Critical AI Literacy Academic Year Fellowship 

Abstract Artificial Intelligence graphic with blue lines

Location: OSU campus

The 2026-27 Critical AI Literacy Academic Year Fellowship for Oregon State University faculty advances two related goals:

1) Demonstrating the value of the humanities in campus conversations about the ethical use of AI, and 

2) Increasing critical AI literacy within the OSU community and beyond. 

To advance these goals, the fellowship offers a one-course reallocation to collect, select, and share resources in an area of need for the Critical AI Literacy Center; to conduct research within the scope of critical AI literacy; and/or to develop and deliver humanities-based learning materials or pedagogical programs. Target audiences for programs may include students, faculty or staff.

 

AI Literacy Defined

Numerous definitions and frameworks for AI Literacy exist. At OSU Libraries and the AI Literacy Center, the Digital Education Council’s (DEC) AI Literacy Framework contributes to our decision-making, but we also consult and use other definitions and frameworks as needed. 

 

Inspiration + Ideas  

AI Literacy includes the ability to understand, use and critically evaluate AI tools, outputs and products. The successful candidates’ proposed research or service must support AI literacy. The selection committee is open to innovative ideas about the form and content of research or service, but we provide the following as possible examples: 

  • Research that critically examines, from a humanities perspective, any stage of the generative AI lifecycle, from data collection and model training to prompt design and the impact of outputs. 
  • Organize and host an online 3-part speaker series under the umbrella title “Critical AI Literacy.” Topics for the series could include sustainability (the environmental costs of generative AI tools); labor rights (ghost workers who filter content); copyright and intellectual property; data extraction; privacy; government regulation; language and AI (English, Spanish); etc. 
  • Host or organize a series of interactive workshops about critical AI literacy topics such as dis- and mis-information; algorithmic bias; plagiarism; AI in the scholarly publishing pipeline; writing with AI. 
  • Host a series of readings or book club conversations featuring critical AI literacy texts that appeal to humanities scholars. 

 

For More Information

Please email Laurie Bridges, Director of the AI Literacy Center, ([email protected]) or Joy Jensen, Residencies and Fellowships Manager, ([email protected]). 

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Fellowship Details

Oregon State University faculty at .50 FTE or greater who have both teaching in their position description and expertise in the humanities and AI literacy are invited to apply. In this context, the humanities are broadly construed and include scholarly and creative work that interprets culture, develops ethical frameworks, and/or examines the human experience, past and present. 

Applicants will be asked to explain how the requested funding aligns with and informs their position description. Please be specific. For example, explain how the proposed project will benefit your research, teaching, service, etc. Note that projects are not expected to benefit all elements of the position description but must connect with at least one.

  • For Research: Engage with a substantial research project involving humanistic methods with intent toward publication.  
  • For Service: Work in conjunction with the OSU AI Literacy Center Director to develop and deliver one or more programs for the AI Literacy Center during the year of the fellowship.
  • Participate in Humanities fellows’ cohort activities during the academic year, including quarterly meetings.  
  • Present work in progress to a public audience once during the academic year. Staff will work with fellows to determine the most useful format for presentation (e.g., a talk, a workshop, etc.).  
  • Within 4 weeks of the end of the academic year, fellows will submit a 1 to 2-page letter describing what they accomplished during the fellowship and how their experience benefited the project.

  • One-course reallocation during the academic year. 
  • Opportunities to engage with a supportive community and occasions for knowledge exchange and feedback. 

  • November 14, 2025: Application window opens.

  • January 5, 2026: Applications due via Submittable. 

  • By March 1, 2026: Applicants notified of status. 

  • September 2026 to June 2027: Participate in program activities and events.

Applications are due January 5, 2026, via Submittable. 

Applications will be reviewed by a diverse selection committee from relevant fields. Reviewers will consider:  

  • Alignment between the AI Literacy Center goals, the proposed project, and the faculty member’s position description, and the likelihood that the proposed program will be successful.  
  • Prospective significance of impact on campus conversations about the ethical use of AI. 
  • Inclusion of innovative methods of engagement with the humanities and/or unique, advantageous objects of study. 
  • The vision of how the proposed programs would benefit OSU students, faculty, the humanities, and/or communities beyond the university. 

 

The Critical AI Literacy Academic Year Fellowship is sponsored by OSU Libraries and Press and co-administered with Center for the Humanities.

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