Dr. Candace Ruiz, a professor at the Community College of Denver, has earned state recognition for making learning more affordable while helping students build skills for the workplace.
Ruiz received the 2026 Outstanding Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Course award from the Colorado Department of Higher Education for her MAR 1060 Customer Service course. The award recognizes her use of open educational resources (OER) to eliminate textbook costs, strengthen hands-on learning and support workforce readiness through an approach that other institutions can adopt.
For students balancing college with everyday expenses, access to free course materials removes a financial barrier and helps them focus on learning and reaching their goals
“Students bring motivation and talent to the classroom, but the cost of required materials can create an obstacle before learning even begins,” said Ruiz. “My goal is to remove that barrier so students can focus on developing their skills and moving toward their goals.”
THE ZTC CHALLENGE
Launched in 2020 by Governor Jared Polis, Colorado’s ZTC Challenge encourages colleges and universities to expand the use of open educational resources and eliminate textbook costs for students.
OER are openly licensed teaching and learning materials that instructors can use and adapt at no cost to students. These resources give faculty flexibility to tailor course content while helping students access the materials they need.
“Textbooks can cost students and families thousands of dollars a year, and eliminating high textbook costs reduces cost barriers to higher education and saves students money. Since 2020 the Zero Textbook Cost Challenge has encouraged colleges and universities across the state to eliminate textbook costs, saving students thousands of dollars. These awards honor leaders who are breaking down barriers by reducing costs for students showing how innovation can improve student success and lower costs,” said Governor Polis in the state’s announcement of the 2026 award recipients.
QUIET COSTS, LOUD IMPACTS
Textbook expenses can add a substantial financial burden to a student’s education. The Midwestern Higher Education Compact reports that undergraduate students budget more than $1,200 annually for course materials and identifies lower-income community college students as particularly affected by those costs.
For students managing tight budgets, required materials compete with other necessities, including housing, transportation and groceries. Removing textbook costs can ease that pressure and make course materials accessible from the beginning of the semester.
Ruiz’s course demonstrates how affordability can support meaningful learning. By integrating OER into Customer Service, she connects cost savings with opportunities for students to apply what they learn and build skills relevant to the workplace.
CCD PUTS AFFORDABILITY AT THE FOREFRONT
Ruiz’s recognition reflects CCD’s commitment to making education more accessible. Alongside efforts that help approximately 70% of CCD graduates complete their education without student debt, courses with zero textbook costs address another part of the financial challenge students face.
Her work offers a practical example of that commitment in action: removing a cost barrier while keeping students’ learning and career goals at the center of the classroom.
At CCD, helping students start smart and finish strong includes ensuring they have access to the resources they need along the way.
For more information about CCD please visit CCD.edu.
