Campus Notices
Beginning at 9:00 am on Monday, February 2 and until further notice, anyone accessing electronic resources (e-journals, e-books, databases, etc.) subscribed to by the Robertson Library will be prompted to enter their UPEI username and password, even when connected to a UPEI computer network. Logging in with UPEI credentials is a long-standing requirement for accessing Library e-resources from off-campus, but not on UPEI computing networks. The need for a temporary “on-campus login” arrangement at this time arises from an initiative led by ITSS to consolidate UPEI-owned IP addresses. This has, in turn, made it necessary for the Library to reconfigure the EZProxy server that we use to manage access to our e-resources.
During the EZproxy reconfiguration, the only way to reliably access databases and other e-resources will be through the links on the Library's website. If you have saved or bookmarked links that do not include the word "proxy" in the URL (web address), please note that these will not work during this time. You can fix those URLs using our Creating Persistent Links to Content in Library Databases tool.
If you encounter any difficulties accessing Library e-resources during this EZproxy reconfiguration, or have questions about it, please contact us. For information about the broader UPEI IP initiative, please contact Graham Nixon, Manager, Infrastructure and Technology, ITSS. For updates see Change in Online Access to Library Resources.
Join the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation (MCLT) for a hands-on, creative student mixer on February 25, 2026, from 1:30–3:30 pm in McMillan Hall.
Open to all students (undergraduate and graduate), participants can sign up in teams of three to build sustainability-themed miniatures—such as green homes and pollinator gardens—while learning about the MCLT program.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, with additional door prizes, food, and a relaxed opportunity for students to connect and explore future pathways in sustainability and graduate studies.
The event is free to attend but space is limited, so sign up today: MCLT Mixer & Miniature-Making Event - Sign Up – Fill out form
Questions? Email fgaballa@upei.ca or cleantech@upei.ca
The Health, Safety, and Environment Department (HSE) is offering Basic (previously called Emergency) First Aid/CPR training sessions on the following dates:
- February 19, 2026, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Registration cut off: February 10, 2026
- March 2, 2026, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Registration cut off: February 20, 2026
**Seats are limited, please register early to guarantee your spot!
To register, please email HSE@upei.ca. Include your name, department, contact number and the session date you are registering for.
The cost of registration will be covered by HSE for all UPEI faculty and staff, including students who require training for on-campus employment. Students who do not require training for on-campus employment are welcome to attend; however, the cost of registration will not be covered by HSE.
Intermediate (Previously called Standard) First Aid/CPR training is a comprehensive two-day course that offers first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for those who need enhanced training as a work requirement. Please contact HSE at HSE@upei.ca if you require this training.
You're Invited!
This year the Faculty of Science is hosting the 2026 Global Women's (and Allies') Breakfast Event on February 10, 7:30 - 9:30 am at the Fox and Crow. The breakfast event will feature three outstanding speakers talking on their research and experiences in STEM, networking, a tie-dye your lab coat activity, and more! We hope you are able to attend this year's event and continue to celebrate women in STEM!
Breakfast is free at the event with registration. Spaces are limited. Registration closes Friday February 6 at 5:00 pm.
You can access the registration using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScH6j-1bHLKQvPj0i0MRRVbpdZtFDqKCQpp2luXxSs21wkeOg/viewform?usp=dialog
Invited Speakers:
- Dr. Devon Lynn: Assistant Professor (Environmental Studies)
- Dr. Amy Hsiao: Professor (Engineering)
- Dr. Maria Kilfoil: Associate Professor (Physics)
For more information on this global event, please see https://iupac.org/gwb/2026/
All are welcome!
Did you know that you can use Moodle for online AND in-person quizzes? The Offline Quiz Moodle activity can be used to turn your existing online Moodle question bank into a scan-to-grade test. This can save you time grading and give you statistic insight into results, letting you review how students achieved on individual questions. This session will demo and cover how to use this tool in your courses. This lunch and learn will take place in the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre located in the Robertson Library Annex (RL 230) on February 3 at 12:00 noon. Register here: TLC Lunch and Learn: Offline Quiz in Moodle - February 4 – Fill out form
Registration is not required, but you will receive an event invitation.
Increasingly, faculty are reporting exhaustion, overwork, and burnout as serious issues affecting their work lives. Join Elizabeth Wells from Mount Allison University for this ONLINE session, where we will explore the landscape of burnout through the literature, and offer support and solutions to today’s overburdened academic. Register here to receive the Teams link for this session on February 3 at 12:00 noon.
The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship is hosting a workshop focused on teaching the basics about creating a business plan on Wednesday, February 3, from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Participants will learn about the major components of a business plan and what sort of information should be included in the document.
Attendees participating in the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program will also receive suggestions, tips, and tricks for how to make the most of their business plan for their written award submissions. The event is open to the public, but those participating in the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program Accelerate stream will have the event count towards their attendance boost for the Entrepreneurial written awards if present.
Faculty members and post-docs who supervise, mentor, and/or instruct graduate students are invited to join the upcoming Community of Practice on Excellence in Graduate Supervision session.
Being a graduate student is just one of the many concurrent identities of the students we supervise/mentor/instruct. When competing priorities or impactful world events arise but research deadlines are looming, it can be difficult to know how to strike a balance between expecting progress and being compassionate in our supervision. Join peers for a dialogue about experiences, insights, and tools to support being mentors/supervisors/instructors of the whole grad student.
What: CoP: Mentoring and Supervision of the whole grad student – Balancing accountability with compassion
When: 10:30-11:45 am, Wednesday, February 18
Where: Rm 230 – Teaching and Learning Centre, UPEI Robertson Library Annex
Light refreshments will be provided.
For questions or more information, please contact Charlene VanLeeuwen at cvanleeuwen@upei.ca or Kendra Mellish at kmellish@upei.ca
The UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre is hosting its annual full-day Teaching Community Conference on Tuesday April 28, 2026. This year’s theme will be: Connected Teaching: Connecting with Community, Self, and Place. Please plan to join us and save the date in your calendars.
The Teaching Community Conference is an opportunity to breathe further life into our strategic commitment to innovative and connected teaching, research, and scholarship by sharing our experiences, challenges, and opportunities of advancing teaching and learning at UPEI. Conference participants are invited to reflect on this theme and consider relevant questions such as:
- What supports, skills, and critical capacities do faculty need to embrace the relational and connected nature of teaching?
- As we consider expanding the walls of our classrooms and broadening our partnerships, how do we ensure we aren’t simply supplementing traditional teaching practices but rather transforming what teaching itself means?
- How does a commitment to relational and connected teaching help build faculty capacity to recognize and respond to structural barriers students face?
We are looking for proposals from the UPEI community that highlight current teaching and learning initiatives, share new ideas, and build collaborative strategies for a more inclusive accessible, and courageous university. Proposals from staff and faculty are welcome. There are four formats suggested for proposals:
- Traditional Oral Presentation: Presenters share a talk about a teaching and learning project or topic related to the theme, speaking for about 20 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes for questions.
- Lightning Talk: "Small Shifts, Significant Gains." Presenters share a teaching strategy or practice that they’ve found effective in supporting student learning, speaking for about ten minutes, followed by a short group discussion.
- Interactive Workshop: A hands-on session that encourages active participation and collaboration among attendees. The workshop could involve group activities, discussions, practical exercises, etc.
- Indigenous Sharing Circle: A facilitated, safe space for individuals to come together to discuss topics related to the theme, share their experiences, listen to each other, build relationships, offer support, and connect with each other.
- Facilitated Roundtable Discussion: A structured, collaborative conversation led by a facilitator to encourage open dialogue, balanced participation, and exploration of shared issues among participants. The session is guided by clear objectives and prompts, resulting in documented insights and agreed‑upon themes or recommendations.
The deadline for submissions is Monday, February 23, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to TLC@upei.ca.
Proposals can be submitted here.
Every year in February, we celebrate Black History Month. Members of the campus community are invited to join the UPEI Student Union, the Black Cultural Society, and the African Student Association at the raising of the Pan-African flag at the flag plaza near Kelley Memorial Building at 11:00 am. A reception with local food vendors will follow at 12:30 pm in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre. All are welcome.
For information about other events and activities at UPEI to mark Black History Month, go to https://www.upei.ca/communications/news/2026/01/upei-celebrates-black-history-month
On February 2, there will be a full moon ceremony at Kelley Memorial Building, Room 211. This will be a smudging ceremony led by Elder Thirly. We ask participants to bring a bottle of water for blessing and to refrain from recording the ceremony (photo or video). If you would like to wear a skirt but do not have one, you may borrow one during the ceremony. As always, all are welcome.
Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have followed the 13 Moons or moon cycles to ground themselves in their teachings and ensure balance. Life on Earth is connected to and regulated by Grandmother Moon, through the tides and waters, which stabilizes our Earth's position and determines the cycle of women and the birth of new life. Grandmother Moon helps us with healing and is strongly connected to human life.
As part of our ongoing effort to live UPEI’s core value related to the Pursuit of Excellence, UPEI’s Contracts and Insurance and Procurement teams — along with a cross-functional process improvement group including representation from administrative staff, Privacy, ITSS, and the Office VPAF— have worked collaboratively to reduce administrative burden related to UPEI’s Low-Value, Low-Risk Fee for Service (FFS) agreements.
Did You Know?
- In 2025, UPEI processed 195 FFS agreements
- These agreements are currently subject to 28 touch points across seven (7) UPEI departments and consume, on average, 4 hours of employee time each. That’s 780 employee hours per year!
- These agreements average 26 days to process from start to completion.
- Most interestingly, 79% of the FFS agreements are valued at less than $50,000.
- Many of these Fee for Service engagements pose minimal risk but require significant administrative effort.
What’s New?
- Effective February 9, 2026, UPEI’s Procurement and Contracts and Insurance teams are proposing to eliminate Fee for Service agreements for engagements valued at $50,000 or less, provided they meet ‘low risk’ criteria.
- The new Low-Value, Low-Risk Process reduces administrative steps from 28 to 7 - a 75% reduction - while maintaining key safeguards, including insurance.
- This streamlined process will result in a significant reduction in paperwork; annual hours spent on Fee for Service engagements each year; as well as shortening the time to complete while reducing potential frustration for UPEI staff and external vendors.
What Do You Need to Know?
- The Contracts and Insurance Office invites all members of the campus community to attend upcoming information sessions regarding the new Low-Value, Low-Risk Fee for Service (FFS) Process.
- These pre-launch sessions are intended to help departments prepare and ask questions ahead of implementation.
- Each session will include an Overview of the Contracts and Insurance Office; Overview of Fee-for-Service Agreements; Overview of the new Low-Value, Low-Risk FFS Process; and offer an opportunity for Q&A
Session Details:
February 2, 2026 | 1:00–2:00 pm | Register Here
February 4, 2026 | 9:00–10:00 am | Register Here
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact the Contracts and Insurance Office at contracts@upei.ca
Join the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation (MCLT) for a hands-on, creative student mixer on February 25, 2026, from 1:30–3:30 pm in McMillan Hall.
Open to all students (undergraduate and graduate), participants can sign up in teams of three to build sustainability-themed miniatures—such as green homes and pollinator gardens—while learning about the MCLT program.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, with additional door prizes, food, and a relaxed opportunity for students to connect and explore future pathways in sustainability and graduate studies.
The event is free to attend but space is limited, so sign up today: MCLT Mixer & Miniature-Making Event - Sign Up – Fill out form
Questions? Email fgaballa@upei.ca or cleantech@upei.ca
The Faculty of Science ESC/HB Seminar series invites the campus community to two graduate student presentations on January 30, 12:30 pm in Duffy Science Centre, Room 204
Nisha Owens (MSc-HB; Murphy's Lab, Biology) will present "Investigating the Kynurenine pathway in breast cancer", and Lucy Li (MSc-ESC; Wang's Lab, SCCA) will present "The impact of coastal erosion on mental health".
Both talks are open to the public.
You're invited to the Robertson Library Book Club! Throughout Winter Term 2026, we will read and discuss three books on the topic of indigeneity in the region of Turtle Island known as Canada. Book club meetings will be co-hosted by Morgan Varis, a sessional instructor from IKERAS (Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies). These meetings will take place on the last Monday of each month from January - March and will be held in the Robertson Library lobby at noon (12pm); light refreshments will be provided.
Our next meeting is Monday, February 23, 12pm-1pm, discussing Out of the Depths: The Experiences of Mi’kmaw Children at the Indian Residential School at Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia by Isabelle Knockwood (nonfiction)
"Daring to break the code of silence imposed on Aboriginal students, residential school survivor Isabelle Knockwood offers the firsthand experiences of forty-two survivors of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. In their own words, these former students remember their first day of residential schooling, when they were outwardly transformed through hair cuts and striped uniforms marked with numbers. Then followed years of inner transformation from a strict and regimented life of education and manual training, as well as harsh punishments for speaking their own language or engaging in Indigenous customs. The survivors also speak of being released from their school — and having to decide between living in a racist and unwelcoming dominant society or returning to reserves where the Aboriginal culture had evolved." -Fernwood Publishing
Copies of all three books are available to borrow from the Robertson Library (courtesy of PEI Public Library/Service des bibliothèques publiques ÎPÉ and their book club kit program):
Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
Out of the Depths by Isabelle Knockwood
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
Hope to see you there!
The 2026 theme for UPEI’s Data Privacy Week (January 26-30) is “Privacy is Everyone’s Business,” highlighting the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust.
Data Privacy Week spreads awareness about online privacy with the aim of educating individuals on how to manage and protect their personal information and encourage organizations to respect data and be transparent.
Make privacy your business! To learn more about what you can do to be privacy aware, check out the resources on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s website.
To find out about UPEI privacy training for your department, please contact the UPEI Access to Information and Privacy Office at accessprivacy@upei.ca
Collide Discover is the one-stop shop to get you started on your entrepreneurial journey, whether you already have an idea or not! Learn how to ideate with a customer focus, structure your concept into a business model, identify your most attractive customer segment, and communicate your early-stage idea effectively!
Collide Discover is the only way to make yourself and your team eligible to participate in the new Aspire stream of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program next semester for first and second year students!
The best part? You can complete the whole program in just 3 DAYS! The full bootcamp is taking place in FSDE 128A and B on the UPEI campus on the following dates:
Friday, January 30 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Saturday, January 31 from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sunday, February 1 from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
Any current UPEI and Holland College student, faculty member, or recent graduate within the last 5 years is eligible to attend. Food is provided throughout the bootcamp! Register today.
The fifth meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). To view the 2025-2026 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here. (Posted one week before the meeting)
All meetings are open to members of the University community, although certain in-camera items (e.g., granting of degrees) may require the Senate to go into a closed session. Only members of Senate are permitted to address the Senate unless otherwise recognized by the chair.
For logistical purposes, members of the UPEI community who wish to attend the open session of a UPEI Senate meeting are asked to contact senate@upei.ca one week prior to the meeting. While Senate is an in-person meeting, members of the University community may request a virtual connection when they are unable to attend in person.
Every year in February, we celebrate Black History Month. Members of the campus community are invited to join the UPEI Student Union, the Black Cultural Society, and the African Student Association at the raising of the Pan-African flag at the flag plaza near Kelley Memorial Building at 11:00 am. A reception with local food vendors will follow at 12:30 pm in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre. All are welcome.
For information about other events and activities at UPEI to mark Black History Month, go to https://www.upei.ca/communications/news/2026/01/upei-celebrates-black-history-month
As part of our ongoing effort to live UPEI’s core value related to the Pursuit of Excellence, UPEI’s Contracts and Insurance and Procurement teams — along with a cross-functional process improvement group including representation from administrative staff, Privacy, ITSS, and the Office VPAF— have worked collaboratively to reduce administrative burden related to UPEI’s Low-Value, Low-Risk Fee for Service (FFS) agreements.
Did You Know?
- In 2025, UPEI processed 195 FFS agreements
- These agreements are currently subject to 28 touch points across seven (7) UPEI departments and consume, on average, 4 hours of employee time each. That’s 780 employee hours per year!
- These agreements average 26 days to process from start to completion.
- Most interestingly, 79% of the FFS agreements are valued at less than $50,000.
- Many of these Fee for Service engagements pose minimal risk but require significant administrative effort.
What’s New?
- Effective February 9, 2026, UPEI’s Procurement and Contracts and Insurance teams are proposing to eliminate Fee for Service agreements for engagements valued at $50,000 or less, provided they meet ‘low risk’ criteria.
- The new Low-Value, Low-Risk Process reduces administrative steps from 28 to 7 - a 75% reduction - while maintaining key safeguards, including insurance.
- This streamlined process will result in a significant reduction in paperwork; annual hours spent on Fee for Service engagements each year; as well as shortening the time to complete while reducing potential frustration for UPEI staff and external vendors.
What Do You Need to Know?
- The Contracts and Insurance Office invites all members of the campus community to attend upcoming information sessions regarding the new Low-Value, Low-Risk Fee for Service (FFS) Process.
- These pre-launch sessions are intended to help departments prepare and ask questions ahead of implementation.
- Each session will include an Overview of the Contracts and Insurance Office; Overview of Fee-for-Service Agreements; Overview of the new Low-Value, Low-Risk FFS Process; and offer an opportunity for Q&A
Session Details:
February 2, 2026 | 1:00–2:00 pm | Register Here
February 4, 2026 | 9:00–10:00 am | Register Here
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact the Contracts and Insurance Office at contracts@upei.ca
