The Department of Physics is holding its final public sun viewing of the summer today from 12:30-2:00 pm. Join us on the grassy area between Memorial Hall and Robertson Library. There you can view one layer of the sun's atmosphere (the chromosphere) through our ground-based telescope before climbing to the observatory and viewing another layer (the photosphere) through a different telescope. You'll get to see sunspots and prominences and learn about our nearest star.

If the weather is too cloudy on Friday, we will have to cancel this event. Check our website after 9:30 am on Friday for the status of the event.

The Student Accounts office will be closed from 3:00-4:00 pm on Monday, August 31st. The office will reopen Tuesday, September 1 at 8:30 am.

As we look ahead to the fall, Human Resources is pleased to share a selection of learning and professional development opportunities available to UPEI employees and leaders. 

To support access to these opportunities, we have created two dedicated areas on the Human Resources SharePoint site: 

Professional Development Opportunities
This page provides a comprehensive list of available learning opportunities. Each offering includes details such as the program description, target audience, delivery method, facilitator, session dates, and registration information. While some opportunities are offered directly through UPEI, some virtual learning opportunities are hosted by external organizations and require registration through an external platform (for example, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI). 

HR Events Calendar 
This page provides a visual calendar of upcoming events, including professional development, making it easy to see what is being offered and when. You can also access course details and registration information directly from the calendar. 

We will continue to add new learning opportunities throughout the fall and winter. We encourage you to visit these pages regularly to stay informed about new offerings and upcoming events. If there is a learning opportunity you would like to see added, please click here. 

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications, including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments, is Friday, August 28, 2026. These applications will be reviewed at the September 17 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the UPEI researcher portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/. Instructions for using the researcher portal are available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Research Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the researcher portal, or about the biosafety application, review, and approval process.

Athletics and Recreation will host a yard sale on Monday, August 31 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre lobby. A variety of used fitness equipment will be available, including: stability balls, reebox steps, weighted body bars, weight bar rack, toning balls, trx straps and extenders, fitter first slide board, Bosu trainers, yoga bolsters, yoga mats, and stability balls. We accept cash, debit and credit cards.  All items plus hst.   First Come first served!  Items cannot be held or reserved, so be sure to arrive early for the best selection.   

Academics Without Borders is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to working with universities and colleges in low- and middle-income countries on projects initiated and defined by those partner institutions. Karatina University, in Kenya, is currently looking for a volunteer to help them expand and enhance local skills in and knowledge in policy engagement, research uptake, and evidence formed decision making. See the full announcement and much more information at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CUxpScxCnbzjBMylFVnP61AA26YgOZvo/view. The deadline for applications is September 18, 2026. 

Questions? contact Ann Braithwaite, Professor of DSJS and member of the board of AWB-USF at abraithwaite@upei.ca or reach out to Corrie Young Associate Executive Director of AWB-USF at cyoung@awb-usf.org. 

IT Systems and Services is preparing virtual student computer lab applications for the Fall 2026 semester. We kindly ask that all faculty and/or lab facilitators who require access to virtual lab applications for their courses please submit their requests via the form below. 

Please complete this form if you are facilitating a course in the upcoming Fall 2026 semester and your students will require virtual lab access to complete their course.

Please note that any virtual lab access previously provided for courses will be removed by September 4th, 2026. If your students still require access during the Fall 2026 semester, please re-submit the above form.

In some specialized cases, there may be costs and approvals associated with provisioning virtual labs, and in these cases, ITSS will contact you to discuss next steps.

Research on Tap provides an opportunity to talk about research and network with the public in a casual setting for an evening of informal discussion and dialogue. The next session will take place in Fall 2026, specific dates to be determined based on speaker and venue availability.

Each Research on Tap session is led by one or two Faculty Researchers from UPEI who present the central theme/topic in a way that is accessible, insightful and exciting to the lay audience. The rest of the time is for questions and discussion. The conversation is interesting, engaged, and lively.  

Are you and/or a colleague interested in leading one of these discussions?  If so, please provide a short abstract to Research Services researchservices@upei.ca describing your topic and emphasizing how it would be of interest now to the PEI public. Please also indicate a preferred day of the week for the session. 

The deadline for expressions of interest for Research on Tap is end of day Friday, September 4 2026.    

For questions, please contact Jo Minx, Research Services Liaison jminx@upei.ca, 902-566-0843

All faculty, staff, students, and researchers who work with biological materials are invited to attend the upcoming Basic Biosafety and Biosecurity Training session.

Basic Biosafety and Biosecurity Training is required for all personnel working in Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratories on campus and is strongly recommended for those working in Containment Level 1 (CL1) laboratories.

This training consists of both online modules and an in-person session. Participants are encouraged to complete the required online coursework prior to attending the in-person training to maximize learning and participation. 

Date: August 31, 2026
Time: 10:00 am
Location: To be determined

This training will provide an introduction to essential biosafety and biosecurity principles, including:

• Safe handling of biological materials
• Containment practices and procedures
• Incident reporting requirements
• Roles and responsibilities in maintaining a safe laboratory environment
• Biosecurity awareness and best practices

For additional information or to register, please contact biosafety@upei.ca.

Help us maintain a safe and secure research and learning environment by participating in this important training opportunity.

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications, including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments, is Friday, August 28, 2026. These applications will be reviewed at the September 17 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the UPEI researcher portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/. Instructions for using the researcher portal are available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Research Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the researcher portal, or about the biosafety application, review, and approval process.

Athletics and Recreation will host a yard sale on Monday, August 31 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre lobby. A variety of used fitness equipment will be available, including: stability balls, reebox steps, weighted body bars, weight bar rack, toning balls, trx straps and extenders, fitter first slide board, Bosu trainers, yoga bolsters, yoga mats, and stability balls. We accept cash, debit and credit cards.  All items plus hst.   First Come first served!  Items cannot be held or reserved, so be sure to arrive early for the best selection.   

Academics Without Borders is a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to working with universities and colleges in low- and middle-income countries on projects initiated and defined by those partner institutions. Karatina University, in Kenya, is currently looking for a volunteer to help them expand and enhance local skills in and knowledge in policy engagement, research uptake, and evidence formed decision making. See the full announcement and much more information at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CUxpScxCnbzjBMylFVnP61AA26YgOZvo/view. The deadline for applications is September 18, 2026. 

Questions? contact Ann Braithwaite, Professor of DSJS and member of the board of AWB-USF at abraithwaite@upei.ca or reach out to Corrie Young Associate Executive Director of AWB-USF at cyoung@awb-usf.org. 

The Robertson Library team is looking forward to welcoming UPEI campus community members and visitors to our newly renovated spaces—the main lobby and adjoining all-gender washrooms, the central staircase, and the upper landing—this fall. Thanks to the efforts of the project contractors and UPEI Facilities Management (Capital Projects), work has been progressing well, but there have been a few delays. The full library reopening is now scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026.

Since May, the Robertson Library has been operating a temporary service point in Library Annex, Room 235, from 9 am– 5 pm, Monday–Friday, and this will continue through Friday, September 18, 2026.

Evening and weekend printing/scanning support will remain unavailable until the Library’s main Service Desk reopens September 21, so please plan accordingly; if you have time-sensitive printing/scanning needs outside of the Room 235 service point hours, the Charlottetown Library Learning Centre (downtown) or the Staples Printing Centre may be able to assist.

In addition, McMillan Hall in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre has been booked for use throughout the day and evening as a student study space during the month of September. Remember to check out the new UPEI new UPEI Support Services Campus Map, created by UPEI Welcome Week and the UPEI Student Culture and Community Standards teams; the green icons on this map highlight buildings offering student study spaces. For more information, visit https://libraryupei.ca/renovations-2026

The deadline for the Employee and Spouse/Dependent Tuition Waiver forms for the Fall 2026 semester is Friday, August 28, 2026.  We encourage you to have your tuition waivers submitted as soon as possible to assist in the timely processing. Tuition Waiver forms must be submitted electronically.

The online Tuition Waiver fillable forms can be found on the HR Portal of the myUPEI site, under Training and Development. 

Please note, the Employee or Spouse/Dependent must be registered in the course prior to applying for the tuition waiver. 

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at: (902) 566-0514 or hrgeneral@upei.ca.

The UPEI Back to School Fair, organized by the Office of Student Culture and Community Standards in partnership with the UPEISU, will take place on Tuesday, September 8, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the UPEI Gym A and B in the Chi Wan Young Sports Centre.

Staff and faculty student service groups can register here. Student clubs and societies must register separately with the UPEISU. 

• The setup time allotted for the event is from 10:30 to 11:00 am, with doors opening at 11:00 am for students.
• The teardown time allotted for the event is 1:45 - 2:00 pm, sharp!
• Each vendor will be assigned a table and 2 chairs.
• Please bring along the following items:
  • A tablecloth
  • Your banner bug or any identifiers for your office, unit or service
  • Pamphlets, brochures, handouts or any other promotional material for your office, unit or service
• A chart will be posted at the doors to identify your table assignments, and a small sign will be on your assigned table.
• Please have at least 1 staff member at your table; 2 staff members to rotate are highly recommended and encouraged.
• Please show off your UPEI Panther merchandise!
• Please expect it to be busy and noisy atmosphere. 

Questions outside of information on the registration form can be directed to Krissi Ewing kewing@upei.ca. 

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

McMillan Hall, W. A. Murphy Student Centre

Join us for a day of reflection, learning, and community as we mark the 11th anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s "Final Reports" along with "94 Calls to Action," which guide Canada’s path toward reconciliation. Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR). The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. 

To commemorate and honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, UPEI is expanding its annual Mawi’omi (the word for gathering in the Mi’kmaw language) and holding it on September 29. The TRC Mawi’omi is a gathering that will be open to the University and broader community, which will include several activities aimed at increasing awareness, fostering community relationships, and ensuring that the narratives of Indigenous peoples are honoured and understood.

The Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) is offering a one-hour onboarding session for new and newer sessional instructors.

This session is an opportunity to learn about the resources, services, and teaching supports available to you at UPEI, including

• Instructional design support and professional development opportunities offered through the TLC
• A brief introduction to Moodle, UPEI’s Learning Management System
• The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and their application in post-secondary teaching
• Key elements of an effective and learner-centred course syllabus

Whether you're new to teaching at UPEI or simply looking to reconnect with available supports, this session will provide helpful information and practical resources to support your teaching. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at TLC@upei.ca. We look forward to welcoming you.

RSVP here

Add this Session to your Outlook Calendar

Almost all universities across Canada have collective agreements with their faculty and staff, and negotiations are a routine part of the life cycle of these agreements. During 2026, the University of Prince Edward Island has been engaged in the process of negotiating new Collective Agreements with the UPEI Faculty Association (FA #1 and FA #2), CUPE 1870, CUPE 501, IBEW 1928, and PSAC.

The University will make every effort to keep employees, students, and community members informed about collective bargaining process and will share regular updates on the work underway at each table. Please refer upei.ca/labour for updates and access to resources.

IT Systems and Services is preparing virtual student computer lab applications for the Fall 2026 semester. We kindly ask that all faculty and/or lab facilitators who require access to virtual lab applications for their courses please submit their requests via the form below. 

Please complete this form if you are facilitating a course in the upcoming Fall 2026 semester and your students will require virtual lab access to complete their course.

Please note that any virtual lab access previously provided for courses will be removed by September 4th, 2026. If your students still require access during the Fall 2026 semester, please re-submit the above form.

In some specialized cases, there may be costs and approvals associated with provisioning virtual labs, and in these cases, ITSS will contact you to discuss next steps.

Work on a new extension at the south-east corner of the Robertson Library building, which will house a greatly enhanced and expanded preservation facility for the University Archives and Special Collections (UASC), will begin in September. While this will not significantly disrupt Library operations in the Fall 2026 academic semester, please note that a construction fence will be erected on Wednesday, August 19, to begin preparation work and to keep the site safe and secure.

It is anticipated that the fence will remain in place through to the end of 2027, requiring sections of the pedestrian pathway between RL and AVC and Parking Lot B to be closed (refer to diagram in full message on upei.ca). The construction entrance will be accessed from the road that leads to the Dean’s parking area at the Atlantic Veterinary College so at times there will be heavier traffic at this location. For more information, visit https://libraryupei.ca/renovations-2026