ROCHESTER, Minn. — Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) is set to launch a new Z Degree program in January 2026, offering a two-year Liberal Arts associate degree with no-cost textbook options for students.

The Z Degree initiative allows students to access required course materials without purchasing traditional textbooks, utilizing open educational resources and library-curated materials. This approach aims to significantly reduce overall college costs while providing immediate access to materials from the first day of class.

Mike Mutschelknaus, an English instructor and coordinator of the Z Degree program at RCTC, explained the collaborative effort behind the program's development. "We needed to help faculty design new courses or redesign old courses so that there were no t

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