Washington Open ProfTech Project
The Washington Open ProfTech Project, led by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), is designed to reduce the financial burden of textbooks in professional technical programs across Washington’s community colleges. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) through its Open Textbook Pilot grant, the project was awarded $1.8 million in 2021, with an additional $2.1 million in 2023 to expand its reach.
The initiative focuses on creating free, open textbooks for high-demand professional technical programs such as welding, healthcare, criminal justice, IT, and more. By making these textbooks openly available, the project aims to save students millions in textbook costs while increasing access to high-quality, industry-aligned content that prepares students for the workforce.
Project Timeline
| Year | Details |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Grant 1 awarded – SBCTC awarded the FIPSE Open Textbook Pilot Grant 1 ($1.8 million) |
| 2022 | Grant 1 - Textbook Development |
| 2023 |
Grant 1 - Implementation Grant 2 awarded – SBCTC receives FIPSE Open Textbook Pilot Grant 2 ($2.1 million) |
| 2024 |
Grant 1 - Implementation & Evaluation Grant 2 - Textbook Development |
| 2025 |
Grant 1 - Evaluation, undergo no-cost extension, dissemination. End of Grant 1. Grant 2 - Textbook Development |
| 2026 | Grant 2 - Implementation and Evaluation |
| 2027 | Grant 2 - Implementation and Evaluation. End of Grant 2. |
Textbooks by Grant
Grant 1:
- Introduction to Healthcare Professions
- Introduction to Welding
- Introduction to Criminal Justice
- Introduction to Early Childhood Education
- Introduction to Hospitality
- Introduction to Machining
Grant 2:
- Python for Cyber Security
- Modern Web and Cloud Programming
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Introduction to IT
- Fundamentals of Clinical Informatics
- Bakery & Business Math
- A Technicians Handbook for CAD Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
The project name "Washington Open ProfTech Project" reflects its core components and objectives:
Washington: This initiative is rooted in Washington state's community and technical college system, aiming to support students and educators within these institutions.
Open: The term signifies the project's commitment to Open Educational Resources (OER). These are copyright-cleared materials that educators and students can use, adapt, and share at no cost, promoting affordability and accessibility in education.
ProfTech: Short for Professional-Technical education, this refers to programs that prepare students for specific careers in technical and skilled trades. These programs are designed to equip students with practical skills and knowledge for immediate employment in various industries.
Each textbook was developed by a cohort of faculty authors from Washington’s community and technical colleges. Instructional designers, OER librarians, accessibility experts, and editors collaborated throughout the process to ensure the content is pedagogically sound, copyright-compliant, fully accessible, and polished for publication. Academic and industry partners also provided feedback to support alignment with educational and workforce expectations.
Yes, Open ProfTech textbooks are available in both online and offline (printable) formats. They’re published on the Pressbooks platform, which allows easy export to multiple file types- including PDF, EPUB, MOBI, XHTML, XML, and Common Cartridge- to support nationwide implementation and distribution.
Contacts
Boyoung Chae
Project Director
bchae@sbctc.edu
360-704-1011
Ashley Montenegro Ramirez
Project Manager, Grant 1
amontenegro@sbctc.edu
360-704-4390
Monique Belair
Project Manager, Grant 2
mbelair@sbctc.edu
360-704-3942
Kayley Cruz
Project Specialist, Grants 1 and 2
kcruz@sbctc.edu
360-704-4352
