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Zero-Cost Course Resources

Call for Proposals: Zero-Cost & Low-Cost Course Materiasl Grants
Call for Proposals: Mini-Grants for Zero-Cost and Low-Cost Course Materials


February 6, 2024


With funding from the Scholar Transformational Impact Fund and support from the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL), the UC Merced Library invites faculty (senate and non-senate) to apply for funding to eliminate or minimize course costs for undergraduate or graduate students.

image of library's 4th floor
White Paper from LASC Now Available


December 21, 2023


The UC Merced Library White Paper (June 2023) was written in response to a charge from former Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Gregg Camfield to the UC Merced Academic Senate Committee on Library and Scholarly Communication (LASC) to articulate the Library’s contributions to UC Merced’s mission of research, teaching, and service.

Call for Proposals: Zero-Cost & Low-Cost Course Material Grants
Call for Proposals: Mini-Grants for Zero-Cost and Low-Cost Course Materials


September 14, 2023


With funding from the Scholar Transformational Impact Fund and support from the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL), the UC Merced Library invites senate faculty and Unit 18 lecturers to apply for funding to eliminate or minimize course costs for students.

Call for Proposals Zero-Cost Course Materials Grant Program
Zero-Cost Course Materials (ZCCM) Grant Program Resumes with a Call for Proposals


September 28, 2022


The Zero-Cost Course Materials (ZCCM) grant program is resuming. Faculty and lecturers who wish to replace commercial materials with Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library licensed material for spring 2023 courses are encouraged to apply for a ZCCM grant by November 14, 2022.

UC Merced Newsroom- Grant Saves Students Thousands of Dollars in Textbook Costs
Author: Juan Flores


March 10, 2022


The Zero Cost Course Materials Grant is a partnership between the UC Merced Library, Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning, and extra support from the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. The grant program is projected to save over $276,000 in textbook costs. Read the full story by Juan Flores, UC Merced.

Zero - Cost Course Materials Grant Information Session for Faculty


March 19, 2021


Learn more about the Zero-Cost Course Materials Grant- a collaboration between UC Merced Library and the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning. This session is intended for faculty to learn more about grant opportunities, Open Education resources, and UC Merced Library licensed electronic resources to help reduce learning materials costs to $0.

Call for Zero-Cost Course Materials (ZCCM) Proposals


September 23, 2020


The UC Merced Library and the Center for Engaged Teaching & Learning (CETL) are accepting proposals for the Zero-Cost Course Materials Grant. The ZCCM grant supports instructors who are replacing commercial materials with Open Educational Resources (OER) and library licensed materials.

Zero-Cost (OER) Course Materials Grant


July 31, 2018


What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?

OER are teaching, learning, and research resources that reside in the public domain or are released under an intellectual property license that permits their free use and repurposing by others. OER can include textbooks, supplemental materials, teaching materials, test and question banks, and more!

Why use OER?

Using OER allows students to have materials before the first day of class and to have access to materials 24/7 from any internet connection. The use of OER removes financial obstacles to course materials and allows instructors to customize materials to match their teaching style and learning needs of their students. 

How can I start using OER?

The UC Merced Library and the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning (CETL) are collaborating to offer the Zero-Cost Course Materials Grant to support the adoption of OER and use of UC Merced Library licensed electronic resources to reduce textbook...