Program Description 

The Zero-Cost Adoption Program (ZAP) is a support program that up to 12 teaching faculty participate in for up to three semesters. Throughout the program, faculty work to find learning materials (referred to here as “course packets” ) for a module, unit, or course that enhance or ultimately may replace learning materials students would have otherwise paid for. In this program, the learning materials are intended to be resources that the college already pays for through existing subscriptions and licenses. In practice, that may be different article and video links that participants embed through their D2L course or it may be that the materials are collected as a set of links on a single D2L page. The term “course packet” is used to emphasize that the different learning materials are compiled from various sources even though they are likely to be electronic materials.

Such materials are chosen and compiled by the participants during the program and are intended to promote learning while potentially saving students money. Faculty progress at their own pace through asynchronous modules and receive 1-on-1 support. The program includes 

Part 1:  

• Learning about zero-cost learning materials and where to find them

• Learning about copyright and accessibility 

• Taking inventory of your and your department's current learning materials prices

Part 2:

• Putting together zero-cost learning materials to be used 

Part 3:

• • Using zero-cost learning materials 

  • Assessing impacts on teaching, learning, and student experience

  • Sharing with colleagues

Full Details can be found in the Zero-Cost Adoption Program Spring 2026 Syllabus.

Support

Throughout the program, please feel free to contact Tyler Roeger, the Associate Dean of CETAL, at any time for support or to have someone to bounce ideas off of. I’m happy to communicate via email, Zoom, on the phone, or in person however much is helpful. 

Additionally, throughout the program you will be encouraged to rely on existing resources, such as collaborating with librarians, accessibility coordinators, and instructional technologists to help support your project.

Compensation 

Teaching faculty participants will be compensated at the L2S2 rate up to 16 hours for the program. This may include time spent completing D2L modules, drafting plans, finding materials, meeting with associated personnel, and implementing materials. Payments will be submitted as a single stipend after producing the deliverable of a list of learning materials that students can access free of charge and that can be made available to other faculty.

To receive compensation, after submitting the completed course packet and associated syllabus to the ZAP Coordinator, submit time worked via the ZAP Timesheet Form.

Likely Workflow Summary

• Teaching faculty participant plans what topics they’ll seek to find resources on and creates project plan and timeline.

• Teaching faculty participant finds and collects resources.

  • Teaching faculty participant may contact Library Reference Desk or schedule Research Appointment for support navigating ECC library databases and other resources to find materials. 

• Teaching faculty participant works on integrating chosen learning materials into their course. 

  • Teaching faculty participant may consult with Distance Learning and Instructional Technology Staff about strategies for incorporating electronic learning materials into their course.  

  • Teaching faculty participant consults with Distance Learning and Instructional Technology Accessibility Coordinators to ensure accessibility of materials. 

  • Teaching faculty participant consults with ECC Copyright Officer to ensure learning materials chosen and methods for sharing with students adhere to copyright requirements. 

• Teaching faculty participant integrates chosen learning materials into their course.

Teaching faculty participant is compensated for making available the list of their chosen learning materials to other faculty for potential use. 

Applying to Participate