Students as Partners in Generative Artificial Intelligence (SaP-GenAI)
Register for the upcoming Information Session (external link) , April 15, 2026, 12-1 p.m.
The Students as Partners in Generative Artificial Intelligence (SaP-GenAI) program provides small, term-based grants to support student-instructor partnerships in which one instructor and one undergraduate student partner co-design and co-create digital learning innovations that engage with GenAI in ethical and pedagogically meaningful ways. Funded by the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), the program encourages collaborative experimentation with GenAI to develop teaching and learning resources that support innovative and responsible uses of emerging technologies in higher education.
Try the SaP-GenAI Grant Guide, (external link) a Gemini-based conversational tool grounded in the Call for Proposals and Handbook.
Submit your Application Form (external link) before the deadline of June 8, 2026, 4 p.m. EST
About the Program
The Students as Partners (SaP) model creates paid opportunities for students to partner with faculty on teaching and learning innovation. Grounded in reciprocity, respect, and shared responsibility, SaP positions students as active co-creators, alongside instructors, strengthening engagement while supporting reflective, evidence-informed teaching practice ( (PDF file) Healey, Flint, & Harrington, 2014 (external link) ). The Students as Partners in Generative Artificial Intelligence (SaP-GenAI) program applies this partnership model to generative AI.
Working with CELT’s Digital Learning (DL) team, student and instructor partners address real course needs such as assessment redesign, accessibility, student learning support, or discipline-specific GenAI literacy by combining instructors’ disciplinary expertise with students’ lived experience as learners and active users of these tools. Through this collaborative process, partners critically evaluate GenAI applications, build ethical GenAI literacy, and contribute to institutional priorities related to academic integrity, accessibility, and digital transformation goals outlined in (PDF file) TMU’s Academic Plan 2025-2030.
SaP-GenAI at a Glance
Eligibility
See the Guidelines and Adjudication section for complete eligibility requirements.
Instructor Eligibility
- All TMU Teaching Faculty Association (TFA) members.
Student Eligibility
- Full-time TMU undergraduate students in good academic standing.
Key Information
Who
1 TFA instructor and 1 full-time undergraduate student (paid)
What
Co-design GenAI-related teaching innovations (design and production only)
When
Fall 2026
Funding
Up to $4,000 (student wages + limited expenses) per grant
GenAI Focus
Assessment, accessibility, learning support, literacy
Outputs
Shareable resources and reflection
Support
CELT Digital Learning team
Benefits
SaP-GenAI program is designed to benefit both instructors and students through meaningful, reciprocal collaboration.
Supported GenAI Innovation: Instructors and students experiment with emerging GenAI tools together with support from CELT’s Digital Learning team.
Meaningful Course Development: Instructors co-develop high-impact learning resources tailored to a specific course need, while students contribute their perspectives as learners to shape materials that are relevant, accessible, and effective.
Reciprocal Partnership Experience: Instructors gain direct insight into how today’s diverse students currently use GenAI and approach learning tasks, while students gain a behind-the-scenes look at the pedagogical decisions driving course design.
Future-Ready Skills: Instructors build practical expertise in responsible and ethical use of GenAI, while students develop career-ready skills in communication, problem-solving, ethical technology use, and project management.
Institutional and Community Impact: Both partners establish themselves as digital learning innovators by co-creating open resources that strengthen academic integrity and benefit the entire university community. Students leave a lasting legacy that benefits peers across the university.
How it Works
The SaP-GenAI program supports student and instructor partners through a structured, term-based partnership focused on co-design, experimentation, and reflection. Each partnership consists of one TFA instructor and one full-time undergraduate student. Faculty across all disciplines are encouraged to apply, regardless of prior experience with GenAI. Here is a summary of the grant sequence:
Form a Partnership
An instructor identifies an undergraduate student partner to collaborate with, or an interested student reaches out directly to an instructor.
Co-Define the Project
Partners collaboratively identify a GenAI-related teaching and learning challenge, establishing shared goals, roles, and expected outputs.
Apply Together
The instructor and student submit a single, co-authored application outlining their partnership approach, project scope, timeline, and budget.
Develop and Co-Design (Grant Term)
Funded partnerships engage in design, experimentation, and reflection. Partners are supported throughout the term by CELT’s DL team via onboarding and consultations.
Implement Later
Projects focus on design and development only. Implementation occurs in a subsequent course offering and does not take place during the grant period.
Share Outcomes
At the conclusion of the grant, partners contribute their joint reflections and co-created outputs to support institutional learning and responsible GenAI use across the university.
Important Dates
Action |
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March 2026 |
Applications for SaP-GenAI Fall 2026 grants open |
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April 15, 2026, 12 -1 p.m. EST |
Sap GenAI Information Session. Learn more about SaP-GenAI Priority Focus Areas, application requirements, and adjudication process, followed by an opportunity for questions. Register for the Info Session now! (external link) |
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| Monday June 8, 2026, 4 p.m. EST | Application deadline (applications must be submitted via the Application Form) |
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June 2026 |
Proposal adjudication by committee led by CELT |
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July 2026 |
Recipients will be announced |
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August - December 2026 |
Duration of grant* |
* SaP-GenAI projects must be completed before the course is next active i.e. SaP-GenAI projects cannot be carried out during the same term in which the designed materials or activities are implemented. For example, a new assessment activity created with a SaP-GenAI Fall 2026 grant can be implemented in a course during Winter 2027 or subsequent term. Call for SaP-GenAI Winter 2027 grants will open in September 2026
Support from CELT’s DL Team
The Digital Learning (DL) team supports SaP-GenAI partners in the following ways:
- Onboarding
- Course design & GenAI consultation
- Project check-ins and milestone support
Priority Focus Areas
All projects must prioritize a human-in-the-loop workflow in which student and instructor partners critically review GenAI outputs for accuracy, bias, and pedagogical intent. Partners must verify that all materials comply with copyright law to promote responsible and ethical data use.
SaP-GenAI projects should address one or more of the following areas below. Detailed descriptions and examples are provided in the (google doc) SaP-GenAI Handbook (external link) .
- Content Transformation & Accessibility
Leverage GenAI to transform traditional, static course materials into accessible, multi-modal digital resources that support neurodiverse, multilingual, and diverse learner needs (e.g., alternative text, plain language guides). - Assessment Redesign & Formative Support Innovation
Rethink evaluation by emphasizing critical thinking, reflection, and authentic learning in the age of GenAI. Projects may focus on formative feedback loops, simulations, or assignments requiring original analysis and course-specific context (e.g. "stress-testing" existing assignments by using GenAI to attempt them, or using GenAI in role-playing and simulations). - Learning Support & Metacognition
Develop personalized GenAI tools that act as supportive scaffolds to help students manage independent learning, organize their time, and reduce workload anxiety (e.g., Socratic study companions or course logistics chatbots). - Critical & Discipline-Specific GenAI Literacy
Create resources that teach the ethics, limitations, and appropriate use of GenAI within a specific disciplinary context, moving beyond general AI training (e.g., a discipline-specific GenAI literacy module in Brightspace).
These examples are not exhaustive. Partners are encouraged to contact CELT (jason.matthew@torontomu.ca) to discuss potential project ideas.
Guidelines & Adjudication
All TFA members are eligible to apply. Final acceptance of projects will need approval from a Department Chair/School Director.
To participate in SaP-GenAI, student partners must:
- Be undergraduate students enrolled full-time in a TMU degree program
- Be in good academic standing at the time of application and throughout the project
- Not be graduating during the project
- Not be registered in co-op work term during the project term
All projects are expected to:
- Demonstrate how the student contributes to the academic direction of the project as a partner
- Involve meaningful co-design rather than responsibilities or tasks appropriate for an academic assistant such as:
- Grading, marking or providing evaluative feedback
- Uploading, formatting, or organizing course content without substantive pedagogical co-design
- Not take place concurrently with the course – projects must precede implementation into a course (i.e., a Fall 2026 SaP-GenAI project could be implemented in Winter 2027 or subsequent semesters, but not during Fall 2026)
The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) will fund each student partner for up to 130 hours of work per academic term.
At the time of application, partners must indicate in the Application Form (external link) the project start and end dates, total hours, and approximate hours per week. All work must be completed within the academic term specified in the application.
The instructor partner is responsible for ensuring that the student partner remains on track with assigned work and must immediately notify CELT educational developer, jason.matthew@torontomu.ca if a project is cancelled, incomplete, or if hours change.
Payment is set up in eHR system. Students are responsible to enter hours. The faculty are responsible to approve hours.
Project funds are held in-house at the CELT and expenses will be processed by the Admin Coordinator.
Applicants are expected to disclose any external financial or in-kind contributions to the project and indicate whether these contributions are confirmed.
All non-consumable items purchased with the grant funds remain the property of the University.
Funds must be used within the grant period. See the Important Dates section for deadlines.
Eligible expenses
- Materials and Supplies cost - a maximum 30% of total budget can be allocated to equipment and software. Purchase or rental of computers and associated hardware, software, or equipment (e.g., audio or video equipment) is allowable only if it is not accessible through other University sources. Requests for equipment expenditures should include supporting documents and approval is subject to the discretion of the committee. If the budget requests funds for equipment and software, the proposal must clearly demonstrate sustainability in the absence of those funds in future years.
Non-Eligible expenses
- Faculty course release
- Wages for faculty, regularly assigned academic assistants, or staff members who would normally be employed by the university
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of members of CELT’s Digital Learning team and representatives from the Curriculum Quality Assurance (CQA) team and the TMU Library, all with expertise in teaching, learning, and digital pedagogy.
All proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
1. Strength of the Partnership: Evidence of equitable collaboration, shared decision-making, and mutual respect between the student and instructor.
2. Scope and Appropriateness of the Project: Alignment with the priority focus areas, realistic timelines, and clear pedagogical value for the course.
3. Learning Opportunities for Both Partners: Demonstration of how both the student and instructor will develop new skills, insights, and GenAI literacy through the project.
4. Sharing and Dissemination of Outcomes: Demonstration of a clear and feasible plan to share the co-created digital resource and joint reflections with the broader university community.
To support applicants, guiding questions for each criterion are provided in the (google doc) SaP-GenAI Handbook (external link) .
Sharing outcomes is a core expectation of the SaP-GenAI program. Dissemination ensures that insights from each partnership contribute to a growing culture of collaboration and innovation in teaching and learning across the university.
Funded teams are expected to:
- Participate in regular check-ins with the DL team to maintain collaboration and project momentum.
- Submit the finalized project deliverables (the shareable digital resource and the joint reflection report/video interview) for publication and archiving on the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching website. These are due within one month of project completion.
- Present project outcomes at TMU’s annual Learning and Teaching Conference (LTC), typically held in May.
- Acknowledge the SaP-GenAI Program and CELT in any publications, conference proceedings, or media appearances resulting from the funded project.
Research Ethics Board (REB) approval
Partners may wish to research the impact of their GenAI intervention when it is implemented in a future course offering. Please note that all 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 the start of the study.
At TMU, we believe in the importance of Open Educational Resources (OER) - teaching, learning, and research materials that are published under an open license to permit their sharing and reuse by others. This grant requires partners to publish grant output under an open license. Learn more about open licenses (external link) (external link) .
Research outputs generated from the involvement of student participants for the purposes of advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning cannot be commercialized.
As part of TMU’s commitment to accessibility and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), all projects must be accessible to persons with disabilities, including those who use assistive technology. This includes ensuring all project materials are designed with accessibility in mind.
- All PDF, Google Docs, or Microsoft Word documents must follow best practices for document accessibility.
- Any web-based digital content or learning modules must adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 at Level AA. Learn more about web accessibility.
- Please ensure all videos have closed captioning, or any audio has a transcript. This is a mandatory requirement for any public-facing content as stipulated by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Accurate captioning of at least 99% accuracy is the only way to ensure that people who are D/deaf or hard of hearing can understand audio content. Automatic captions should never be used as a substitute for captions. It is recommended to budget around $1.75 CAD per minute for professional third-party captions. Learn how to caption videos, or contact accessibility@torontomu.ca for a list of recommended vendors.
A consultation with TMU’s IT Accessibility Specialist is strongly encouraged. Please email adam.chaboryk@torontomu.ca to arrange a virtual consultation or support.
A virtual information session will be offered to introduce the program, review the focus areas and application process, and answer questions from prospective applicants to help determine fit and prepare a strong proposal. Attendance is encouraged but not required, and the session will be recorded and made available afterward. Details, including the date, time, and access link, are available in the Important Dates section of this webpage.
Application Instructions
Step 1: Review Requirements and Guidelines
Familiarize yourself with the eligibility criteria, program guidelines, and adjudication process outlined in this Call for Proposals and the (google doc) SaP-GenAI Handbook (external link) .
Step 2: Form Student-Instructor Partnerships
Form a partnership between one instructor and one undergraduate student who will collaborate on the project.
- Instructors may invite a student who has completed a course with them, worked with them previously, or expressed interest in partnership.
- Students interested in participating are encouraged to contact an instructor they wish to work with.
- If assistance is needed in identifying a partner, please contact CELT (jason.matthew@torontomu.ca).
Most projects involve one instructor and one student partner. If your project requires additional students, consult CELT before applying. The instructor is responsible for confirming student eligibility and suitability.
Once a partnership is established, partners should discuss project scope, roles, expectations, and communication methods prior to submitting the application. The (google doc) SaP-GenAI Handbook (external link) provides guiding questions to support these discussions.
Step 3: Complete the Following Documents and Submit Application
Download and complete the following documents:
- (google sheet) Timeline Form (external link)
- (google sheet) Budget Form (external link)
- (google doc) Signatures form (external link)
The Application Form (external link) is completed online via Google Forms. Upload links for the Timeline, Budget, and Signatures Forms are provided within the Application Form.
After submitting, you will receive an automated confirmation email.
Contact
If you would like to discuss a potential proposal or have non-budget related questions about the grant, please contact Jason Matthew at jason.matthew@torontomu.ca
For questions related to the budget or eligible expense questions, please contact Syeda Shah, Administrative Coordinator, at syeda.z.shah@torontomu.ca
Application Support Resources
SaP-GenAI Handbook
The (google doc) SaP-GenAI Handbook (external link) is a companion resource that provides detailed guidance on program expectations, partnership practices, priority focus areas, application preparation, adjudication criteria, and post-award requirements. While the Call for Proposals outlines the essential information needed to apply, the handbook offers additional context, examples, and practical support for developing a strong proposal and implementing a successful project.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the handbook as needed throughout the application process.
SaP-GenAI Grant Guide (Gemini Gem)
CELT’s DL Team has developed the SaP-GenAI Grant Guide, a Gemini-based conversational resource that helps prospective applicants explore project ideas and better understand program requirements, eligibility criteria, priority focus areas, and the adjudication process. The guide is grounded in the official SaP-GenAI Call for Proposals and SaP-GenAI Handbook.
This guide also illustrates the types of digital learning innovations that student and instructor partners may co-design and co-create through the SaP-GenAI grant with support from CELT’s DL team.
To access the guide, click the button below and type “Start” in the dialogue box to begin.
The guide is intended as an informational support tool and should not be used to generate proposal content. Applicants remain responsible for preparing their own application materials and verifying all requirements using the official program documents. The tool was designed to model responsible and transparent use of generative AI by grounding responses in the official program materials.
TMU GenAI Resources
CELT, in collaboration with campus partners, offers a range of GenAI resources and supports that applicants are encouraged to draw on when developing and refining their SaP-GenAI project ideas. These resources include guidance on (google doc) managing GenAI in the classroom (external link) , (google doc) GenAI literacy (external link) , (google doc) prompt design for teaching (external link) , and (google doc) ethical considerations for teaching with GenAI (external link) , as well as related materials supporting responsible, pedagogically grounded use. Applicants may also consult CELT’s Workshops & Events page for upcoming GenAI-focused professional learning opportunities and are welcome to contact CELT at jason.matthew@torontomu.ca to discuss potential proposal ideas.
Students as Partners Literature
GenAI Use Disclosure
Generative AI tools were used to assist in drafting and editing portions of this Call for Proposals. All content was reviewed, revised, and approved by the DL team to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment with institutional policies and values.