Word Art: Student Needs Are Academic Needs

BMCC’s Week of Thanks, held from November 13-19, provided a welcome opportunity to express gratitude for our community members, including students, staff, and faculty. This year, the BMCC Library’s Open Knowledge team aimed to highlight the genuine appreciation of students in Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses. Faculty members who choose to teach ZTC courses often do not receive acknowledgment for their conscious and compassionate choice to support students by providing course materials at no cost. We took the time to listen to our students share their experiences with no-cost materials. 

Throughout the Week of Thanks, our team set up a table outside the BMCC Library, offering information and free snacks to passing students. A large, hand-illustrated sign prompted students to reflect on their textbook expenses. In our conversations with students, we encountered widespread appreciation for ZTC courses. 

What’s ZTC? 

According to CUNY guidelines, “Zero Textbook Cost” indicates that a course listed in CUNYfirst does not require students to purchase textbooks or mandatory readings. Instead, students may be assigned open educational resources (OER), freely available materials, library resources, or a combination of these. This designation, found under “course attribute,” is applicable to various course formats, including In Person, Online, or Hybrid, with course sections independently assigned the ZTC attribute. 

During our tabling, we assisted students in finding ZTC courses for their spring semester registration, guiding them on how to filter for ZTC courses in CUNYfirst. Many were pleasantly surprised to discover this feature and expressed eagerness to utilize it while planning their schedules. 

What Students Said 

We asked students about classes they were taking (or had taken) that did not require purchasing a textbook, what they appreciated about the course, what they spent the saved money on instead, and anything else they wanted to convey to their instructor. 

Throughout our tabling, we collected 54 student responses. Students shared how they redirected funds toward basic needs like groceries and transportation or specific purchases such as winter clothing, eyeglasses, or a Texas Instruments calculator. In their own words: 

• “I wasn’t making much at the time, so I was able to buy food for the week before I got to class because I don’t have time to make breakfast.” 

• “I used the money for college supplies and life essentials.” 

• “Future classes and to take the train.” 

• “Used money for food and hygiene products.” 

• “I used it to pay my bills since it’s a struggle being a full-time student and having to pay bills.” 

Others mentioned saving it for emergencies or a rainy day. Hearing from students in their own words illuminated the invisible material impact ZTC courses had on their lives. 

While some expressed simple thanks, others conveyed heartfelt and heartwarming messages: 

• “Thank you to Ms. Lisa that I don’t have to spend money on a textbook, and my kids have access to more food. Love you, Lisa!” 

• “Thank you so much for letting me see the textbook without having to purchase it! It helps me also use the money to pay for my internet bill, which contributes to doing my work at home! I really appreciate it a lot!” 

• “Thank you for making zero textbook cost and education accessible for all.” 

• “I saved on buying books and had the opportunity to fully focus in class. You’re the best!” 

• “Thank you for assisting with my future and financial issues.” 

• “Keep on doing the good work. You saved me a lot of stress.” 

A Broader Perspective 

Zooming out, ZTC represents not just a pedagogical shift but also a crucial step toward equity and accessibility in higher education. Many responses mentioned allocating saved money to essentials like groceries or rent, underscoring the intersection of basic needs and academic success. As staff and instructors, you’ve likely already witnessed firsthand some of the barriers our students face during their academic journeys. The BMCC Library and CETLS are committed to advocating for and facilitating an institution-wide shift toward no-cost course materials to address these barriers. 

Since 2015, the OER/ZTC initiative at BMCC has saved students over $8 million, and it is an honor and a joy to partner with faculty in this effort. Thank you to our over 300 OER faculty heroes! You are amazing. As we look ahead to ten years of OER at BMCC in the next academic year, the BMCC Library and CETLS invite you to join your colleagues in this transformative, equity-focused work. For more information, contact oer@bmcc.cuny.edu.