Happy New Year, UPEI.

Many of you may have received a new phone for Christmas. If you just shoved the old one in a drawer, please consider recycling it. It is easy to take the SIM card out and restore it to factory settings. Information about where you can take it can be found at https://www.recyclemyelectronics.ca/pei 

If you have old laptops, iPads, modems, etc., they also can be recycled. Remember to be careful when disposing of equipment that may have personal information. If in doubt, ask a professional.

Be clutter free in 2022.

UPEI ChangeMakers is a new program operating from November 2021 through April 2022, aimed at developing, supporting, and celebrating UPEI students’ community work.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, February 4, for the February meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal. 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.

As we start a new semester and with it new courses, you may be thinking about ways to motivate your students to do pre-class work: you know, reading and homework. This article, published last week, shares several ideas that could work for you and your students this semester. Check out How to Motivate Students to Actually Do Homework and Reading for considerations on how intrinsic and extrinsic motivators can spur us on to success.  

UPEI’s Learning Strategists invite you to join us for our Time Management Workshops. The beginning of a new semester is a chance to start fresh and to achieve your academic goals. During this workshop, we will guide you through time management strategies, organizational strategies, and will share tips on how to start the semester for a successful year ahead. 

Workshops will take place on: 

January 13 at 1:00 pm – ONLINE

January 14 at 1:00 pm – ONLINE

January 19 at 10:30 am – ONLINE

January 20 at 10:30 am – ONLINE

You will receive the meeting link after you have signed up. To sign up, please complete the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/GAYrTRhSKfChGXwA8

Looking forward to hearing from you!! 

Best Wishes, 

Jaclyn and Susan, Learning Strategists

A reminder of the new internal research grants focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Faculty and Instructional staff such as lab instructors are eligible to apply for the Internal SoTL Research Grant (ISRG).

Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded for SoTL research initiatives at UPEI. Researchers are encouraged to propose collaborations with colleagues from different, but complementary, disciplines which can also provide high-quality student training opportunities.

SoTL involves:

• asking meaningful questions about student learning, and about the teaching activities designed to facilitate student learning,
• answering those questions by making relevant student learning visible to gather evidence of thinking and learning, and then systematically analyzing this evidence, and
• sharing the results of that analysis publicly to invite peer review, and to contribute to broader bodies of knowledge on student learning, and
• aiming to improve student learning by strengthening the practice of teaching (one’s own and others’).

Guidelines and application forms for the ISRG are available on the Research Services Internal Funding page  

Please submit applications using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal. The deadline for proposals is January 21, 2022 by 4:00 pm.  Applicants will be notified in early February.

If you have any questions about the funding, process, or if you’d like to discuss your idea, please reach out to Charlene VanLeeuwen, Teaching and Learning Centre Coordinator at 902.620.5217 or cvanleeuwen@upei.ca

In the first installment of the 2022 Island Lecture series, Ilse van Dijk will present the findings of the research she conducted as an intern with Island Studies and the School of Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI. The research was funded by the Climate Sense project. In her research project, Ilse aimed to identify possibilities for the integration of artistic processes into climate change adaptation policies on Prince Edward Island.

Climate change and climate change adaptation are increasingly represented in the arts. Previous research has to some extent established that the resulting "climate art" can perform a variety of functions, in addition to its artistic value, such as articulating difficult emotions and translating complex information. However, policymaking for climate change and adaptation does not utilize the potential of climate art. In her research project, Ilse developed a concept for the integration of artistic processes into adaptation policymaking on Prince Edward Island. The research is based on qualitative data, gathered through in-depth interviews with artists, cultural experts, and climate change adaptation policymakers on Prince Edward Island.

If you wish to attend, please email instituteofislandstudiesupei@gmail.com to register.

The Teaching and Learning Centre is pleased to announce the launch of a new internal research grant focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Faculty and Instructional staff such as lab instructors are eligible to apply for the Internal SoTL Research Grant (ISRG).

Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded for SoTL research initiatives at UPEI. Researchers are encouraged to propose collaborations with colleagues from different, but complementary, disciplines which can also provide high-quality student training opportunities.

SoTL involves:

• asking meaningful questions about student learning, and about the teaching activities designed to facilitate student learning,
• answering those questions by making relevant student learning visible to gather evidence of thinking and learning, and then systematically analyzing this evidence, and
• sharing the results of that analysis publicly to invite peer review, and to contribute to broader bodies of knowledge on student learning, and
• aiming to improve student learning by strengthening the practice of teaching (one’s own and others’).

Guidelines and application forms for the ISRG are available on the Research Services Internal Funding page  

Please submit applications using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal. The deadline for proposals is January 21, 2022 by 4:00 pm.  Applicants will be notified in early February.

If you have any questions about the funding, process, or if you’d like to discuss your idea, please reach out to Charlene VanLeeuwen, Teaching and Learning Centre Coordinator at 902.620.5217 or cvanleeuwen@upei.ca

To assist as many students as possible, Accessibility Services will continue conducting appointments for the first two weeks of classes (Jan. 10–21) for case management, learning strategy, grant applications, and adaptive technology!

Please note, in keeping with current COVID-19 public health measures, and while classes are conducted online, appointments will primarily be held online.

To make an appointment, please email accessibility@upei.ca. 

Approved recipients of the 2021/22 George Coles Bursary have had funding applied to their student account for the 2022 Winter term. Eligibility criteria must be maintained throughout the term to retain funding.  

A second list of potential recipients has been prepared for PEI Student Financial Services’ review, which includes students who may now be eligible for the George Coles Bursary and were not part of the initial list. If you do not see funding applied by January 24th, then the recommendation is for eligible students to complete a George Coles Bursary Appeal Form. Complete appeal forms must be submitted by May 31st.  

Any questions relating to this message or the George Coles Bursary can be directed to scholarships@upei.ca.

To assist as many students as possible, Student Affairs will be conducting 30 minute appointments for the first two weeks of classes (Jan 10 -21) for both personal counselling and academic advising. Please note, in keeping with current Covid 19 public health measures, and while classes are conducted online, appointments will primarily be held online. To make an appointment, please email studentserv@upei.ca.

The UPEI Bookstore is open for shopping at this time, Monday to Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm

The store has a limit of 15 shoppers at a time, and asks all shoppers to please respect physical distancing regulations. 

You can also shop online at upei.ca/bookstore for any course materials and clothing items. In-store pick is up available. 

UPEI’s Learning Strategists invite you to join us for our Time Management Workshops. The beginning of a new semester is a chance to start fresh and to achieve your academic goals. During this workshop, we will guide you through time management strategies, organizational strategies, and will share tips on how to start the semester for a successful year ahead. 

Workshops will take place on: 

January 13 at 1:00 pm – ONLINE

January 14 at 1:00 pm – ONLINE

January 19 at 10:30 am – ONLINE

January 20 at 10:30 am – ONLINE

You will receive the meeting link after you have signed up. To sign up, please complete the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/GAYrTRhSKfChGXwA8

Looking forward to hearing from you!! 

Best Wishes, 

Jaclyn and Susan, Learning Strategists

The Teaching and Learning Centre and the Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies are delighted to sponsor the second talk in our Teaching Matters! Series. Please join us on Monday January 10 at 12:30 pm when we will welcome Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt and Dr. Patricia Danyluk to our virtual event.  They are 2021 recipients of the Alan Blizzard Award from STLHE which is given to collaborative projects that increase the effectiveness of student learning.  We are excited that they will be sharing some of their collaborative work around Reconciliatory Pedagogy with us and our post-secondary colleagues in the Atlantic region. 

Details on this lecture and the link to register can be found on this poster.  We hope you will be able to attend this virtual event and invite you to share this invitation with your colleagues.

A reminder of the new internal research grants focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Faculty and Instructional staff such as lab instructors are eligible to apply for the Internal SoTL Research Grant (ISRG).

Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded for SoTL research initiatives at UPEI. Researchers are encouraged to propose collaborations with colleagues from different, but complementary, disciplines which can also provide high-quality student training opportunities.

SoTL involves:

• asking meaningful questions about student learning, and about the teaching activities designed to facilitate student learning,
• answering those questions by making relevant student learning visible to gather evidence of thinking and learning, and then systematically analyzing this evidence, and
• sharing the results of that analysis publicly to invite peer review, and to contribute to broader bodies of knowledge on student learning, and
• aiming to improve student learning by strengthening the practice of teaching (one’s own and others’).

Guidelines and application forms for the ISRG are available on the Research Services Internal Funding page  

Please submit applications using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal. The deadline for proposals is January 21, 2022 by 4:00 pm.  Applicants will be notified in early February.

If you have any questions about the funding, process, or if you’d like to discuss your idea, please reach out to Charlene VanLeeuwen, Teaching and Learning Centre Coordinator at 902.620.5217 or cvanleeuwen@upei.ca

To all users of the UPEI Researcher Portal,

Please be advised that some of the online forms in the UPEI Researcher Portal will be updated on Jan 7th, 2022.  Forms created prior to Jan 7, 2022, using the older versions of the forms will be processed as usual.  However, after Jan 7, 2022, all forms must be submitted using the new, most current version.  The titles of all revised forms will include “rev Jan 2022”.   The titles of the older form versions will include “DO NOT USE”.

After Jan 7, 2022, submission of newly created forms using the older versions will not be accepted.

The following forms will be revised to correct minor errors, improve clarity, and in some cases, modify information requests. 

The following newly revised Application Forms include (**NEW** added Sponsor Deadline field):

• Research Funding Admin Approvals Form for GRANTS (rev Jan 2022) 

The following newly revised Event Forms include (**NEW** location provided for Chair and Dean signatures upon exporting the form):

• Research Account Modification Form (rev Jan 2022)
• Agreement Approval Request Forms - Type One -(rev Jan 2022)
• Funding Approvals form: Subsequent to CDA, NDA, MOU, MTA - (rev Jan 2022)

The following new Events Form will be added to the system:

• Mitacs Agreement Approval – This form should be used when submitting the partner contract for a previously submitted and awarded Mitacs grant and allow, if applicable, a request for release of student stipend.

Details on the access and usage of the UPEI Researcher Portal are found at: https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Please contact Research Services at researcherportal@upei.ca or 902-620-5104 for any questions.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) 2022

The annual call for applications for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is open. 

For CSJ 2022, the Government has committed to create 100,000 CSJ jobs for youth to help ensure that the program remains responsive to the employment needs of youth and employers. In 2022, CSJ is returning to its regular parameters and will offer quality jobs over the summer months.

Applicants are able to seek funding to hire youth (people aged 15-30 years) between April 25, 2022 and September 3, 2022. Work placements must be full-time (30-40 hours per week) quality jobs with a minimum duration of six weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks.

Approved public and private sector employers will be eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 50% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage.

For additional information and application information for this program please click here.

To apply for this program you will need to contact Michelle Massiah, Human Resources, mmassiah@upei.ca . The closing date for applications is January 20, 2022.

If you are planning on visiting the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre and have been out of the province, you are required to have already self-isolated and had a negative test for COVID-19 on day 4 of your return to PEI (you will need to indicate whether you had a molecular (PCR) test or rapid antigen test). 

You will not be seen unless you have isolated and had a negative test result on day 4 following your trip. Thank you for your patience as we work hard to reduce the transmission of the Omicron variant/COVID-19 virus.

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre is located on 2nd Floor North, W. A. Murphy Student Centre and is open from 8:30 am–4:00 pm, Monday to Friday (closed daily from 12:00–1:00 pm for lunch). Contact healthcentre@upei.ca or 902-566-0616 for more info.

The Robertson Library’s OER Development Program is accepting grant applications for the creation or adaptation of open educational resources (OERs). The grant types include:

• Open Textbook Grant: up to $6000
  • the development of a new open textbook on a topic that is currently not covered by an existing open textbook; 
• Open Textbook Adaptation Grant: up to $4,000
  • the adaptation of one or more open textbooks to create a new version or edition of an open textbook (i.e. a Canadian edition of an existing open textbook);
• Supplementary Resources Grant: up to $2,000
  • the creation of ancillary materials for existing open textbooks, including, but not limited to test banks, slide decks, or interactive media, etc.

Applications that support first year courses will be given priority as they reach the most amount of students, but all applications will be reviewed and considered. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 25, 2022, with work expected to begin during Spring or Summer. More information is available at https://library.upei.ca/OERProgram/grants.

Questions about your grant idea? Contact Kim Mears at kmears@upei.ca. Questions about OERs? Read more at http://opencontent.org/definition/.

The Teaching and Learning Centre is pleased to announce the launch of a new internal research grant focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). Faculty and Instructional staff such as lab instructors are eligible to apply for the Internal SoTL Research Grant (ISRG).

Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded for SoTL research initiatives at UPEI. Researchers are encouraged to propose collaborations with colleagues from different, but complementary, disciplines which can also provide high-quality student training opportunities.

SoTL involves:

• asking meaningful questions about student learning, and about the teaching activities designed to facilitate student learning,
• answering those questions by making relevant student learning visible to gather evidence of thinking and learning, and then systematically analyzing this evidence, and
• sharing the results of that analysis publicly to invite peer review, and to contribute to broader bodies of knowledge on student learning, and
• aiming to improve student learning by strengthening the practice of teaching (one’s own and others’).

Guidelines and application forms for the ISRG are available on the Research Services Internal Funding page  

Please submit applications using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal. The deadline for proposals is January 21, 2022 by 4:00 pm.  Applicants will be notified in early February.

If you have any questions about the funding, process, or if you’d like to discuss your idea, please reach out to Charlene VanLeeuwen, Teaching and Learning Centre Coordinator at 902.620.5217 or cvanleeuwen@upei.ca