Overview
Courses using materials costing $20 or less per credit hour are eligible to receive the Affordable UF Badge. The badge allows students to easily identify courses with low- or no-cost materials.
ZTC Badge (New for Summer/Fall 2025)
The ZTC (zero textbook cost) badge recognizes sections of courses that go above and beyond in affordability by having no other costs beyond tuition and fees for the course. Such courses may rely on open educational resources, library resources, or academic articles to provide students with an affordable yet academically rigorous learning experience.
To be eligible for the ZTC badge, the course must not require the student to make any additional purchases for the class (not including incidental supplies such as pens/paper and exam books that would be common to any course taken at UF). Recommended/optional supplies and materials and supply fees are not considered. To assist with ZTC consideration, please be as specific as possible in the notes section of your textbook adoption as to what non-text materials are required for purchase versus what is provided by the instructor or materials that are merely recommended/optional.
How to Participate
1. Submit your textbook adoption at the UF Textbook Adoption website. To be eligible for the badge.
2. If you think your adoption meets the $20 per credit hour threshold, enter your estimated textbook costs in the “Affordable UF” section at the end of the textbook adoption form, and click “next.”
3. After you submit your textbook adoption the Center for Teaching Excellence will review your course.
If your course is eligible to receive the Affordable UF and/or ZTC badge, you will be sent a digital copy of the designation. Students will see the badge in the course textbook requirements when registering. Your badge can also be displayed in many other places, including:
· your syllabus
· your Canvas site
· your email signature line
· digital resumes/ CVs
· social media
· your website
For questions about the Affordable UF and/or ZTC badging process, visit the FAQ or contact CTE.
Resources
If you want to make your course more affordable, but aren’t sure where to start, here are some resources:
· Open Educational Resources (OER)
· UF Libraries Course Reserves
· Your Subject Specialist Librarian
· “Creating an Affordable Course” Podcast
