During Black History Month, an exhibition titled "Black Islanders: Four Centuries and Counting" will be on display in the Robertson Library lobby, starting February 12. Curated by the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, this award-winning exhibition explores the rich history and legacy of Black Islanders, highlighting the stories of Black community life on Prince Edward Island through rare photographs and interview media. 

Recognized with a Governors’ Award by the National Trust for Canada, the exhibition offers invaluable insight into an often overlooked aspect of Island history. Visit the library to experience "Black Islanders: Four Centuries and Counting".

Please note that ITSS, including the helpdesk, will be closed from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm on Wednesday, February 12. During this time, you can still submit a ticket by emailing helpdesk@upei.ca or calling 902-566-0465. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as we return. Thank you for your understanding!

ITSS Team

The University Teaching Excellence Award recognizes outstanding contributions to teaching in one or more of the following areas: teaching effectiveness, teaching innovation, clinical instruction, and scholarship of teaching and learning and educational leadership.  

Nominated candidates will have demonstrated outstanding contributions to teaching at the University. Among the factors to be considered by the committee will be evidence of sustained and superior performance in one or more areas of teaching; excellence in the classroom, laboratory, clinical setting, online teaching, and/or undergraduate student supervision; teaching innovation such as the development of new and effective teaching methods; and scholarship of teaching and learning and educational leadership, including scholarly publications or activities that promote teaching excellence at the University.

• Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, or a combination thereof.
• Nominations must be supported by two nominators. At least one nominator must be a member of the faculty or staff of UPEI.
• Nominations must include a dated statement of no more than two (2) pages proposing the nomination, describing and justifying the achievements in the category for which the application is being made. Nominations must provide specific examples to support the nomination.

Nominations close on Friday, February 28, 2025.

For more information about this and other awards including eligibility and the nomination process, please click here.

Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm Atlantic
Location: Virtual. Register for the link at https://forms.gle/Lh3SAjFguChUnk4K7
Audience: UPEI master's and doctoral Students

Virtual Workshop: Gen AI use as a grad student
As students, the draw of a time-saving tool is always of interest. When are the current Generative AI tools available truly useful, and when might they be distractions or time wasters? Join us for a review of relevant types of Gen AI tools, and discussion about potential uses and relevant concerns.

Facilitator: Keri McCaffrey, One Health & Scholarly Communications Librarian

Options: Attend the virtual workshop delivered live and/or receive access to the recording.

View the full schedule of upcoming monthly Lunch & Learns for Graduate Students in the self-enrolled UPEI Graduate Student Professional & Academic Development Resources Moodle: https://moodle31.upei.ca/course/view.php?id=19273

This year, the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre is celebrating 10 years of Soup for the Soul! Our celebration continues with two more events in February. Mark your calendars for February 11 and 25, when we will serve free bowls of soup for the campus community from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm (or until we run out!). See you at the Chaplaincy Centre!

UPEI Class of 2025 Mix and Mingle!

Event Date: Friday, April 4, 2025, 5:00 pm

Location: W.A. Murphy Student Centre

Room: McMillan Hall

Join us as we welcome the UPEI Class of 2025 to our alumni family! This event is open to all 2025 grads and UPEI/SDU/PWC alumni.

Celebrate the last day of classes with free refreshments, live music entertainment, fun door prizes to be won, and more!

Please RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRWenZcxnWDFxotOXDWGMUsK8vKwzP3V-UfBY55I-5mOhfDw/viewform?usp=header

If you have any questions, please contact Faith Phillips at fsteeves@upei.ca or 902-566-0687. 

The UPEI Alumni Association Panther for Life Spirit Award is given to a current UPEI student (of no particular standing), who exemplifies true Panther pride inside and outside of the classroom. This individual has contributed to the campus community in a meaningful way, whether it be through their volunteerism, participation in UPEI-related events and activities, support of Panther sport, or any other significant way that makes them a strong ambassador for UPEI, both now and as a future Panther alumni.

The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event.

Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. Nominations must be received by February 28th at 4 pm to be considered for 2025.

To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award

For more information, email alumni@upei.ca.

The deadline for animal care protocol submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, March 7, for the March meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

During Black History Month, an exhibition titled "Black Islanders: Four Centuries and Counting" will be on display in the Robertson Library lobby, starting February 12. Curated by the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, this award-winning exhibition explores the rich history and legacy of Black Islanders, highlighting the stories of Black community life on Prince Edward Island through rare photographs and interview media. 

Recognized with a Governors’ Award by the National Trust for Canada, the exhibition offers invaluable insight into an often overlooked aspect of Island history. Visit the library to experience "Black Islanders: Four Centuries and Counting".

Please note that ITSS, including the helpdesk, will be closed from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm on Wednesday, February 12. During this time, you can still submit a ticket by emailing helpdesk@upei.ca or calling 902-566-0465. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as we return. Thank you for your understanding!

ITSS Team

UPEI is conducting a study for the PEI Veterans Success Centre. As a veteran transitioning from military to civilian life or a supporting family member of a veteran transitioning, you are invited to participate in this study, titled “Understanding the challenges of veterans and their families,” which will make a difference and inform future support services needed by veterans and their families.

Participation will entail a 30-to-60-minute interview by phone or in person at the location of your choice.

For more information, contact Dr. Olive Bryanton at obryanton@upei.ca or 902-566-0627.

At UPEI, our people make a difference. The University Awards of Excellence recognize employees who go above and beyond in teaching, research, service, leadership, and more! Categories include

• University Teaching Excellence Award
• University Research Excellence Award
• University Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision
• University Award for Exemplary Service
• University Ambassador Award
• University Award for Support of Student Success

Taking time to nominate a colleague or individual who has made a difference in your experience at UPEI is a powerful way to show appreciation and foster a culture of gratitude. Recognition can bridge gaps, uplift individuals, and strengthen our sense of belonging.

Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, and students. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, February 28, 2025. Submit your nomination today! 

For more information about each award including eligibility and the nomination process, please click here.

A dossier to support a teaching award nomination is different from one you develop to apply for an academic position or for tenure and promotion. Right now, there are multiple calls for nomination open for teaching and educational leadership awards at UPEI. If you have been nominated by colleagues or students or are considering self-nomination, come and learn about what it takes. Bring your interest and questions about preparing a teaching award dossier to the Teaching and Learning Centre RL 230 on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 2:30 pm. If you have an existing teaching philosophy statement, bring it along too. 

As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in November, the UPEI Student Union Mental Health team and the UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) invited students, staff, and faculty to create a community “quilt” for gender-based violence prevention. Each participant created a canvas square for the quilt. Thank you to all who contributed to this important art piece!

The art shares messages of hope for survivors as well as messages about gender-based violence prevention. For Love & Sex Week (February 10-14), we encourage everyone to visit the quilt on display at the Robertson Library. As you enjoy the art pieces, reflect on ways you can foster healthy relationships in your life and commit to consent in all interactions.

The quilt will be on display from 9 am on Monday, February 10 to Friday, February 14. 

The UPEI Department of Chemistry will host the 2025 IUPAC Global Women's (and Allies') Breakfast on Tuesday, February 11, from 7:00-9:00 am at the Fox & Crow, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

The breakfast is an excellent opportunity to build stronger chemistry/science communities and networks, learn more about the exciting research taking place in the faculties of Science and Sustainable Design Engineering, and share stories of resilience. This year, participants can expect to engage with three to five female speakers on their science and experiences followed by a short panel discussion. We will also have a "tie-dye your (clean) lab coat" activity along with a hot breakfast. This event is free to attend.

Please register for the event by no later than 12:00 pm on February 9 at https://forms.gle/tmcWT5VvFjt2riav7

For more information about this global event, please go to https://iupac.org/gwb/2025/

IT Systems and Services (ITSS) will perform upgrades to the border firewalls between 7:30 and 9:30 am on Saturday, February 15, 2025. During this period, users on campus will have no access to internet resources on wired or wireless systems. There will be no impact on printing, security systems, department shares, facilities management systems, and local system use.

ITSS apologizes for the inconvenience.

UPEI faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend a thought-provoking presentation and discussion titled "The State of Post-Secondary Education in Canada and Embedding a Culture of Hope at UPEI" by Dr. Jessica Riddell, celebrated professor and author of "Hope Circuits: Rewiring Universities and other Systems for Human Flourishing." This event will take place on February 10, at 10:30 am, in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Through a campus-wide discussion, Dr. Riddell will share her insights on the state of post-secondary in Canada—and beyond—and how university communities can navigate to more sustainable and hopeful institutions. Following her presentation, she will lead an interactive discussion on strategies for embedding a culture of hope and belonging within UPEI.

Members of the campus community who are unable to attend in person are welcome to join virtually at this Teams Town Hall link.

Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm Atlantic
Location: Virtual. Register for the link at https://forms.gle/Lh3SAjFguChUnk4K7
Audience: UPEI master's and doctoral Students

Virtual Workshop: Gen AI use as a grad student
As students, the draw of a time-saving tool is always of interest. When are the current Generative AI tools available truly useful, and when might they be distractions or time wasters? Join us for a review of relevant types of Gen AI tools, and discussion about potential uses and relevant concerns.

Facilitator: Keri McCaffrey, One Health & Scholarly Communications Librarian

Options: Attend the virtual workshop delivered live and/or receive access to the recording.

View the full schedule of upcoming monthly Lunch & Learns for Graduate Students in the self-enrolled UPEI Graduate Student Professional & Academic Development Resources Moodle: https://moodle31.upei.ca/course/view.php?id=19273

Are you thinking about preparing your file for tenure/permanency and/or promotion? Get started by learning about the basics of teaching philosophy statements and teaching dossiers by checking out the resources in the Professional Growth, Development and Identity Domain of the Academic Instructional Skills Program. Then bring your questions to our workshop, and learn what is needed to be included under our current collective agreement. Join us in the Teaching and Learning Centre, RL 230, on Monday, February 10, from 2:00 to 4:00. Virtual options to attend will be available by emailing TLC@upei.ca for the link.

This lunch and learn event is a 45-minute working session created in collaboration between the TLC, EDIHR, and Accessibility Services. Make an impact on student learning by rethinking your slides. 

What to bring: A set of slides and a device to work on

Schedule:  

• 10-minute presentation 
• 30 minutes to work individually on your own slides; the hosts are present for questions 
• 5 minutes to reflect on how it went and ask more questions 

Email Kristy at kmckinney@upei.ca to RSVP.