With guest speaker Dr. Dan McKenney (Canada Forest Service)

As PEI gardeners, we’re quite aware of the challenges of growing plants that may be borderline hardy in the region where we live. “Will it grow in my zone?” is the pertinent question about winter hardiness for perennial plants. Scientists have developed maps of plant hardiness zones for Canada based on seven climate variables (not only the average annual minimum temperature). Now they are beginning to assess how changes in climate affect what can be grown in different regions.

New plant hardiness data compiled by Natural Resources Canada over a 50-year period was released last year, by Dr. Dan McKenney and others, describing a northern shift in zones across Canada. They compared the data used for the original zones and maps from the 1931 to 1960 period with more recent observations used for the 1981 to 2010 indexing of plant hardiness. Most areas in Canada along the U.S. border are at least half a zone higher now.

Come hear Dan describe how plant hardiness zones have changed on PEI as the climate has changed and become warmer. Dan McKenney is a research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service and team leader at Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC).

The presentation will take place on Friday, August 14th from 12 pm to 2 pm at The Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre on UPEI campus (550 University Ave., Charlottetown). 

Lunch will be provided. Space is limited.   

There is no cost to attend the presentation, but registration is required. 

To register, please email climate@upei.ca. 

Memorial Hall
Brick re-pointing will begin on Monday, August 17th on the west side of the tower of Memorial Hall, , this work will take approximately 3 weeks to complete (weather dependent), the grinding will be done in the evenings, starting around 4pm each day.  Please ensure your windows are closed at the end of each work day, to keep dust from entering buildings.

PEI Energy Systems will be doing a tie-in for the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering. To do this work, they must shut off the domestic hot water and heat in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, beginning at 8:00 am, Tuesday, August 11th. We expect this work to take approximately 16 hours to complete. 

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or
concerns, please contact Jackie MacPhail at jmacphail@upei.ca or 6034.

The former Staff and Faculty (upei.ca/staff_faculty) website has been shut down permanently to allow the decommissioning of an outmoded web server. Staff and faculty members can use the UPEI.ca search to find links of interest on our site, and to update their favourites and bookmarks.

If you have any questions, please contact Integrated Communications by email, at web@upei.ca.

The Farmers Helping Farmers annual BBQ Fund-Raiser is this Saturday Aug 8 at the Harrington Research Station on the way to Brackley Beach from 4-6:30, rain or shine (indoor seating available). Excellent thick steak dinner with the all-you-can-eat new PEI potatoes, fresh PEI string beans, home-made salads and strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream and non-alcoholic beverages, all for $30. Kids 12 and under eat for $10. Take-out available. Let John VanLeeuwen know if you want tickets at jvanleeuwen@upei.ca.

The campus community is invited to a reception to celebrate Dr. Rosemary Herbert on her retirement as Dean of Nursing. Please take this opportunity to join us in the AVC McCain Learning Commons on Tuesday, August 25, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. to celebrate Rosemary's many successes during her time at UPEI.

Note: this notice corrects an error from yesterday. The date has been corrected.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2015, the Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee will host a Master of Science Defense.  Gillian K. Potter, BA will defend her Master of Science thesis entitled: 

“Examining Pain Anxiety in Young Adult Athletes”

The seminar will be held on:

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

10:00 a.m.

Health Sciences Building, Room 301

Everyone is welcome.

Gated Lots B and C- (payroll deduction) faculty and staff who have already been contacted by email about renewal will keep the existing permit and renewal has been completed. Gated Lots B and C- (non-payroll) faculty and staff will have to renew and activate for the upcoming year. Applications will be available on line August 4, 2015. General Permits & Designated AVC (small animal)- (payroll deduction) faculty and staff will be contacted later in August for a permit pick up time by the cafeteria in AVC. You should have received an email to fill out your 2015 -16 information electronically with a payroll deduction. We will then have a permit assigned and ready for you to pick up. For faculty and staff who are new to campus or have never purchased a parking permit, they will be available for sale starting August 10, 2015. Please drop by The Central Utility Building between 9:30am-3:30pm Monday to Friday to process your Parking Permit Application. You can pre-print your application August 4th, 2015 by visiting UPEI facilities/ parking website. However you will need to go to the new parking location to have it processed. Please note that there are a limited number of designated parking permits available and they will be sold, first- come first- served bases. If you have a balance owing to UPEI, without a payroll deduction in place, you will be required to clear your balance before purchasing a parking permit. Payment can be made by credit, debit or cheque. Payroll deductions are required for designated parking lots Gated B & C for Full-Time / Part-Time Permanent Employees which will begin in September for 26 pay periods. This is an ongoing deduction for permits purchased in Gated Lots B & C. Parking permits go on sale for students August 26th to September 26, 2015. At that time permit sales will be moved to the Kiosk, main floor of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Hours of operation 9:00-3:30 Monday to Friday until permits are sold out. Please contact parking@upei.ca if you have any further questions.

Jim Groom 7pm Wed August 5th KCI 104 What kinds of questions and opportunities does the open web raise for scholars? How can universities best support academic identity development and open web research among graduate students, faculty, and affiliated scholars? The University of Mary Washington in Virginia has been providing students, faculty and staff with an innovative, web-based platform that enables them to own, manage and migrate the digital work they create over the course of their academic careers. The initiative, called Domain of One's Own, recognizes and codifies the importance of digital agency for each and every learner on campus, and provides the means of enabling them to truly inhabit the web at scale. The platform undergirding the pioneering work of Domain of One's Own is the open web and it provides the backbone for a broader, curricular-wide push for cross-disciplinary digital fluency. In a session open to the campus, the public, and the UPEI MultiDisciplinary Graduate Research Conference, Jim Groom, founder of Domain of One's Own, takes up questions of identity and agency for 21st century higher education. An engaging and internationally-recognized keynote speaker, Jim will explore strategies and challenges for scholars looking to take control of their identity online.

Gated Lots B and C- (payroll deduction) faculty and staff who have already been contacted by email about renewal will keep the existing permit and renewal has been completed. Gated Lots B and C- (non-payroll) faculty and staff will have to renew and activate for the upcoming year. Applications will be available on line August 4, 2015. General Permits & Designated AVC (small animal)- (payroll deduction) faculty and staff will be contacted later in August for a pick up time in AVC for your application, renewal and For faculty and staff who are new to campus or have never purchased a parking permit, they will be available for sale starting August 10, 2015. Please drop by The Central Utility Building between 9:30am-3:30pm Monday to Friday to process your Parking Permit Application. You can pre-print your application August 4th, 2015 by visiting UPEI facilities/ parking website. However you will need to go to the new parking location to have it processed. Please note that there are a limited number of designated parking permits available and they will be sold, first- come first- served bases. If you have a balance owing to UPEI, without a payroll deduction in place, you will be required to clear your balance before purchasing a parking permit. Payment can be made by credit, debit or cheque. Payroll deductions are required for designated parking lots Gated B & C for Full-Time / Part-Time Permanent Employees which will begin in September for 26 pay periods. This is an ongoing deduction for permits purchased in Gated Lots B & C. Parking permits go on sale for students August 26th to September 26, 2015. At that time permit sales will be moved to the Kiosk, main floor of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Hours of operation 9:00-3:30 Monday to Friday until permits are sold out. Please contact parking@upei.ca if you have any further questions or you can reach Carolyn Garro at 566-0586.

The UMGRC is a pan-Canadian, refereed, academic conference designed to showcase the work of graduate students at UPEU and beyond. The theme of the conference is, "Emerging Scholars: Illuminating Graduate Research." The conference is being held in MacDougall Hall on August 6, 7, and 8. (more info: http://www.upei.ca/research/officeofgraduatestudies/graduate-students-a…) On Friday, August 7 at 9:00 am (MCDH 242), please join us for our keynote presentation by Dr. Theresa Bernardo (Michigan State University, UPEI Alumnus 1989, 2012 UPEI Distinguished Alumnus) On Friday, August 7 at 6:00 pm (lawn outside of MacDougall) join us for a BBQ (to register, click here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-upei-multidisciplinary-research-confere…). Ripped Paper will be performing at 7:30 pm. Doors will open at 7 pm for the musical entertainment. It's a free show, and all are welcome. Please direct any questions to Brittany Jakubiec (bjakubiec@upei.ca)

Jim Groom 7pm Wed August 5th KCI 104 What kinds of questions and opportunities does the open web raise for scholars? How can universities best support academic identity development and open web research among graduate students, faculty, and affiliated scholars? The University of Mary Washington in Virginia has been providing students, faculty and staff with an innovative, web-based platform that enables them to own, manage and migrate the digital work they create over the course of their academic careers. The initiative, called Domain of One's Own, recognizes and codifies the importance of digital agency for each and every learner on campus, and provides the means of enabling them to truly inhabit the web at scale. The platform undergirding the pioneering work of Domain of One's Own is the open web and it provides the backbone for a broader, curricular-wide push for cross-disciplinary digital fluency. In a session open to the campus, the public, and the UPEI MultiDisciplinary Graduate Research Conference, Jim Groom, founder of Domain of One's Own, takes up questions of identity and agency for 21st century higher education. An engaging and internationally-recognized keynote speaker, Jim will explore strategies and challenges for scholars looking to take control of their identity online.

On Thursday, August 6, 2015, the Department of Applied Human Sciences will host a Master of Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) Thesis Defence. Susan J. Hornby will defend her thesis entitled: "Heroes and Hooligans: Men’s Experiences of Resilience and Belonging in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Recovery" August 6, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., Health Sciences Building, Room 301 Everyone is welcome. Contact: Kate Graham kegraham@upei.ca 902-566-0620

The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of, and accompanied by, the Honourable Ed Holder, Minister of State (Science and Technology), will highlight a significant investment in research at the University of Prince Edward Island. Date: Friday, July 31, 2015 Time: 9:30 a.m. Location: McCain Foundation Learning Commons, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island For more information, contact Dave Atkinson, Research Communications, (902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

Due to the Civic Holiday being celebrated on Monday Aug. 3rd , throughout most of Canada, there will be no incoming/outgoing mail and courier service for the day. Normal services will resume on Tuesday Aug. 4th

A number of instructors at UPEI use Turning Technology clickers in their classroom. This meeting has been organized to get a better sense of who is using them and how they are being used, talk about any updates, and discuss the differences in using the physical device and the app for both the instructors and the students. Matthew Saunderson the Turning Technology representative for UPEI will be present to introduce updates and answer any questions. If you use clickers or you are interested in finding out more about them, we welcome you attend. If you have any questions, please write elearning@upei.ca. Please fill out this short survey if you would like to attend. http://goo.gl/forms/69SOvQqKd8

The University, through the Department of Development and Alumni Engagement, hosts Summer Reunion Weekend every July to celebrate our over 23,000 alumni. This year, many of the events focus on the SDU Class of '65, celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the SDU Class of '55. Faculty and staff are invited to the Staff, Faculty, and “All Years” Alumni Mixer on Thursday, July 23 from 3:00–5:00 pm in Schurman Market Square in Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Senior management is encouraging all to attend. This will be a great opportunity to kick off the weekend, and mix and mingle with a cross section of our campus community, while enjoying some refreshments, and entertainment. Everyone is welcome!

A number of instructors at UPEI use Turning Technology clickers in their classroom. This meeting has been organized to get a better sense of who is using them and how they are being used, talk about any updates, and discuss the differences in using the physical device and the app for both the instructors and the students. Matthew Saunderson the Turning Technology representative for UPEI will be present to introduce updates and answer any questions. If you use clickers or you are interested in finding out more about them, we welcome you attend. If you have any questions, please write elearning@upei.ca. Please fill out this short survey if you would like to attend. http://goo.gl/forms/69SOvQqKd8