From: Susan McCahan, Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education, and Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Digital Strategies
Date: January 16, 2026
Re: Call for Proposals — Learning & Education Advancement Fund (LEAF) Seed Program
The Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education (OVPIUE) is pleased to announce they are accepting applications to the LEAF Seed program.
Learning & Education Advancement Fund (LEAF)
The Learning & Education Advancement Fund, or LEAF, provides funding opportunities for teaching and learning projects that explore, implement and scale up promising practices. LEAF support projects at different stages of their development and implementation creating pathways for projects from their initial inception to the realization of their full potential.
LEAF supports projects that align with the following priority areas:
Student Success: Developing or enhancing student learning experiences in academic courses and programs to support students succeeding academically in their courses. This might include amplifying and integrating mental health and well-being into academic courses, enhancing student engagement activities in academic courses, curriculum renewal or re-design, integrating high impact teaching practices into courses or programs, opportunities for supplemental academic support, promoting a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives in courses, instruction or initiatives aimed at course-level interventions to support greater student success.
Experiential Learning: Developing, redesigning, expanding or incorporating new experiential learning opportunities in academic courses or programs. This might include research opportunities, work-integrated learning, community-engaged learning, land-based education, academic internships, field courses or unique project-based learning. Refer to the Experiential Learning Hub for further information about curricular EL opportunities.
Technology in the Classroom: Developing, expanding and implementing new technologies or technology-enhanced solutions in academic courses or programs. This might include the integration or development of Generative AI interventions, e-Modules, digital tools (e.g., gamification, online sharing platform, apps), software programs / learning management systems or technologies and platforms that better connect Indigenous students with learning.
Equitable and Inclusive Teaching: Advancing equity and inclusion in academic courses or programs. This might include intentionally diversifying course or program content, engaging the expertise of people from structurally excluded groups, addressing systemic barriers for students, re-developing course assignments and processes to improve access and accessibility, incorporating Universal Design for Learning principles, or responding to discipline-specific challenges / opportunities.
Call for Applications
For the winter cycle, LEAF is accepting EoIs for Seed grants ($5,000 – $10,000/year, maximum of 3 years).
The LEAF application process includes two stages:
- Expression of Interest (EoI): interested applicants are asked to submit an EoI prior to the submission of a full application. This EoI model is intended to increase engagement with the program prior to final submission and provide interested applicants with additional support as they consider and scope potential projects.
- After the submission of an EoI and a consultation with members of the OVPIUE, eligibility for the LEAF program will be determined. If eligible, you will then be invited to submit a full application.
Timeline
- The OVPIUE will be accepting EoIs on a rolling basis between January and February 22, 2026, through the OVPIUE LEAF website.
- For those invited to proceed, full proposals are due April 28, 2026.
- More information about this process is available on the LEAF Program and Eligibility Overview
Eligibility Criteria:
- Proposals will be accepted from either individuals or project teams.
- Proposals will be accepted from U of T faculty and librarians with continuing appointments in first-entry undergraduate divisions.
Reminder on Research:
- LEAF is first and foremost a grant for curricular innovation; it is not a research grant. While a research component to a project may be appropriate, the funds are for creating something innovative that enhances students curricular learning experiences and teaching capabilities of the University.