Great workplaces thrive on recognition! The University Awards of Excellence celebrate employees who make UPEI an inspiring place to work and learn. By nominating a colleague, or someone that has supported your success at UPEI, you not only honor their contributions but also help create a culture of respect, teamwork and appreciation. 

Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff and students.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate those who go the extra mile. Nominate today!

Nominations close on Friday, February 28, 2025

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

Dear UPEI Campus Community,

We need your help at the Campus Food Bank! As we prepare to distribute pre-packed bags for students, we’re looking for volunteers to assist with many important tasks including but not limited to

Tuesday (12-5 pm):

• Bagging rice
• Writing names and requested items on paper bags
• Packing items into bags
• Other duties as assigned by the food bank coordinator

Wednesday (10 am-3 pm):

• Distributing grab bags at the kiosk
• Other duties as assigned by the food bank coordinator

If you’re interested in helping, you can sign up for Tuesday here and Wednesday here.

Thank you for supporting our students who are facing food insecurity. Your time and effort make a real difference!

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Justine Brown’s public dissertation defence presentation of her PsyD research titled “Exploring PEI elementary school teachers’ mental health literacy and decision-making processes regarding student mental health concerns.”

Please join us virtually on March 5, 2025, from 3-5 pm AST at https://upei.zoom.us/j/61428838697?pwd=S7rSMfjBQLYJYHwcIquanIsyeLZsYz.1
Meeting ID: 614 2883 8697
Passcode: 983605

There will be a basic biosafety training session on Friday, February 28, at 9:00 am in AVC 287N. Topics will include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. This session is open to everyone, including graduate students.

To attend, you must pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell by the end of the day on Friday, February 21, 2025, via email (hse@upei.ca) or phone (902-566-0901). 

Please provide:

• Your name 
• Your supervisor’s name (if applicable)
• Department
• Email address
• Phone number
• Whether you're an employee or graduate student  

NOTE: An online biosafety training refresher course is available for those who completed basic biosafety training previously. Training must be renewed every three years. Please contact us for information on how to register for this training. 

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. 

Dr. Shannon Murray, UPEI Department of English, will moderate a virtual Freedom to Read Week event with Ira Wells, author of "On Book Banning: Or, How the New Censorship Consensus Trivializes Art and Undermines Democracy," on Thursday, February 27, at 7 pm.

Hosted by The Bookmark, the event is free, but spaces are limited to 300. Those interested are asked to pre-register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/freedom-to-read-week-virtual-event-with-ira-wells-tickets-1226483668669?aff=oddtdtcreator. A zoom link will be emailed to registered participants on the morning of the event.

Ira Wells is a critic, essayist, and an associate professor at Victoria College in the University of Toronto, where he teaches in the Northrop Frye stream in literature and the humanities in the Vic One program. His writing has appeared in "The Atlantic," "The Globe and Mail," "The Guardian," "The New Republic," and many other venues. His most recent book is “Norman Jewison: A Director's Life.” He lives in Toronto with his wife and children.

Freedom to Read Week takes place from February 23 to March 1, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.freedomtoread.ca/freedom-to-read-week/.

Members of the UPEI community are invited to submit a proposal for this year's Teaching Community Conference, which will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 9:00 am. This year's theme is "Teaching at the Intersections: Inclusion, Accessibility, and Courage in Education." The Teaching Community Conference aims to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities of advancing teaching and learning at UPEI, giving staff and faculty opportunities to engage in dialogue and share their experiences of teaching at the intersections. 

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.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 28, 2025. Successful proposals will be announced by April 4, 2025. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to TLC@upei.ca. 

Proposals can be submitted here.

RSVP to attend the Teaching Community Conference.

The UPEI community was saddened to learn about the tragic passing earlier this month of UPEI student Michael Oppong-Ampomah as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Michael was expected to graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering this spring.

A Service of Remembrance will be held to honour Michael on Thursday, February 27, at 5:00 pm in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre. While Michael’s uncle from Ontario plans to attend the service, family from Ghana will travel to Charlottetown later in the spring.

A Book of Condolences has been set up in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre for anyone who would like to write a memory about Michael or a message to his family. It will be available to sign until the Service of Remembrance.

Counsellors with UPEI Student Affairs are available for students needing support through this difficult time. To make an appointment, please contact them at studentserv@upei.ca. UPEI students, faculty, and staff can also access resources on the Department of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights site while eligible employees can call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-387-4765 for support.

The Robertson Library would like to welcome everyone to come and have some free coffee or tea in the lobby on Friday, February 21. Bring your own reusable cup any time between 10:00 and 10:30 am to get your morning coffee or tea!

The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Monday, February 24, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street, Charlottetown. All are welcome.

During this gathering, we will discuss Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" The following passages capture the spirit of the book:

"Without imagination we cannot see truly, for to be lukewarm in a glowing world is to miss the truth"—Ella Lyman Cabot, "Everyday Ethics"

"It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. After 1989, capitalism has successfully presented itself as the only realistic political-economic system - a situation that the bank crisis of 2008, far from ending, actually compounded. The book analyses the development and principal features of this capitalist realism as a lived ideological framework. Using examples from politics, film (Children Of Men, Jason Bourne, Supernanny), fiction (Le Guin and Kafka), work and education, it argues that capitalist realism colors all areas of contemporary experience [including mental health and our approaches to it], is anything but realistic and asks how capitalism and its inconsistencies can be challenged. It is a sharp analysis of the post-ideological malaise that suggests that the economics and politics of free market neo-liberalism are givens rather than constructions."

If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.

The University Award for Support of Student Success is presented to a UPEI employee who has made significant contributions to higher education by supporting student success.

Nominated candidates will have demonstrated a commitment to supporting student success at the University of Prince Edward Island. Among the factors to be considered by the Committee will be: evidence of demonstrated commitment (beyond the scope of one's job) to assist students to achieve their goals by enhancing a positive student experience at UPEI; and/or a commitment to lifelong learning and/or encouraging in others the desire to learn and/or volunteer.

• 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 this award and other awards including, eligibility and the nomination process, please click here

Dear UPEI Campus Community,

We need your help at the Campus Food Bank! As we prepare to distribute pre-packed bags for students, we’re looking for volunteers to assist with many important tasks including but not limited to

Tuesday (12-5 pm):

• Bagging rice
• Writing names and requested items on paper bags
• Packing items into bags
• Other duties as assigned by the food bank coordinator

Wednesday (10 am-3 pm):

• Distributing grab bags at the kiosk
• Other duties as assigned by the food bank coordinator

If you’re interested in helping, you can sign up for Tuesday here and Wednesday here.

Thank you for supporting our students who are facing food insecurity. Your time and effort make a real difference!

There will be a basic biosafety training session on Friday, February 28, at 9:00 am in AVC 287N. Topics will include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. This session is open to everyone, including graduate students.

To attend, you must pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell by the end of the day on Friday, February 21, 2025, via email (hse@upei.ca) or phone (902-566-0901). 

Please provide:

• Your name 
• Your supervisor’s name (if applicable)
• Department
• Email address
• Phone number
• Whether you're an employee or graduate student  

NOTE: An online biosafety training refresher course is available for those who completed basic biosafety training previously. Training must be renewed every three years. Please contact us for information on how to register for this training. 

Asian Studies and the Centre for Korean Studies invite UPEI students to this special event: the 2025 Korean Speech Contest, on March 21, 10:00 am–12:00 pm, SDU Main Building 201 (Faculty Lounge). The contest is open to UPEI students who can speak basic Korean at the beginner’s level. Other students are welcome to attend the contest as the audience. Refreshments will be provided.

Prizes with a certificate: first prize: $700 scholarship; second: $500; third prize: $300.

Deadline for application and speech draft: March 14, 2025

Submit to Dr. Somi Lee at somlee@upei.ca (Korean Studies professor, UPEI), cc'ing Dr. Edward Chung at chung@upei.ca (AST and KS Project Director).

Contest category: Beginner’s level of spoken Korean
Speech length: 4-5 minutes

For the application form and details on the contest guidelines and criteria, email somlee@upei.ca.  For this event poster, email jbbandara@upei.ca or chung@upei.ca.

Acknowledgement: This speech contest is funded by Prof. Edward Chung’s international Seed Program for Korean Studies project grant (AKS-2022-INC-2230004) at UPEI, thanks to Korean Studies Promotion Service (KSPS), the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), the Ministry of Education, Government of South Korea.

The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Monday, February 24, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street, Charlottetown. All are welcome.

During this gathering, we will discuss Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" The following passages capture the spirit of the book:

"Without imagination we cannot see truly, for to be lukewarm in a glowing world is to miss the truth"—Ella Lyman Cabot, "Everyday Ethics"

"It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. After 1989, capitalism has successfully presented itself as the only realistic political-economic system - a situation that the bank crisis of 2008, far from ending, actually compounded. The book analyses the development and principal features of this capitalist realism as a lived ideological framework. Using examples from politics, film (Children Of Men, Jason Bourne, Supernanny), fiction (Le Guin and Kafka), work and education, it argues that capitalist realism colors all areas of contemporary experience [including mental health and our approaches to it], is anything but realistic and asks how capitalism and its inconsistencies can be challenged. It is a sharp analysis of the post-ideological malaise that suggests that the economics and politics of free market neo-liberalism are givens rather than constructions."

If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.

The University Ambassador Award will be presented to a UPEI employee who has made a significant positive impact on the University by advancing the strategic priorities of their unit, department, or faculty, or by fostering a sense of excitement on campus and promoting fellowship, goodwill, and belonging within the University community. 

Nominated candidates will have exemplified campus spirit to the University community. Among the factors to be considered by the Committee will be collaborating as a strong team player who promotes goodwill within UPEI; leading or supporting initiatives that advance the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion; and/or acting as a creative problem solver who brings innovative solutions to University challenges or opportunities.

• 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.

Refworks is a great tool for organizing your research and referencing easier. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn how to organize and track citations for your projects; automate bibliography creation for any citation style; and insert automated citations through Word or Google Docs as you write.

The facilitator is Keri McCaffrey, One Health and Scholarly Communications Librarian. The audience is current UPEI masters and doctoral students.

Workshop options:

• February 26, noon to 1 pm: In person. To register, go to https://forms.gle/rCNybXxwo2my2iNN8
• March 5, noon to 1 pm: Virtual. To register, go to https://forms.gle/XE61AwPo9B3RoUJfA

For questions about the workshop, please contact Kendra Mellish, Graduate Programs Officer, at kmellish@upei.ca

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. 

A new book titled "The Belfast Riot of 1847," written by Dr. Callum Beck, sessional lecturer at UPEI, and published by Island Studies Press, will be launched on March 5, 2025, at 7 pm, in the Faculty Lounge (Room 201), SDU Main Building, UPEI.

In his book, Dr. Beck examines the social and political conditions that led to the Belfast Riot of March 1, 1847. The riot involved about 200 Scottish Protestants and 300 Irish Catholics and resulted in at least three men dead and up to 100 others injured; it set the stage for the hardening of the sectarian conflict between Protestants and Catholics on PEI for the next 125 years. Dr. Beck introduces us to the major players on both sides, provides a detailed account of its unfolding, and takes a nuanced look at who was to blame. 

"The Belfast Riot of 1847" was published with the support of a SSHRC Exchange Publication Award from the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Research at UPEI. 

Another launch will take place in Summerside on March 30, at 1 pm, at the Eptek Art and Culture Centre.

Both events are free, and all are welcome. Thanks to the Bookmark, books will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at Island Studies Press, 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.

The University Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision recognizes and encourages excellence in the supervision, mentorship, and support of graduate students.

Nominated candidates will have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the learning experience of graduate students at UPEI. Among the factors to be considered by the Committee will be mentoring, advising, and helping graduate students to secure research funding, scholarships, and awards; engaging graduate students in meaningful research opportunities; guiding graduate students through to the timely completion of their degree; and preparing them for a successful career.

• 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.