Faculty Congress

Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) Course Designation

What is TXT0?

Due to the escalating price of textbooks and other course materials, the University of Hawaii system is encouraging faculty to integrate no-cost learning materials into their courses. If your course does not require students to purchase learning materials, you can designate the course as Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0). Courses using the TXT0 code are compiled on the University of Hawaiʻi OER website and students will see the Textbook Cost: $0 note in STAR and on the class availability list when signing up for classes.

Information and Guidelines

  • Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) designation indicates courses that do not require students to purchase learning materials. Course learning materials include textbooks (bookstore/online/IDAP), readings, workbooks, lab manuals, access codes, online tutorial/homework/quiz platforms, etc.
  • Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) sections may use a variety of Open Educational Resources (OERs), online resources, library resources, and faculty-authored materials to replace commercially-produced textbooks.
  • A TXT0 section may include costs for supplies or equipment (e.g., art supplies, calculators, tools).
  • Sections are designated Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) independently. Courses may have TXT0-designated sections as well as non-TXT0-designated sections, depending on the materials chosen by each section’s instructor.
  • Course sections are designated Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) for one term/semester and need to be renewed when scheduled each term.
  • Faculty assume all responsibility for maintaining the integrity of all course content as related to scholarly merit, copyright regulations, and accessibility requirements.
  • For more information on TXT0, see Leeward Community College’s FAQ page.

Designate your Course Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0)

Notify your department chair that your course is Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) so that they can inform the division secretary or support staff to input the information in Banner.

Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) course designations will be uploaded when courses are entered into Banner. The deadline for submitting courses vary each semester. If an instructor decides to make their course Textbook Cost: $0 (TXT0) after this deadline, for instance by building a no-cost course over the summer, these designations can be uploaded into Banner at a later date.

A Textbook Cost: $0 designation is not automated, therefore a course needs to be renewed each semester.

Where does the Textbook Cost: $0 designation appear?

TXT0 appears as a special designation, similar to WI courses, and the “Textbook Cost: $0” notation will appear on the class availability website at the beginning of the comments field for the designated course section. See a sample below:

Example of a TXT0 designated course in the class availablity schedule These designations can be entered directly into Banner as follows:

  • In SSADETL, go to the "Degree Program Attributes"
    • insert and use code TXT0 under attribute
    • save
  • in SSATEXT, go to the "Section Long Text"
    • type "Textbook Cost: $0"
    • save