ACC Honored at OER Conference

Arapahoe Community College (ACC) received the Governor’s Award for Institutional Advancement to Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) as part of the ZTC Challenge Awards presented during the 2026 Colorado Open Educational Resources (OER) Conference on May 29, 2026, at the ACC Littleton Campus.
 
The ZTC Challenge Awards - which recognize educators, institutions, and programs that are transforming higher education through affordability, access, and innovation - underscore Colorado’s commitment to lowering the cost of higher education while improving the student experience. From individual faculty innovation to institution-wide transformation, this year’s honorees illustrate the power of open education to expand opportunities across the state.
 
Message from Governor Polis
 
"ACC offered over 600 OER course sections during the 2026 spring semester," said mitch cota, ACC Reference and OER Librarian and member of the Colorado OER Council. "ACC has saved students more than $4 million through OER since the fall of 2019, and the College continues to demonstrate how strategic investment and leadership can drive large-scale affordability and student success."
 
ACC was also awarded over $100,000 through the Colorado OER Grant Program for the 2026-27 cohort 8 cycle in December 2025.
 
ACC drives new and creative approaches to education, with a focus on building forward-thinking pathways to social and economic mobility. ACC’s culture of innovation encourages new teaching practices, industry partnerships, and the development of workforce-aligned programs.