Dear KPU Community,

As we approach the end of 2024, I would like to take a moment to pause and reflect on what we've accomplished together in Open Education this year. It's been a challenging year for everyone, and we know that next year will bring its own set of demands. That makes this moment of recognition all the more important.

What We've Achieved Together

This year, the Open Education initiative at KPU continued to grow and evolve, thanks to the dedication of faculty, staff, and students who believe in accessible, adaptable, and equitable education. Here's what KPU Open has accomplished:

OER Development & Support

• Published 8 Open Educational Resources (with 2 more coming by year's end)
• Supported 9 OER Grants and 2 ZTC Advancement Grants
• Created our new ZTC Advancement Grant to leverage insights from our ZTC Credential Map analysis
• Developed the Open Ed Workbook (launching in January 2025!)

Community & Scholarship

• Delivered 6 external presentations as guest speakers and panel participants
• Wrote 1 book chapter (publication pending)
• Joined the CARL Open Education Community of Practice (Karen, Library)
• Started our own Open Education Community of Practice at KPU
• Completed our term on the Open Education Network (OEN) Steering Committee and joined the OEN Publishing Advisory Committee (Amanda, T&L Commons)
• Joined the COPPUL Scholarly Communications Working Group (Karen, Library)

Innovation & Improvements

• Launched the Low Textbook Cost (LTC) Designation

• Wrote a Territorial Acknowledgement for KPU as an OER publisher, and developed a Territorial Acknowledgement Pressbooks Template
• Created an AI Declaration Framework for OER Creation [DOCX]; an AI Use Self-Assessment Rubric [DOCX], and an AI Declaration Statement Pressbooks Template
• Established presence at New Student Orientation and Welcome Week, connecting directly with students about ZTC/LTC

Student Impact & ZTC Results

We’re waiting for Fall ZTC data to come in, but here is what we’ve done in Spring and Summer this year:

• 287 Instructors teaching ZTC; 73 for the first time!
• 628 ZTC course sections in 392 courses (an average of 27.5% of sections were ZTC)
• $1.7M in ZTC student savings ($3M in Academic Year 2024/2025)

I look forward to seeing the stats from Fall 2025! See more stats on our Zero Textbook Cost Data Dashboard

Looking Forward

The work we've done this year strengthens the foundation for what comes next. While we know the road ahead will have its challenges, we face them with the knowledge that what we're building (accessible, effective, equitable education) matters deeply.

Thank you to every faculty member who adopted OER, every staff member who supported these initiatives, and every student who advocated for affordable education. This work is a collective effort, and it's one we're proud to be part of alongside you.

Wishing you all a restful break,

Amanda

Amanda Grey (she/her) Open Education Strategist, Teaching & Learning Commons t 604-599-3345 e amanda.grey@kpu.ca w www.kpu.ca/open Through active intentional partnering, the Teaching & Learning Commons provides pedagogical leadership that is grounded in community, ethics, creativity, and care.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University ► Where thought meets action I respectfully acknowledge that I work in a region that overlaps with the unceded, traditional and ancestral lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), scəw̓aθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), SEMYOME (Semiahmoo),qiqéyt (Qayqayt), and the qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), which gifted its name to this university. In the cause of reconciliation, I recognize and commit to address and reduce ongoing systemic colonialism, oppression and racism that Indigenous Peoples continue to experience.

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