Section 1 (136F.305) requires each college under the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System to offer an opportunity to earn a Z-Degree, which is a zero-textbook-cost associate’s degree. A college’s course offerings for its Z-Degree program must include at least two distinct courses in each transfer curriculum goal.
Section 2 (136F.58, subdivison 5) amends the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, specifically the law related to bookstores and course material, by adding a new subdivision requiring each instructor to review and approve open educational resources. The term “open educational resources” is defined, which is basically high quality teaching, learning, and research resources that are free. Instructors who are not teaching a full course load are required to actively identify additional open educational resources for the courses they teach.
Section 3 appropriates $1,000,000 in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for purposes of section 1.
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