagement
In recent years, faculty members at BMCC have embraced the mission of OER. They have reported increased flexibility in teaching, as OER allows for the customization of course materials to better fit their teaching styles and their students’ needs.
Students have responded positively to the OER/ZTC initiatives. Surveys and feedback given during BMCC’s “Week of Thanks” indicate students deeply appreciate the cost savings and the greater accessibility of materials.
Financial Impact
Since 2017, BMCC students have collectively saved over $10 million on textbook costs. This improves students’ overall educational experiences by allowing them to focus more on their studies, rather than on how to afford expensive textbooks.
Timeline: Ten Years of OER @ CUNY!
2014–2016
Conversations around the benefits of OER began at CUNY, driven by the need to reduce educational costs and improve access to resources for students.
2017
In April 2017, a New York State budget agreement included $4 million each for the CUNY and SUNY systems “to establish, sustain and enhance new and ongoing OER initiatives.”
2018–2020
The use of OER materials saw significant growth at CUNY and BMCC. Faculty increasingly integrate OER into their curricula, and more courses were being designated as ZTC.
2021–2024
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of accessible educational resources, accelerating the adoption of OER and ZTC.
Throughout this period, BMCC Library and Open Knowledge Team has conducted OER Course Redesign workshops for faculty, where faculty overhaul their course syllabi to make them entirely no-cost for students.
