UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. The University Library is taking great strides to promote student representation, access and success by advocating for students to have affordable textbooks. Through the Textbook Affordability Project, we are engaging faculty in discussions about how they can make a difference in students’ lives by choosing quality teaching materials with little or no cost to students.

Finding Zero and Low Cost Courses

Every semester UTRGV professors report if their course materials will be offered to students at Zero-Cost or Low-Cost.

At UTRGV we define these courses as:

  • Zero-Cost - Courses that have no associated learning materials costs.
  • Low-Cost - Courses that require all learning materials to total less than $40 when purchased.

Course materials are textbooks, courseware/access codes, and software; course materials DO NOT include supplies such as lab coats, goggles, scantron sheets, calculators, or other reusable items.

You can find these courses in ASSIST during registration in three easy steps.

  1. In ASSIST select the term
  2. Click on Advanced Search
  3. In the Attribute section select Zero-Cost Textbook and/or Low-Cost Textbook and search.

Look for these images in ASSIST to see if the course has a Zero or Low-Cost Textbook.

Zero Cost Textbook Logo

Low Cost Textbook Logo

Flyer - Search for courses that use free Textbooks. 1. In ASSIST select the term. 2. Click on Advanced Search 3. In the Attribute section select Zero Cost Textbook and/or Low Cost Textbook and search.

 

Click here to watch a video to learn how to Find Zero and Low-Cost Courses in Assist.

Student Involvement

Vaqueros, your voices matter! The student body and its needs are the driving force behind any university initiative. Here are some ways you can advocate for FREE and AFFORDABLE course materials at UTRGV.

Open Textbooks Guide

  • This detailed guidebook explains the advantages of open textbooks and then lays out specific ways that your college can promote open books. This piece is great to give to librarians, administrators, and other VIPs.

Organizing Toolkit

  • This organizing toolkit for student government provides instructions and tips on how to bring open textbooks to your campus.

OER Student Toolkit

  • A BCcampus Open Education advocacy guide for student leaders allows students to take action and advocate for Open Educational Resources on campus.

Making Open Educational Resources: A Guide for Students by Students

  • This book will introduce you to the idea of Open Educational Resources (OER), where to find them, why we recommend using them, and how to go about creating your own.

Script for Talking to Professors

  • Students can use this script to have a conversation with their professors about considering adopting Open Educational Resources to use as their primary teaching resource.