Applying for a Z Course Designation

For faculty who did not develop a Z Course through the Expert Model process, you can teach a Z Course by  applying for a Z Course Designation after verifying your current zero-textbook-cost course meets the requirements. Follow the process below:

Step One: Use a Department Z Course Template OR Build Your Own

OPTION #1 Use a Department Template

If your department previously engaged in the development of a Z Course, find the current Z Course template available. 

  • 20% or Less:  If you modify this template by 20% or less, you can stop here and simply use the Z Course tag by requesting your Department Admin add the codes: 0060 AND 5079 to the course.
  • Over 20%: If you would like to modify the template more than 20%, continue to step two.

OPTION #2 Build Your Own Z Course

If you would like to have your own course design labeled as a Z Course, you can apply for the Z Course designation by following the steps below.

Step Two: Check Off Your Prerequisite Knowledge to Apply for a Z Course

If interested in using your own course as a Z Course, there is foundational knowledge and skills needed. Begin by checking to see if you have participated in at least one professional development or experience listed in each category below. If you have not, you are encouraged to complete them first. Without this foundation,  you may find it difficult to revise your course for the Z Course designation.

CategoryProfessional Development/Training
Online LearningExperience teaching online with Open Educational Materials (OER)
OR
eLearning at MCC Badge
OR
Any District or MCC professional development about online learning
Open Educational ResourcesMCC OER Training
OR
Any District or out-of-District OER Training
OR
Z Degree Content Expert or Reviewer
Online Course Design &
Quality Review Rubric
(OSCQR or QM)		Quality Matters Rubric Training: Improving Your Online Course (IYOC)Quality Matters
OR
Applying the QM Rubric (APPQMR)
OR
Any District/College Quality Matters training that requires module or course creation
OR
MCC Quality Matters Badge
OR
Self Study on OSCQR rubric (review website and examples)

Step Three – Understand the Z Course Requirements & Teaching Expectations

It is important to understand what you are agreeing to before you begin. Review the expectations for the course design and the course facilitation, which are in addition to the use of free materials and/or OER before moving to the next step.

Course Design Requirements

Teaching & Learning Expectations

Step Four – Submit Interest Form & OSCQR Self Review

Interest Form

Submit the Apply for a Z Course interest form to alert the team that you are interested and may need additional support along the way. This will help us track your progress for additional outreach and to celebrate your successful completion.

Confirmation

Once your application has been approved, you can move on to the next step and add the self review rubric to your Google Drive.

Add OSCQR Z Course Rubric to your Google Drive

Click on this Z Course Rubric link to make your own self-review copy of our Z Course OSCQR rubric. This will add the rubric to your Google Drive. Once the rubric is in your Drive, you can begin your self review.

Step Five – Self Review & Submit Course

Once you have reviewed and completed the previous four steps, complete a self-review of your course. Add your feedback in the template you copied into your Google Drive by clicking on the Self Assessment tab on the bottom.

Share Self Review

  1. Add MCC Online staff to the template with your self review by clicking on the Share button.
  2. In the Add people and groups box, type in mcconline@mesacc.edu and click the Send button.

Z Degree Program Course

  1. Self Enroll in the Z Degree Program course.
  2. Copy the URL of the Canvas course you would like considered for the Z Course distinction and type it into the Z Course Application assignment.
  3. Include the course prefix and number of the course.
  4. Submit.