ZTC Listserv Communications

We are archiving all communications that are sent from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) and the ZTC Technical Assistance Provider (TAP) using the ZTC listserv. Subscribe to the ZTC listserv.

We are pleased to share College of the Canyons as the new Technical Assistance Provider for the statewide ZTC Grant Program. We look forward to providing additional information and support in the coming months.

In order to support colleges that are developing ZTC pathways and to inform our approach to supporting colleges, we are sharing a ZTC Pathway Readiness Assessment. This assessment is intended to be a tool for your college to determine the status of your local ZTC progress. It can inform your local planning and assessment of how prepared your college is for ZTC pathway development and competitive funding opportunities. The submitted information will help shape the technical assistance support for colleges and ZTC pathways.

Ideally, the assessment will be completed collaboratively by those who are leading your local ZTC efforts. If at all possible, we are encouraging colleges to complete the short assessment by June 30, but understand that some members of your ZTC team might not be available during the summer, so the assessment will be open through the beginning of the fall term in the hope that you will be able to solicit input from key constituencies.

Click on the following link for the ZTC Pathway Readiness Assessment.

For questions about the assessment, please contact ztctap@canyons.edu

Greetings, 

Please see important Zero Textbook Cost Grant Program updates and reminders below, please email questions to ztc@cccco.edu 

ZTC Grants 

  • Phase 1 Planning Grant
    • Reminder, the Fiscal Report in NOVA is due June 30, 2023. Please report expenses for the $20,000 grant allocation, if the funds are unspent, report on how the funds will be spent. 
    • The “Program Report” previously included in NOVA has been removed. No program narrative report is required for Phase 1. 
  • Phase 3 Implementation Grant
    • Colleges received $180,000 through apportionment beginning in March 2023, for reference please see Memo ESS 23-04. 
    • A Phase 3 work plan will be due October 31, 2023 in NOVA. A work plan template will be shared out on the ZTC listserv in June for college to begin collecting the work plan information. We will share an update when the work plan is available in NOVA. 
  • Phase 2 Acceleration Competitive Grants 
    • Grants will be released in Fall 2023, a release date has not been determined. 

ZTC Pathway Readiness Assessment 

Last week a ZTC Pathway Readiness Assessment was shared out, this assessment is intended to be a tool for your college to determine the status of your local ZTC progress. It can inform your local planning and assessment of how prepared your college is for ZTC pathway development and competitive funding opportunities. The submitted information will help shape the technical assistance support for colleges and ZTC pathways. If possible please complete the assessment by June 30, however it will remain open through early fall term if your college is unable to complete by June 30. Questions? ztctap@canyons.edu 

ZTC Listserv
To subscribe, visit https://listserv.cccnext.net/scripts/wa-cccnext.exe?INDEX

  • On the home page of the listserv website you will see a list of archives of all the non-confidential listservs hosted by the CCC Technology Center listserv, locate and click on the ZTC list.
  • You will see a message stating “Not Authorized” or “Login Required” (or similar). Ignore that, and instead click the 3-line “hamburger” icon to open a short menu
  • Click on the option Subscribe or Unsubscribe, which will open the Subscription Management page for that list
  • Fill in your name and email address and click Subscribe
  • Some lists require you to confirm your email address prior to your request being forwarded to the list owner(s) for final approval
  • Once you have been approved you will receive a notification email from listserv about your new subscription

ZTC Office Hours 

Ongoing ZTC drop-in office hours occur on the last Friday of the month from 9:00-10:00 am. The next scheduled office hours are June 30, July 28, August 25 and September 29th. To join, use this link. 

Hello!

As ZTC Technical Assistance Provider, we’re excited to announce our first professional development course: Making the Case for ZTC: Pathways to Equity, July 10-August 5. Registration is now open!

Registration

  • Register at the following link: https://formfaca.de/sm/dhiogDvMB
  • Registration is first-come, first-served. This section has an enrollment limit of 30, so register today! The deadline to register is July 7 @noon PDT.

 Course Description

This 4-week course explores the fundamental connections between Equity, Open Educational Resources (OER), Guided Pathways, and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) programs. You will employ an equity cognitive frame to examine the impact of textbook costs on student success, and the disproportionate impact on historically underserved students. You will also dig into research on OER efficacy, consider the “what” and “why” of Guided Pathways, and review case studies on successful ZTC pathways, across the state and beyond. You will leave this course understanding how OER and ZTC pathways promote student success and reduce equity gaps, supporting the Vision for Success of the California Community Colleges.

Course Format

  • This online asynchronous course covers 4 modules and will have two co-facilitators.
  • Participants will connect weekly through asynchronous discussions and activities, and should expect to spend up to 8 hours per week interacting with one another, the course materials, and the facilitators.
  • The course will be offered in the CVC instance of Canvas; many thanks to the CVC team for their support!
  • Register at the following link: https://formfaca.de/sm/dhiogDvMB

Future Courses

We plan to offer this and at least two other professional development courses during the fall term: Training OER Support Specialists and Teaching with OER and Open Pedagogy for Equity. We’ll announce when we have dates set for those course offerings. Another version of this course – designed to be self-paced (no facilitator required) – is also being developed and will be posted to Canvas Commons. We’ll let you know once it’s available.

Questions?

  • If you have questions about the course Making the Case for ZTC: Pathways to Equity specifically, please contact: Aloha Sargent aloha.sargent@cabrillo.edu.
  • If you have questions about the ZTC professional development course offerings in general, please contact: ztctap@canyons.edu.

Thank you!

James

ZTC Office Hours

An error has been brought to our attention on the dates of the regular ZTC Office hours. We apologize for any inconvenience for those that tried to join this morning.

For clarification,  ZTC drop-in office hours occur on the last Friday of the month from 9:00-10:00 am. The next scheduled office hours are June 30, July 28, August 25 and September 29th. To join, use this link to the ZTC drop-in office hours.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to ztc@cccco.edu.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Please note, the following ZTC message was distributed on the SEA Program listserv.

Good afternoon ZTC Programs, 

Thank you to the 72 colleges that have submitted their ZTC Phase 1 fiscal report. If you have already submitted, please review the important notes below to ensure it was submitted correctly. 

For colleges who have not submitted, this is a friendly reminder that the ZTC Phase 1 Fiscal Report is due tomorrow, June 30, 2023 COB in NOVA. If your college needs an extension, please email ztc@cccco.edu to request one. 

A few important things to note:

  • The fiscal report will need to account for the entire $20,000 Phase 1 grant allocation, the “Total Remaining” in NOVA will need to be zero $0.
    • If you have spent the entire $20,000, please include all expenses. 
    • If you have spent a portion of the $20,000, please report funds expended AND report how you plan to spend the remaining funds in the various categories as well. 
    • If you have spent $0, please report how you plan to spend the $20,000. 
    • If you have already submitted and did not report on the entire $20,000, please “un-submit” your report, revise and resubmit. 
  • Only people listed as Project Lead Contacts will have the ability to edit and submit the Fiscal Report in NOVA. Alternate Lead Contacts will not have the ability to edit the Fiscal Report.
    • Adding additional Project Lead Contacts:
      • The person that is already designated as the Project Lead Contact will need to open ZTC Phase 1 Plan
      • Click on the Contacts tab of the workflow
      • Click on +Add Contact located beneath the list of Alternate Project Lead Contacts.
      • Click on the drop-down menu and select Project Lead Contact and then click Next
      • Enter the email address of the person that you would like to designate as a Project Lead Contact
      • Click on Add Role
      • Once listed as a Project Lead Contact, you will then have the ability to edit and submit the Fiscal Report in NOVA.
  • The “Program Report” previously included in NOVA has been removed. No program narrative report is required for Phase 1. 
  • Questions, support, extension requests, please email ztc@cccco.edu 

ZTC Office Hours 

Ongoing ZTC drop-in office hours occur on the last Friday of the month from 9:00-10:00 am. The next scheduled office hours are June 30, July 28, August 25 and September 29th. To join, use this link. 

 Contact Us

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at ZTC@cccco.edu  if you would like to be added to the ZTC listserv. 

 Many thanks for all that you do and have a splendid day!

Hello,

Thank you to everyone who attended today’s first information session to learn about the ZTC Acceleration Grant Program Plans.

Attached here is a PPT that I used to share information about ZTC Grant Program funding to date, Acceleration Grant program plan timeline, and technical assistance/support.

Additional ZTC Acceleration Grant information sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays, 12 – 1 pm on:

  • August 22
  • August 29
  • September 5
  • September 12

Via Zoom: Join ZTC Acceleration Grant information sessions

The Chancellor’s Office will continue to host Ongoing ZTC Drop-in Office Hours

Thank you!

James

——————————–

James Glapa-Grossklag

Dean, Educational Technology, Learning Resources, and Distance Learning

Technical Assistance Provider, CCC ZTC Program

OER Fellow, Michelson 20MM Foundation

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA 91390

661.362.3632

Dear Colleagues:

We are pleased to announce that the Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Acceleration Grant Program Plan is now available in NOVA.  The Chancellor’s Office strongly encourages all colleges interested in developing and implementing ZTC programs by Fall 2026 to apply for the Acceleration Grant by submitting their program plans by September 15, 2023.  The Chancellor’s Office recognizes that there are limiting factors locally that may make the one-month turnaround time to submit a final Program Plan challenging for some colleges; therefore, the Chancellor’s Office has built in flexibility to allow for the submission of a partial Program Plan (i.e., at minimum the Contact Information and Intent to Apply section) in NOVA by the September 15th deadline. Please see attached for an example of the Program Plan for your reference.  The Chancellor’s Office will distribute a guidance memo with additional details by Monday, August 21, 2023. 

Please see below for the key Acceleration Grant dates for Fall 2023

Acceleration Program Plan Release August 15, 2023 
Acceleration Program Plan Information Sessions  12:00 – 1:00pm;  Join Zoom Accerleration Program Information Sessions  August 15, 22, 29 and September 5th & 12th  
Acceleration Program Plan Submission  September 15, 2023 
Award Selection and Awardee Notification begins September 22, 2023 
Grant Allocation through Apportionment begins October 2023 

The Chancellor’s Office will host four more information sessions to support colleges’ submission of the ZTC Acceleration Program Plans. They will be offered on August 22, 29, September 5 and 12 from 12:00 – 1:00pm (use link to join).  In the meantime, if you have questions regarding the ZTC Acceleration Grant, including access to NOVA and/or adding a new program lead contact, please contact us at ZTC@cccco.edu.   

Collegially,

Chad Funk

Program Specialist

Equitable Student Learning, Experience and Impact Office

Educational Services and Support Division

( (916) 445-1774

* cfunk@cccco.edu

Dear Colleagues:

Attached, please see the guidance memo from the State Chancellor’s Office regarding the Zero Textbook Grants Program and Acceleration Grants.  Also, the Chancellor’s Office will host four more information sessions to support colleges’ submission of the ZTC Acceleration Program Plans. The next sessions will be offered on August 22, 29, September 5 and 12 from 12:00 – 1:00pm (use link to join).  In the meantime, if you have questions regarding the ZTC Acceleration Grants, including access to NOVA and/or adding a new program lead contact, please contact us at ZTC@cccco.edu.   

Collegially,

Chad Funk

Program Specialist

Equitable Student Learning, Experience and Impact Office

Educational Services and Support Division

(916) 445-1774

* cfunk@cccco.edu

Hello everyone,

As the ZTC Grant Program Technical Assistance Provider, I’m pleased to let you know that our Fall 2023 ZTC professional development courses are available for registration. Thanks to our colleagues with CVC, you can register for our courses via the @ONE catalog of classes: ZTC Professional Development Fall 2023. Completers will earn an @One badge.

Descriptions of the ZTC courses are below. More details, including course outcomes and dates, are available in the @One catalog of classes: ZTC Professional Development Fall 2023.

Making the Case for ZTC: Pathways to Equity

  • This course explores the fundamental connections between equity, Open Educational Resources (OER), Guided Pathways (GP), and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) pathways. You will employ an equity cognitive frame to examine the impact of textbook costs on student success, and the disproportionate impact on historically underserved students. You will also dig into the growing research on OER efficacy, consider the “what” and “why” of Guided Pathways, and review successful ZTC pathways, across the state and beyond. You will leave this course understanding how OER and ZTC pathways promote student success and reduce equity gaps, supporting the Vision for Success of the California Community Colleges.
  • This data-rich course will help colleagues advocating for OER adoption and ZTC pathway development to make their case.

Building a Team: Training OER Support Staff

  • This course is tailored for those overseeing OER projects. Anchored in the OER Competency Framework, this course delves into the foundations of OER, including citation, licensing, and technical requirements like accessibility and formatting. Participants will also learn the intricacies of sharing and managing OER effectively.
  • This process focused course will benefit colleagues directing or supporting OER and ZTC projects or establishing an OER support team.

Teaching with OER and Open Pedagogy for Equity

  • This course explores the connections between equity, Open Educational Resources (OER), open pedagogy, and culturally responsive pedagogy. You will look at a variety of real-world examples (e.g., non-disposable assignments, open student projects, open course design, culturally-relevant OER) and be asked to consider: how might you implement these approaches in your own teaching? What are some concrete actions you can take in your own course to create more culturally responsive spaces for your students and transform your teaching and learning using OER or open pedagogy?
  • This pedagogy-focused course will benefit teaching faculty and those supporting innovation in teaching (e.g., instructional designers and teaching and learning center staff).

Please let us know if you have any questions.

James

——————————–

James Glapa-Grossklag

Dean, Educational Technology, Learning Resources, and Distance Learning

Technical Assistance Provider, CCC ZTC Program

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA 91390

661.362.3632

Hello,

Thank you to those who were able to attend the ZTC Acceleration Grant Information Session last Tuesday, 8/22.

Attached here is a PPT used to share information about ZTC Grant Program funding to date, Acceleration Grant program plan timeline, and technical assistance/support.

Additional ZTC Acceleration Grant information sessions are scheduled

The Chancellor’s Office will continue to host Ongoing ZTC Drop-in Office Hours

Thank you,

James

——————————–

James Glapa-Grossklag

Dean, Educational Technology, Learning Resources and Distance Learning

CCC ZTC Technical Assistance Provider

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA 91390

661.362.3632

Hi everyone,

Seats are still available for our first fall sections of ZTC professional development courses, starting next week! Please see the details below and at the relevant links.

As the ZTC Grant Program Technical Assistance Provider, I’m please to let you know that our Fall 2023 ZTC professional development courses are available for registration. Thanks to our colleagues with CVC, you can register for our courses via the @ONE catalog of classes: ZTC Professional Development Fall 2023. Completers will earn an @One badge.

Descriptions of the ZTC courses are below. More details, including course outcomes and dates, are available in the @One catalog of classes: ZTC Professional Development Fall 2023.

Making the Case for ZTC: Pathways to Equity

  • This course explores the fundamental connections between equity, Open Educational Resources (OER), Guided Pathways (GP), and Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) pathways. You will employ an equity cognitive frame to examine the impact of textbook costs on student success, and the disproportionate impact on historically underserved students. You will also dig into the growing research on OER efficacy, consider the “what” and “why” of Guided Pathways, and review successful ZTC pathways, across the state and beyond. You will leave this course understanding how OER and ZTC pathways promote student success and reduce equity gaps, supporting the Vision for Success of the California Community Colleges.
  • This data-rich course will help colleagues advocating for OER adoption and ZTC pathway development to make their case.

Building a Team: Training OER Support Staff

  • This course is tailored for those overseeing OER projects. Anchored in the OER Competency Framework, this course delves into the foundations of OER, including citation, licensing, and technical requirements like accessibility and formatting. Participants will also learn the intricacies of sharing and managing OER effectively.
  • This process focused course will benefit colleagues directing or supporting OER and ZTC projects or establishing an OER support team.

Teaching with OER and Open Pedagogy for Equity

  • This course explores the connections between equity, Open Educational Resources (OER), open pedagogy, and culturally responsive pedagogy. You will look at a variety of real-world examples (e.g., non-disposable assignments, open student projects, open course design, culturally-relevant OER) and be asked to consider: how might you implement these approaches in your own teaching? What are some concrete actions you can take in your own course to create more culturally responsive spaces for your students and transform your teaching and learning using OER or open pedagogy?
  • This pedagogy-focused course will benefit teaching faculty and those supporting innovation in teaching (e.g., instructional designers and teaching and learning center staff).

Please let us know if you have any questions.

James

——————————–

James Glapa-Grossklag

Dean, Educational Technology, Learning Resources, and Distance Learning

Technical Assistance Provider, CCC ZTC Program

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita, CA 91390

661.362.3632

Good Afternoon All:

It has come to our attention that there are two known problems in the NOVA Acceleration Grant program plan application.  Both issues are due to the publication of a template in NOVA that was one-version-old; this was not discovered until the data collection instrument had gone live. We are unable to correct this issue in NOVA now because it would reset the information that colleges have already submitted.   

  1. In the budget section, Question #9 (and #19 & #29 for colleges that are submitting multiple program plans) shows the 6000 line as “Indirect Cost.”  For clarification, 6000 is for any Capital Outlay in the budget and 7000 is for Other Outgoing Indirect Cost.  If your college will have Capital Outlay expenses, then it is recommended that a description of the capital outlay expenses be included for explanation in the attachments section.
  1. For colleges that are submitting a third program plan in NOVA, Question #22 is limited to 100 characters.  For this section, colleges can provide the number of courses that are already available to students in the program pathway.  If the character space allows, then the courses descriptions can be specified.  However, if the space is not sufficient, then please provide as much information as possible (e.g. “6 courses: MATH 15A, PSYC 200, HIST 1A, ETHN 100, and two others.).

Thank you for your understanding,   

Dear Zero Textbook Cost College Leads/Plan Approvers:

The purpose of this email is to provide valuable information updates regarding the ZTC Implementation Grant.  Thank you to the colleges that submitted ZTC Acceleration Grants or are in the process of submitting ZTC Acceleration Grants.

ZTC Implementation Grant Program Plan submission updates

The Chancellor’s Office issued $20K in July 2022 (ZTC Planning Grant) and $180K to every college in March 2023, via apportionment, to support the development and implementation of at least one ZTC Program Pathway per college to increase low-cost educational opportunities for students.  As a condition of receiving the ZTC Implementation Grant funds, every college shall submit their ZTC Implementation Grant Program Plan in NOVA by October 31, 2023.  The ZTC Implementation Grant information must not replicate the ZTC Acceleration Grant program plan that your college may have submitted or may be preparing to submit.  The ZTC Implementation Grant will be available in NOVA on September 22.  If you need access to NOVA, please contact us at ZTC@cccco.edu. 

ZTC Implementation Grant Program Plan Key Dates

ZTC Implementation Grant program plan available in NOVASeptember 22, 2023 
ZTC Implementation Grant program plan deadline  October 31, 2023 
ZTC Implementation Grant progress and fiscal report #1  December 31, 2024 
ZTC Implementation Program Pathway active at collegeFall 2025 semester
ZTC Implementation Grant progress and fiscal report #2  December 31, 2025
Final program and fiscal reportDecember 31, 2026

ZTC Implementation Grant Program Plan Professional Development and Technical Assistance

The Chancellor’s Office will continue to provide program guidance and compliance expectations through webinars and direct communications to program coordinators (please see Guidance Memo ESS 23-27).  If NOVA guidance is needed, there are NOVA video tutorials available online.  For a new login or access to NOVA, please visit the request access page.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the ZTC Program at ztc@cccco.edu. 

Collegially yours,

Dear ZTC Colleagues:

Thanks to all colleges that submitted ZTC Acceleration Grant program plans requesting funds to develop and implement zero cost textbook program pathways.  Due to the positive response and creativity demonstrated by the colleges, we had a significant number of program plans submitted by the September 15, 2023 deadline.  The Chancellor’s Office has started providing notification to colleges that were selected as initial recipients of ZTC Acceleration Grant fund awards.  If your college has not yet received a response to your program plan(s), or if your college only received a response regarding specific program plans that were submitted, this is because the program plan review is still in-process.  We will continue to announce additional awards to colleges on a rolling basis as we proceed to review the significant number of program plans that were submitted.