Kwantlen Polytechnic University
IN-41: Textbook Affordability

KPU has been an international leader in reducing the cost of education by eliminating textbook costs through the provision of Open Education Resources. As noted in KPU's 2021-2022 Accountability Report, KPU is an international leader in open education and home to Canada's first Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) programs. From the 2020 to 2021 academic year, there were 951 ZTC course sections, which represented 18% of all sections. This benefited a total of 10,776 students which saved approximately $2.3 million in textbook costs for the year. This has improved (23% increase) significantly since the following year and is expected to continue in future years. KPU is continuing to expand its Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiative to reduce the cost of learning for students. In fall 2023, 493 course sections — an instance of a university course — come without the cost of traditional textbooks. Instead, students have access to library materials and open educational resources, such as free digital textbooks. In addition to individual course sections, KPU also offers eight complete credentials that have no requirement to purchase textbooks, including the Bachelor of Interior Design and the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies.

Zero Textbook Cost Program link below.  

KPU has incentives for creating and adopting open-access textbooks: the Open Education Grant Program. There is a $500 grant available for adopting an open textbook. As well, the program offers two options for an Open Educational Resources Grant to support writing/adapting an open textbook, one of which is a section release and the other offers up to $4,000. The grant program is available for regular instructors and support staff, although the adoption grant is limited to support staff with instructional responsibilities. Currently, there is no program for reviewing open textbooks. The adoption grant is offered as an incentive partially to acknowledge the work that goes into reviewing a new book for a course, as well as changing how the course is taught. While formal reviews don’t usually come out of this process, informal review occurs. In addition, KPU promotes the BC Campus Reviewer Program which offers $250 honorarium to a reviewer. Open Education Grant Program: https://www.kpu.ca/open/grants#:~:text=Open%20Education%20Grant%20Program,open%20educational%20resources%20(OERs).

https://www.kpu.ca/open/grants - Open Educational Resources Grant https://bccampus.ca/grants-calls-for-proposals/review-open-textbooks/ BC Campus Peer Review Program

https://www.kpu.ca/open/ztc#:~:text=The%20Zero%20Textbook%20Cost%20Initiative,-Press%20Enter%20to&text=The%20ZTC%20Initiative%20enables%20students,or%20no%20resources%20at%20all. Video on the ZTC Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fXXBr2vZrY KPU Accountability Report 2021-2022: https://www.kpu.ca/sites/default/files/Institutional%20Analysis%20and%20Planning/KPU%20IAPR%202021-22%20%282022-10-26%29_0.pdf