Open Educational Resources (OER)

What is a Z-Degree?

"A Z-degree is a complete associate or bachelor's degree program that exclusively uses course resources that are no cost to students, such as:

• open educational resources (OER)

• open textbooks

• library-curated materials

To be considered a Z-degree course, the instructor cannot require students to purchase any course resources. Optional or supplemental resources that are a cost to students may be recommended." ~ from https://www.minnstate.edu/admissions/oer/oer-projects/index.html

In Spring 2024, Inver Hills was awarded a $100,000 grant from Minnesota State to implement a Z-Degree pathway for our students. 

Work is underway with the goal of creating an Associate of Arts (60 credit) Z-Degree that prioritizes MNTC transfer curriculum courses.

Faculty Grants

Inver Hills is currently offering grants to faculty for making their courses ready for the Z-Degree pathway.  Three levels of funding are available:

• Level 1: ($500 stipend) Locate, evaluate, and adopt OR adapt/improve an available no-cost resource into your course(s). 

• Level 2: ($1,000 stipend) Adapt, update, or combine existing/available no-cost resource to form a new resource OR develop new ancillary materials (test questions, assignments etc.) for a newly adopted no-cost material. 

• Level 3: ($1,500 stipend) Create an original no-cost resource for your course with multiple components. 

Requirements for a course to be part of the Z-Degree pathway:  

1. Course leads toward the A.A. MNTC transfer curriculum. Priority will be given to MNTC goal area courses, although other course types are welcome to apply.  

2. The course must require only no-cost course learning materials. These materials may be Open Educational Resources (OER), library resources, faculty-authored material, limited copyrighted material provided to students under the fair-use provision (Section 107 of the Copyright Act), or some other type of no-cost-to-students learning material(s). Note: courses that require certain non-textual learning tools (such as art supplies) may qualify for inclusion in the Z-degree. 

Requirements for course materials grant:  

1. The learning materials developed using this grant money must be intended for use in the Z-degree pathway.  

2. Newly authored or adapted learning materials developed using this grant must be openly licensed using a Creative Commons license (note that authors always preserve full copyright of their work when licensed under a CC license), unless an alternate agreement is made with the Z-degree coordinator. 

3. Once complete, the course materials should earn at least 21 out of 42 points on the IHCC Z-Degree Equity and Accessibility Rubric (to be evaluated by the author and a peer review group appointed by the Z-degree committee)   

For more information or for faculty grant application materials, please contact Katie Nelson (knelson@inverhills.edu) or Elaina Bleifield (elaina.bleifield@inverhills.edu).