Status: open
At a Glance
Application deadline: July 5, 2026 | 11:59 p.m. PST
Adjudication period: July 6–August 14, 2026
Notification of results: week of August 17, 2026
Funding amount: $8,000 per institution
Number of grants available: 2
Project completion deadline: August 31, 2027
Distribution of funds: Funds will be distributed in installments based on the achievement of milestones, up to a total of $8,000. Applicants should include a budget estimate for each milestone, noting any anticipated upfront costs.
This funding is linked to the Cost Indicators for Course Materials Project.
Grant Overview
The cost of course materials can significantly affect students’ academic decisions and financial well-being. At many institutions, students do not know the cost of required course materials until after registration, limiting their ability to make informed choices. Several post-secondary institutions in B.C. and the Yukon have implemented cost indicators to increase transparency around course material costs.
BCcampus is leading a three-year initiative, funded by the Hewlett Foundation, to increase transparency of course material costs and improve system-wide understanding of open educational resource (OER) adoption across B.C. and Yukon post-secondary institutions.
Through this call, BCcampus will provide $8,000 in funding to two B.C. and/or Yukon public post-secondary institutions that have already implemented cost indicators and wish to enhance, expand, or deepen their initiative.
Enhancement activities may include (but are not limited to):
- Expanding from Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) to include other indicators, such as Low Textbook Cost (LTC) indicators
- See KPU Low Cost Courses as an example of LTCs
- Improving visibility or usability of existing cost indicators
- See UFV’s ZTC information in their timetable as an example of visibility
- Increasing faculty or student awareness through campaigns or training
- See KPU’s Transitioning to ZTC page as an example of training resources
- Integrating cost indicator workflows with bookstore systems
- Strengthening reporting or internal data validation processes
- Scaling implementation to additional departments or campuses
All participating institutions will also be asked to pilot a standardized approach to collecting OER adoption data.
Successful Enhancement Criteria
Successful completion of the grant will be considered achieved when the institution has:
- Completed the proposed enhancement activity as described in the approved application
- Demonstrated measurable progress in strengthening, expanding, or improving its existing cost indicator initiative (e.g., increased coverage, added low-cost designation, improved workflow integration, increased awareness)
- Communicated updates or enhancements to relevant faculty, staff, and/or students
- Made a documented, good-faith effort to integrate the BCcampus-hosted OER adoption data survey into existing course material collection workflows, including consultation with relevant staff (e.g., registrar, IT, academic leadership)*
- Submitted evidence of enhancement (e.g., screenshots, workflow documentation, communications materials, campaign metrics) as part of reporting requirements
*Integration of the OER adoption data survey is encouraged but not required for final payment. Documented exploration, feasibility assessment, and reporting on barriers and recommendations will satisfy this requirement.
Guidelines for Successful Proposals
Successful proposals must meet the following criteria:
- Describe the current state of cost indicator implementation at the institution
- Clearly outline the proposed enhancement activity
- Explain how the enhancement will strengthen cost transparency or expand impact
- Identify the project team and describe each member’s role
- Include a timeline with measurable milestones
- Provide a budget outlining use of the $8,000 grant
- You must include a letter of support from a member of your institution’s senior administration. Proposals that do not include a letter of support from a senior administrator will not be considered.
Proposals may also be evaluated on how they:
- Include student engagement and collaboration
- Encourage cross-departmental collaboration
- Address accessibility and use of the principles of Universal Design for Learning
- Consider equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Consider Indigenous perspectives and pedagogies
All deliverables must be completed by August 31, 2027.
Funding Requirements
The project lead must:
- Participate in periodic check-in meetings with the BCcampus project manager (minimum quarterly)
- Submit an interim progress report
- Submit a final report upon project completion
The interim report must include:
- A description of progress toward enhancement goals
- Documentation of engagement
- Documentation of efforts to explore OER adoption data survey integration
The final report must include:
- A detailed description of the enhancement initiative
- A table of expenses outlining how the funds were spent
- Evidence of outcomes or impact (e.g., expanded adoption, awareness metrics, workflow improvements)
- Reflections and lessons learned to support other institutions
Grantees must also:
- Complete deliverables on time
- Agree to openly license the interim and final reports so they can be used in an informational toolkit resource to support other institutions implementing cost indicators
How to Apply
Please complete the Cost Indicators Funding Application and submit it by 11:59 p.m. PT on July 5, 2026, to projects@bccampus.ca. Submissions will be confirmed by an email reply, and we will notify you of the results of your submission during the week of August 17, 2026.
Review and Selection Process
Evaluation, selection, and awards will be determined by the Cost Indicators Project Advisory Committee against the evaluation criteria.