Kelly Heather, Executive Director of Student Life Programs and Services, University of Toronto

Beyond the bot – building AI literacy in student services at the University of Toronto 

Students are already using generative AI because it saves time, supports learning at their pace and language, and functions like a 24/7 tutor—while also raising concerns about hallucinations, fairness, privacy, and unclear rules. We need a coherent, ethical, and equitable practice model that strengthens student success and preserves human thinking.

Drawing on an institutional “AI-ready university” landscape and a student services working group’s recommendations, this session offers a roadmap for student affairs leaders and practitioners. We will: (1) translate student insights into service design principles; (2) share scalable programming patterns (AI-for-learning guidance, accessibility-focused workshops, learning strategy supports, and career exploration applications); (3) outline staff development and shared-learning structures; and (4) propose an enabling framework—governance, use-case guidance, and scaffolded AI literacy for student services staff and students—aligned with ethics, access, and privacy. Participants will leave with a ready-to-adapt implementation checklist and discussion prompts to launch or strengthen AI work in their own units.

Interactive workshop with practical elements for participants