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LEAF+ on Civil Discourse: Call for Applications

From: Susan McCahan, Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education
Joshua Barker, Vice-Provost, Graduate Research and Education, and Dean, School of Graduate Studies
Date: July 30, 2025
Re: LEAF+ on Civil Discourse: Call for Applications

The Office of the Vice-Provost, Innovations in Undergraduate Education and the School of Graduate Studies welcome proposals for a special Learning & Education Advancement Fund Plus (LEAF+) funding stream focused on civil discourse. This stream supports projects focused on fostering civil discourse in curriculum and classroom settings at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in all divisions.

LEAF+ is a special funding opportunity to support innovative teaching and learning projects that align with an emerging University of Toronto priority. LEAF+ projects are generally short term (one year or less), exploratory in nature and involve knowledge sharing across the cohort of project leads and the broader University of Toronto teaching and learning community.

This call for proposals responds to a commitment outlined in the Provost’s Administrative Response to the Final Report of the Working Group on Civil Discourse (PDAD&C #38).

Definition of Civil Discourse

As outlined in the Final Report and Recommendations from the University of Toronto’s Working Group on Civil Discourse, civil discourse at the University of Toronto is understood to be discourse that:

  • is guided by norms for people to engage in discussion as members of a shared academic community;
  • seeks understanding, both about other points of view, and about difficult subjects marked by difference and disagreement;
  • engages with ideas critically, but engages with individuals who hold those ideas respectfully, in recognition of the inherent dignity of all members of the community;
  • requires participants to develop and deploy capacities for empathy, imagination, reason and dialogue;
  • invites a willingness to take risks, make mistakes, and learn from those mistakes, while supporting others to do the same; and
  • depends on the recognition and affirmation of common standards to which discussion and inquiry are ordered, like the pursuit of truth, the advancement of knowledge, and the common good.

This definition is intended as a living definition, one that may evolve in future iterations of civil discourse-related projects.

As such, applicants may wish to engage critically with this definition and reflect on its relevance and varied application in their teaching. Proposals are welcome from those who seek to expand, challenge or reframe what civil discourse might mean in the context of their pedagogy, curricula and classrooms. For further information, please refer to “Section 5: Definition of Civil Discourse” in the Working Group’s Final Report and Recommendations.

Call for Proposals

In applications to LEAF+, projects could address a range of approaches to advancing civil discourse in academic courses or programs, including but not limited to:

  • initiatives that foster early exposure to civil discourse by equipping entering students with opportunities to learn and practice key skills
  • initiatives that introduce and integrate principles and practices of civil discourse
  • interdisciplinary collaborations that explore contested or controversial topics
  • capstone or experiential learning activities focused on engaging across difference
  • invited lectures, panel discussions or events that model principles and practices of civil discourse and extend classroom learnings
  • reimagining courses that introduce students to core civil discourse skills

For examples of forms and practices that civil discourse could take in curriculum and classroom settings, potential applicants are encouraged to consult “Appendix 3: Internal Landscape Scan of Civil Discourse Initiatives” and “Appendix 4: External Landscape Scan of Initiatives at Peer Institutions” in the Working Group’s Final Report and Recommendations. A Discovery Series session showcasing classroom-based civil discourse initiatives will also be offered in the fall; details will be shared closer to the date.

Funding recipients will form a cross-disciplinary network, meeting periodically to share insights on project learnings and outcomes. This network will serve as a conduit for shared learning and for community-building as instructors try out new strategies and methods in their courses. The funding recipients will also be invited to participate in dissemination activities, including a community showcase event and the dissemination of reports through a teaching and learning project database.

Funding Terms

  • Funding will be offered at the LEAF Seed level ($5,000 to $10,000) for one year with the possibility of extension.
  • Projects are to be completed by the end of the Fall 2026 term.
  • Funding is designed to support instructors who are either beginning to explore this important area or seeking to deepen the impact of their ongoing work.

Timelines for LEAF+ Civil Discourse

Eligibility Criteria

  • Proposals will be accepted from either individuals or teams.
  • Proposals will be accepted from U of T faculty and librarians with continuing appointments in all academic divisions, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
  • To strengthen the connection to the curriculum of academic courses and programs, staff applicants must include a faculty co-lead in their application.

Reminder on Research

  • LEAF+ is intended to support curricular innovation, not research. While a research component to a project may be appropriate, particularly if it pertains to assessing the effectiveness of the innovation, the funds are for creating something innovative that enhances students curricular learning experiences and teaching capabilities of the University.