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:$15,000 per institution
Number of grants available: 4
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 $15,000. 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.
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.
This initiative aims to:
- Introduce cost indicators (also known as course markings) in course registration systems to increase transparency of course material costs at the point of registration
- Pilot a standardized approach to collecting OER adoption data across institutions
Through this call, BCcampus will provide $15,000 in funding to four B.C. and/or Yukon public post-secondary institutions seeking to implement cost indicators and contribute to shared learning across the system.
Examples of B.C. Institutions Using Cost Indicators
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University – Marking Open and Affordable Courses: Best Practices and Case Studies
- Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Courses at UFV [YouTube]
- Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) – BCIT
- VIU Is Going ZTC: No Textbook Costs, More Accessible Learning — VIU Students’ Union
Successful Implementation Criteria
Successful implementation will be considered complete when the institution has:
- Made cost indicators easily accessible and visible to students prior to course registration
- Applied agreed upon definitions and attributes (link to definitions)
- Communicated the launch of cost indicators to relevant faculty, staff, and 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 implementation (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 proposed process for implementing cost indicators within existing institutional systems and workflows
- Describe how cost indicators will be displayed for students prior to the point of registration
- Outline plans for faculty and student engagement, awareness-building, or training
- Identify the project team and describe each member’s role
- Demonstrate sustainability and cost-effectiveness
- Include a timeline with measurable milestones
- Provide a budget outlining use of the $15,000 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.
Preference will be given to proposals that:
- Include student engagement and collaboration
- Encourage cross-departmental collaboration, especially with the registrar
- 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 monthly check-in meetings with the BCcampus project manager
- Submit an interim report upon implementation
- Submit a final report upon project completion
The interim report must include:
- Evidence of implementation (e.g., system documentation or screenshots)
- A detailed process description
- Documentation of efforts to explore OER adoption data survey integration
The final report must include:
- A detailed description of the cost indicator initiative
- A table of expenses outlining how the funds were spent
- A summary of communication or awareness activities
- 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.