FERGUS FALLS, MN (KFGO) – Minnesota Community and Technical College is on track to become the seventh Minnesota State college to offer what’s called a Z-degree, an associate degree program with zero costs for textbooks.
It’s estimated that students in Z-degree programs can save nearly $2,000 a year, or a total of $4,000 for a two-year business or transfer degree program at M State.
With a $100,000 grant recently awarded to the college by the Minnesota State system office, M State faculty will begin work this spring on developing the two degrees. While six other two-year colleges currently offer Associate of Arts transfer degrees in the Z-degree format, M State will be the first to offer a business Z-degree.
Dr. Anne Thurmer, the dean of M State’s School of Liberal Arts, said students are less likely to buy textbooks as costs rise, and as a result, they’re less likely to do well in their courses.
“Not only is a Z-degree a way to address the financial challenges that students experience, but it’s a way to make sure every student has access to the resources they need in their classes,” Thurmer said.
About 48 M State classes are currently being taught with zero-cost textbook options, she said, but the new degrees will mean a student can complete an entire degree without worrying about surprise costs for textbooks and materials.
The intent is for M State to offer the two degrees beginning in the fall semester of 2022.
Comments