Digitally Enhanced Learning (DEL) Partnership Grants
Submit your (google form) Preliminary Application form (external link) before the deadline of Monday April 6, 2026, 4 p.m. EST.
The Digitally Enhanced Learning (DEL) Partnership Grants support faculty in developing high-quality, digitally-enhanced learning experiences through sustained collaboration with the Digital Learning (DL) team at the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT).
Note: There are two grant streams available, each with their own unique durations, funding amounts, and eligibility requirements.
About the Partnership Grant
What makes this grant unique?
Selected faculty partners will not only receive funds for their project, but also collaborative support from specialists in instructional design, educational technology, and multimedia development. By integrating design and production expertise into the development process, DEL Partnership Grants reduce the individual workload typically associated with digital innovation. This support includes:
- Guidance on digital platforms, pedagogical approaches, and emerging technologies
- Instructional design consultation and curriculum integration support
- Multimedia and interactive content development
- Regular collaborative development meetings
- Support for implementation and evaluation during course delivery
Benefits
Through this integrated model, DEL partnership grants enable faculty to move beyond “side-of-desk” innovation, and engage in focused, well-supported digital course and curriculum development. Faculty are provided with support to prioritize and realize their vision for creating digitally-enhanced learning opportunities for their students.
These partnerships are intended to build individual and departmental capacity for flexible, inclusive, and innovative teaching practices, while generating high-quality exemplars that can inform digital learning initiatives across TMU.
Below, we have outlined the anticipated benefits of DEL Partnership Grants to the relevant stakeholders.
Instructors
- Build digital literacy, capacity, and pedagogical expertise in the use of technologies in teaching
- Support digital interventions for in-person learning
- Create possibilities for more flexible modes of course delivery
Students
- Greater flexibility in place and pace of learning
- Improved course experiences arising from instructors & DL team collaboration
- Potential for reduced costs of course materials
Academic programs
- Built-in oversight through Dean/Chair approval and alignment with curriculum committee priorities
- Built-in oversight through DEL review process to ensure alignment with TMU’s curriculum modification guidelines related to mode of delivery changes
- Opportunity to put forward courses for strategic redesign
- Insights from project evaluation data and other supporting documentation developed through the grant cycle
Details |
Stream A: Component |
Stream B: Course |
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Eligibility |
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Description |
DEL Partnership Grant holders in the component stream develop 1-3 learning objects for undergraduate or graduate students. This is an opportunity to experiment or test a proof-of-concept with a relatively small time commitment. |
DEL Partnership Grant holders in the course stream will engage in a comprehensive course (re)development process with the Digital Learning team. These projects will support the capacity of departments and programs to (re)design courses for alternative modes of course delivery and/or digital enhancements for in-person learning and teaching. |
Examples |
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Duration |
Up to 13 months (Jun 2026 to Jun 2027), for implementation in Winter 2027. |
Up to 2 years (Jun 2026 to May 2028), for course implementation in Winter 2027 or Fall 2027. |
Funds |
Up to $3000, based on submitted budget proposals |
Up to $7500, based on submitted budget proposals |
Additional Value |
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Action |
Timeline |
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Call for Proposals Open |
Monday, March 2, 2026 |
Information Session |
Watch the recording of the 2026 Info Session (external link) . |
Deadline for Preliminary Application (Stage 1) |
Monday, April 6, 2026, 4 p.m. |
Adjudication |
Tuesday, April 7 to Thursday, April 23, 2026 |
Deadline for Final Application Package (Stage 2) |
Successful applicants in Stage 1 will be invited to submit a final package, including detailed budget and timeline by: Monday, May 25, 2026, 4 p.m. |
Recipients Announced |
Early June 2026 |
Grant Cycle Begins |
June 2026 |
All DEL grant proposals must:
- Be in alignment with an approved curricular plan within a program or department/school
- Consult early with your department or school to verify if anything you are proposing would require curricular modification. Please see the (google doc) TMU Guide to Curriculum Modifications (external link) .
- Be authorized by the relevant department chair or school director
All Principal Investigators (PI) must be prepared to work collaboratively with the Digital Learning team at CELT throughout the grant duration period.
There are additional eligibility requirements for the PI, depending on the DEL Grant application stream. Please refer to the relevant stream’s requirements below.
Stream A: Component
The PI must be a Toronto Metropolitan University faculty member (TFA) who:
- Reasonably anticipates they will be teaching in Winter 2027
- Is permitted by their department or school to make changes to the impacted course design and materials. For example, in cases where there are multiple course sections they are considered the “lead” instructor of that course.
Stream B: Course
The PI must be a Toronto Metropolitan University faculty member (TFA), working as one of the following.
An instructor who:
- Reasonably anticipates they will be teaching in Winter 2027 or Fall 2027
- Is permitted by their department or school to make changes to the impacted course’s design and materials. For example, in cases where there are multiple course sections they are considered the “lead” instructor of that course.
OR
A departmental chair/school director or representative of a curriculum committee who is:
- Overseeing the (re-)development of a course that will be offered in Winter 2027 or Fall 2027.
- Engaged with the anticipated “lead” Instructor of the impacted course who will act as the Subject Matter Expert (SME), and work in collaboration with the Digital Learning Team.
Personnel
- Student and non-student salaries and benefits. Please review the University’s Hiring Guide (Research Staff & Part-Time Casual). Funds may not be used to hire Academic Assistants, lab monitors, or invigilators.
- Grant funds may be used to compensate Contract Lecturers for supporting course development as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), in accordance with Article 21.11 of the (PDF file) CUPE 3904 Unit 1 Collective Agreement 2024-2027 and with approval from the relevant Department Chair or School Director.
Professional and Consulting Services
- Consulting fees and professional services (e.g., guest speakers, Elders, transcriptionists) are eligible expenditures. Applicants must demonstrate in the Budget Justification that expert advice is required.
- For contracted consultants, a quote (including HST, if applicable) must be included. Please review the University’s purchasing thresholds
Please review the University's policies for Paying Vendors, Independent Contractors, and making Honoraria payments.
Materials, Equipment, and Software
- Up to 30% of the total budget may be allocated to equipment and software.
- Purchases are permitted only when equivalent resources are not otherwise available.
- Requests must include supporting documentation and are subject to adjudication committee approval.
- Proposals must demonstrate sustainability beyond the funding period.
Other Sources of Funding
- All in-kind and financial contributions must be disclosed, with confirmation status indicated.
Additional Eligibility Conditions
- Non-consumable items remain University property.
Faculty course release is ineligible. - Wages for faculty, regularly assigned teaching assistants, or staff normally employed by the University for similar work are ineligible.
- Applicants may not pay themselves from grant funds.
- Capital expenditures (e.g., renovations) are ineligible.
Applications will be reviewed by an adjudication committee composed of the Vice-Provost Academic, CELT Executive Director, Director of Teaching Development and Digital Learning, Educational Developer (Digital Learning), Instructional Designer, Teaching Resources and Technologies Specialist, and Curriculum Specialist
The adjudication committee will move successful proposals to Stage 2, which includes submission of detailed budget and timeline documents.
- Attend a 1-hour grant kick-off session with the Digital Learning team, to be held in June.
- Finalize a project plan with the Digital Learning team that confirms the budget, timeline, and project evaluation plan
- Attend regular meetings with the Digital Learning team, including periodic updates on budget expenditures
- Complete a summary final report or video interview due within two months of course implementation ending, as per project evaluation plan
- For example: a Stream B project implemented during a Fall 2027 course (ending in December 2027) would need to have reporting completed by the end of February 2028
- Present findings at TMU Teaching and Learning Conference (held annually in May) within thirteen months of course implementation ending
- For example: a Stream A project implemented during a Winter 2027 course (ending in April 2027) would need to present findings no later than the Learning and Teaching Conference in May 2028
- Agree to release as many project materials, resources, and outputs as possible under a Creative Commons License (exceptions may apply)
Awarded funds
Funds will be made available in June 2026, after the recipients attend an introductory grant kick-off session.
Funds must be expended before the end of the grant duration cycle of the chosen DEL Grant stream.
Administration of funds
The administration of funds and initiation of HR contracts will take place through the Digital Learning unit in the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, on behalf of the Principal Investigator.
Intellectual property
Intellectual property will be governed by the provisions of the collective agreement between the University and the Faculty Association.
Authorization
Proposals require authorization from the department or school chair.
Ethics
Any research involving humans, conducted by or with faculty, staff, or students affiliated with the University must be reviewed and approved by the Research Ethics Board (REB) prior to commencement of the study.
Before You Begin: Review Requirements & Guidelines
Before starting your application, ensure you've familiarized yourself with the two grant streams, eligibility requirements, and guidelines.
If your proposed project includes changes to the delivery mode of your course, consult with your department to identify any potential curricular changes that your proposal would require.
Stage 1: Submit your Preliminary Application
As part of the (google form) Preliminary Application (external link) , applicants will be asked to provide:
- Their choice of DEL Partnership Grant stream.
- Details about the main course that will be impacted by the proposal.
- A rationale explaining how their proposed project will address a pedagogical challenge, improve the student learning experience, and align with existing institutional priorities.
- A brief and preliminary list of anticipated project outputs, expenditures, and collaborator roles.
- A brief and preliminary explanation of how project outputs will be disseminated, updated and sustained past the grant period.
The adjudication committee will make a shortlist of proposals and invite their applicants to proceed to Stage 2. This includes a brief meeting with a member of the Digital Learning team, and the submission of additional documents outlined below.
Stage 2: Submit your Final Application Package
Shortlisted applicants will complete their proposal by submitting the following:
- Any desired updates to the contents of the Preliminary Application.
- Detailed Budget Justification and Timeline forms
- Signature Form with signatures from the applicant (“Principal Investigator”) and their chair/director (“Approving Party”)
For help with your grant idea and technical assistance submitting an application, email askcelt@torontomu.ca.
For budget and eligible expense questions, email Syeda Shah, Administrative Coordinator syeda.z.shah@torontomu.ca.