IVC's Low Textbook Cost (LTC) & Zero Textbook Cost Guidelines

Imperial Valley College Low Textbook Cost (LTC) Guidelies & Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Policy (SB 1359)

These LTC Guidelines and ZTC Policy refer exclusively to required instructional materials. Optional instructional materials (e.g. optional textbook, optional reader, optional novel) and student supplies (e.g. Scantron forms, scientific calculators, etc.) are not considered under the purview of these guidelines.

IVC LTC Guidelines

LTC course sections use texts and/or materials that cost a total of $50 or less, with the following clarifications:

• The LTC designation is based on the price of new materials, before tax, found on the IVC bookstore or publisher’s site.

• If students are directed to purchase materials in a place other than the IVC bookstore, this must be clearly indicated in the class syllabus and must adhere to the price standards above.

• A class that uses free digital materials but requires students to print some of the course materials may be designated as LTC if the print costs can be reasonably expected to be under $50.

IVC ZTC Policy (SB 1359) 

ZTC course sections exclusively use digital or other instructional materials that are free of charge to students, with the following clarifications:

• A for-cost (print) option is allowed as long as a no-cost option is available to all students.

• Classes where materials are digital and free but students are required to print materials are not ZTC.

• Instructional materials may be Open Educational Resources (OER); materials licensed and paid for by the college, such as library resources; and other properly licensed and adopted materials.

• If library resources are used for a class, all students in the class must be able to simultaneously access the resources to have the ZTC designation.

• Fees to access a software platform to do coursework or homework are considered a textbook cost, and the course section would NOT qualify as ZTC, even if the actual textbook is free.

Guidelines were approved by IVC's Academic Senate on 4/6/22.