Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$)

As a result of California Senate Bill 1359, each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall “Clearly highlight, by means that may include a symbol or logo in a conspicuous place on the online campus course schedule, the courses that exclusively use digital course materials that are free of charge to students and may have a low-cost option for print version”. In our online schedule, CSUDH will use 2 designations:

CSUDH uses the section course attribute ZCCM to designate the course has $0 required costs.

CSUDH uses the section course attribute LCCM to designate the course has $40 or less in required costs.

Included in the course materials cost: traditional and electronic books or access codes, course packets, art supplies, lab coats, goggles, yoga mats, graphing calculators, subscriptions, and anything else beyond standard school supplies that students need to purchase.

CSUDH has an Academic Policy, AA AA 2020-03, that addresses this bill. 

Optional costs should not be included your calculation. 
For example: you provide students with a link to a free, online version of your materials but give them the option to purchase materials in print. The cost of optional print materials should not be included in your calculation. However, if the print version is required in your class, you should include that cost in your calculation.

If a text is used across multiple courses in a sequence DO NOT base your calculation on the cost divided by those courses. 
For example, a text that costs $120 that is required for 3 sequenced courses DOES NOT meet the $40 or under label requirement.
Not all students take all courses in a series.
Students may take courses over time and may have to pay for edition changes.
Students must pay the $120 and cannot budget for 3 even payments.

Only identify courses that meet these cost-cap requirements ($0 or $40 or under)

By default, classes that do not meet one of these two cost caps will not be designated (same as now). Schedule-builders will have the new ability to call out courses that meet one of these two material cost caps in the online schedule, but all other courses will remain unmarked by default.

Q: How do I add the ZCCM/LCCM designation to my course?
Your course scheduler would add the designation as a normal part of building the schedule prior to each semester. If the next semester's schedule has already been created without the correct code, it can still be added - just be sure you notify them as soon as possible so it can be done in a timely manner. 
Note: course schedulers typically will not add a course designation unless they are notified by the instructor directly (or in some cases the Department Head). The Library, Bookstore, and AL$ Coordinator cannot add the designation for you! 

Q: Do I have to mark my course sections as ZCCM/LCCM again each semester?

In most cases, unfortunately yes. Some courses (like our own LIB 151) were created to be permanently ZCCM, and all instructors who teach the course commit to upholding that designation. For the majority of courses, however, they must be reported to your course scheduler prior to each semester when the course schedule is created. 

Q: What if my text is available as an e-book through the University library?
If your required text is available as a free-to-students ebook through the University Library AND is licensed as "unlimited simultaneous access" as required to be designated as ZCCM by 4.1.1 of AA 2020-03, as long as you don’t require the printed text in your class, your course can qualify for the $0 cost designation. However, in this case, the text should not be listed as “required” through the bookstore’s site, because students may assume they must purchase it. Consider listing the text as “optional” on the bookstore’s site and messaging students about their choices before the term begins.

Q: What if I don’t require any texts or “outside” materials for my class?
Your course CAN qualify for the $0 designation if no “outside” materials or texts are required. For the purposes of these cost designations, it doesn’t matter if you are using instructor-created materials, activities, slides, websites, library materials, etc. Apply the question: does my course have any text or publisher-related costs? If the answer is no, the course meets the $0 designation. 

Q: What if I am unsure about the cost of my materials?
Consult Ángel Covarrubias, Bookstore textbook manager for guidance. If you are still unsure about whether your course meets the designation at the registration deadline, DO NOT ask your schedule-builder to designate your course. 

Q: If the instructor for the section is changed just prior to the beginning of the term, and the previously assigned instructor indicated that the course section was ZCCM, is the new instructor bound by the original designation?

No, the new instructor is not bound by the original designation, but they do need to coordinate with their department scheduler/coordinator to ensure that the ZCCM attribute is removed in a timely manner if they do not choose to use zero cost materials.

Q: What if there is no instructor assigned to a course section at the time the course schedule is published?

If no instructor is assigned to a course, the ZCCM or LCCM designation should not be used unless it is a departmental decision for course materials in multi-section courses.

Q: What if a course requires students to purchase materials other than textbooks, for example, calculators, safety goggles, theater tickets, etc.?

The ZCCM designation cannot be used if students are required to purchase any materials.

Q: What if I post or handout PDF’s? Do I need to give this information to the Bookstore?

Yes. They can be listed in the same place where you would normally place your textbook order.

Q: What if I have copyright questions?

If you have copyright questions regarding any of your materials you use in class, contact the CSUDH Bookstore.

What about other institutions?

Created by CSUDH AL$ Steering Committee, based on “Material costs in the schedule FAQ” created by PCC OER Steering Committee