Starting with the spring semester, Golden West College (GWC) will eliminate all course materials fees – including textbooks, calculators and access codes for homework and study programs – for math classes.

Currently, the California college has converted approximately 50% of its courses into “Zero Textbook Costs” or ZTC courses to remove financial barriers for students. ZTC courses often use open educational resources (OER) which are created under a Creative Commons License that allows people to share, use and build upon the work.

In the college’s mathematics and engineering department, the number of ZTC courses is even higher, with approximately 85% of courses designated as zero cost due in large part to the work done by math faculty who have embraced a transition to OER over the past few years. “The math department has been tirelessly dedicated to this mission,” Department Chair Shawn Taylor says. “Faculty members have voluntarily embraced this transition, driven not by financial incentives or external pressures, but by a genuine commitment to our students and their success.”

In a typical college-level math course, the cost of course materials can place a significant financial strain on students, with the cost of purchasing a textbook, an access code and a calculator ranging anywhere from $100-$250.

Golden West is tapping into Student Equity and Achievement Program (SEAP) funds to close the 15% gap in Spring 2025 and ensure that ALL math classes at the college are designated as ZTC. This initiative allows students to borrow calculators, and in some cases, textbooks for the duration of the Spring 2025 semester. SEAP is a state-funded program that aims to promote student success and equal educational opportunities for all students.

“At GWC we strive to remove all barriers to student success,” says Vice President of Student Services Claudia Lee. “Our goal in having all math classes as zero-cost to students is to increase the number of students who take math within their first year at GWC, and increase their course success and completion rates.”

“With this transformative initiative to eliminate all course material costs in math, Golden West College reaffirms its commitment to educational innovation and equity, ensuring that all students have the resources they need to succeed in their academic journey,” Taylor says.

This article was originally published here.