Joy Ikede, International Student Advisor at the University of Prince Edward Island, has received regional recognition for her commitment to student services. At the 2007 Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services Conference she was presented with The Carol's Creed Award. This annual award was established in 2003 in recognition of the outstanding dedication of the late Carol Jordan who was a long-serving member of the student services staff at the University of New Brunswick. The award is presented to an individual who has shown infectious enthusiasm for the profession of services to students through a commitment to health, well being, love, and laughter in her connection with students and colleagues on a personal level.

When she accepted the award, Ikede said, Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would be given such an honour. I did not have the opportunity to meet Carol in person, but from all accounts, she was quite a lady. My prayer is that having received this award, I am able to honour her memory by doing my best in my job.

Joy Ikede provides information, support, and advice to the increasing numbers of international students attending UPEI.. She acts as a resource in navigating the legal, academic, and cultural challenges of living as a student in a new country.

The University of Prince Edward Island is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. John Tougas Croteau of South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Croteau was a former professor at Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan's, and one of the fathers of Prince Edward Island's credit union and co-op movement. In recognition of his distinguished service in the credit union and cooperative movements, he received an honorary degree from UPEI in 1976. He died July 17 at the age of 97 after an extended illness.

Born March 10, 1910, in Holbrook, MA, Dr. Croteau was educated in Worcester, MA, earning his BA (1931) at Holy Cross College and his Master's (1932) and Doctorate (1935) in Economics from Clark University. He began his career in 1933 at Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan's courtesy of the philanthropic Carnegie Corporation of New York who gave funding to set up a regional library and endow the Carnegie Chair of Economics and Sociology to be shared between the two institutions. Over the next 12 years he also served as Director of Adult Education Programs, Manager of the Credit Union League and the PEI Cooperative Union, and Executive Secretary of the Adult Education League. For his tireless labor on behalf of working families, he became known in Canada as "The Apostle of the Co-operative Movement."

Says his niece, well-known heritage activist Catherine Hennessey, "John left me a wonderful personal legacy. He was always encouraging people to write down what they knew, so we wouldn't lose our heritage. He'd always say to me, and#145;Publish it! Publish it! Publish it!' His words haunt me to this day!"

While in PEI, he and fellow co-operative organizer Bram Chandler were the main proponents of the Antigonish Movement, a co-operative movement founded by Father Moses Coady St. F X's Extension Department. For years, Croteau and Chandler spent much of their time travelling the Island's clay roads, organizing kitchen meetings, distributing library and co-operative materials, and promoting credit unions and co-operatives. According to author Marian Bruce in her history of Prince of Wales College, A Century of Excellence, by 1937 there were 338 study groups across the province, with 4,300 members. "Credit unions and co-operatives sprang up like dandelions in the spring. In a dark time, they gave people hope."

Dr. Croteau left Prince Edward Island around 1946 to take up teaching positions at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Catholic University in Washington, DC, before settling at Notre Dame in 1953, Professor Croteau. At various times he was a consultant to the US Bureau of Federal Credit Unions, the Social Security Administration, Director of the Canadian Political Science Association as well as Director of the Credit Union National Association. In addition to these national positions, between 1960 and 1969 he was President of the Board of Directors of the Notre Dame Federal Credit Union.

In 1955 he testified before the powerful Ways and Means Committee of the U.S. Congress to advocate retention of the federal income tax-exempt status of credit unions, a concession they still enjoy today. This moment he called ". . . probably the highlight of my career."

Professor Croteau was a prodigious scholar. He wrote four major books: A Regional Library and its Readers (1940) with Henry Chandler; Cradled in the Waves: The Story of a People's Cooperative Achievement in Economic Betterment on Prince Edward Island (1951); The Federal Credit Union: Policy and Practice (1956); and The Economics of the Credit Union (1963), which was translated into Spanish (1965), Korean (1966) and Portuguese (1968) and became a classic in its field. Cradled in the Waves is still a major Prince Edward Island reference book, as well as two booklets he wrote: The Farmers' Bank of Rustico: An Early People's Bank (published in the mid-1950s) and The Acadian Grain Banks of Prince Edward Island (1955).

In addition, he produced over 20 monographs on credit union topics, 30 articles in professional journals as well as numerous book reviews. His active publishing and scholarly conference presentations continued for over a decade after his retirement from Notre Dame (1975) and a one-year appointment during 1975and#150;76 as Chair of the Department of Business Administration and Economics at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame. During the 1990s he served as consultant on Working Together: Two Centuries of Co-operation in Prince Edward Island by Marian Bruce and Elizabeth Cran (Island Studies Press, 2004).

Respected by colleagues and students alike, he was awarded two other honorary doctorates besides UPEI's: from St. Joseph's University (1956) and the University of Moncton (1976).

Says Wade MacLauchlan, President of UPEI, who visited Dr. Croteau in South Bend in March 2002, "Dr. Croteau was proud of his Prince Edward Island associations and achievements. When I visited he recounted PEI stories from seventy years ago. He was very good at keeping his mind sharp, including writing regular, witty letters, and learning to play the banjo in his nineties."

Always the professor and economist, his last words were a repetition of the final words of the eighteenth century philosopher, Adam Smith, the father of modern Economics, who is reputed to have said: "This meeting is adjourned. It seems as if we must continue this conversation in another place." His life will be celebrated in a memorial Mass Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in South Bend where he was a long-time parishioner. He will be buried in Summerside, alongside his beloved first wife, Gertrude D. Gallant, who died in 1961.

Lots of smiles and laughter will be the order this weekend as over 500 alumni of UPEI, St Dunstan's University (SDU), and Prince of Wales College (PWC) are expected to take part in reunion gatherings during UPEI's Summer Reunion Weekend, July 27-29.

The always popular UPEI Alumni golf tournament, with over 140 golfers, tees off at 7:30am on Friday at Fox Meadow Golf and Country Club. The SDU Classes of '52, '57, '61 '62 and '67, as well as the PWC Class of 1947, will be gathering at their meet and greet receptions during the weekend.

The campus will be busy Friday night with the 23rd Annual SDU Alumni Mass is at 7:30 at the Steel Recital Hall, followed by a reception in McMillan Hall of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

The 20-year reunion reception for the UPEI class of 1987, as well as the Engineers of '87, starts at 8pm. Events wrap up on Friday evening with an alumni dance at The Wave, the campus lounge in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Campus Tours are available at noon on Friday and Saturday starting at the steps of historic Main Building.

All Welshmen are invited to the PWC Luncheon on Sunday, July 29 at 1pm in McMillan Hall of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Jumpin' Jack Proude, PWC '47 and Robert Acorn, PWC'48, will share their memories of days at PWC and UPEI. President Wade MacLauchlan will also address the luncheon.

For more information contact: Alf Blanchard, UPEI Alumni Officer at 566-0761, cell 393-3711, or alumni@upei.ca.

The provincial government announced today that, beginning in September, all full-time Island students in their first and second year at UPEI will receive a new provincial grant of $400 through the enhanced Island Student Awards program. Third- and fourth-year students will continue to receive a $600 bursary each year.

This announcement is the second piece of good news for students in the past month. On July 4, the UPEI Board of Governors announced that the University had cut undergraduate and graduate tuition rates for the upcoming academic year by ten per cent.

"This is great news for UPEI, and for current and future students. UPEI tuition is already the lowest of any Maritime university. These substantial awards make UPEI an even better value, together with a premium quality education, for students who are entering, returning or transferring," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan.

Education Minister Gerard Greenan noted that the new programs will provide students with up to $2,000 in provincial government grants over the course of their programs. “The awards are an incentive for Island students to stay at home to study and to complete their programs. These new and enhanced programs, which are more generous and fair, will make it easier for more Island students to access the high quality post-secondary programs available here on the Island,” he said.

Students do not have to apply for the awards. They will receive letters from the provincial government in early December advising them that the grant has been deposited in their tuition accounts.

Minister Greenan said planning will begin soon to implement the New Beginnings program in September, 2008. This new program will provide Island students entering UPEI with a $2,000 grant.

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) has partnered with the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island (MCPEI) to create a new Bachelor's Degree in Socio-Economic Development (BSED). It will follow the principles and research conclusions of the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, which found that good governance was a key factor in producing sustainable economic results and determining the success of indigenous communities in the US and Canada.

The Faculties of Arts, Business, and Education will work together to develop a unique combination of business, social, and political studies addressing the key elements of education, personal growth, and opportunity of future Aboriginal leaders. It will provide a comprehensive foundation for these future leaders by combining existing and proven academic courses and newly-designed programming integrated with cooperative learning opportunities.

Access to post-secondary education is of significant interest to the Association of Atlantic Universities (AAU). The AAU has set up a Working Group whose mandate is to improve university access, retention, and graduation of Aboriginal students contributing to the health and well-being of Aboriginal communities through research and capacity-building. Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development at UPEI and Co-chair of the AAU Working Group says, "UPEI is committed to improving access and support for Aboriginal students in the province." She adds that the partnership between UPEI and MCPEI is a model that could be replicated throughout Atlantic Canada.

Jeff Brant, Director of Socio-Economic Development with the MCPEI says there is an "increasing need to build the capacity of emerging Aboriginal leaders." He points out that as First Nations continue to exert greater autonomy over their own affairs, it is necessary that emerging Aboriginal business, social, and political leaders are equipped to build sustainable Aboriginal communities by using principles of good governance, business, and social development.

Funding for the development of this project is provided by the Indian Studies Support Program of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada . This program supports the development of post-secondary training that leads to the certification of Aboriginal people. It has been used to create Bachelor's programs in Social Work and Education as well as Conservation Officer certification.

For more information on the UPEI Bachelor's Degree in Socio-Economic Development, contact Dr. Vianne Timmons at (902) 566-6485 or Jeff Brant at (902) 367-3661.

The provincial government announced today that, beginning in September, all full-time Island students in their first and second year at UPEI will receive a new provincial grant of $400 through the enhanced Island Student Awards program. Third- and fourth-year students will continue to receive a $600 bursary each year.

This announcement is the second piece of good news for students in the past month. On July 4, the UPEI Board of Governors announced that the University had cut undergraduate and graduate tuition rates for the upcoming academic year by ten per cent.

"This is great news for UPEI, and for current and future students. UPEI tuition is already the lowest of any Maritime university. These substantial awards make UPEI an even better value, together with a premium quality education, for students who are entering, returning or transferring," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan.

Education Minister Gerard Greenan noted that the new programs will provide students with up to $2,000 in provincial government grants over the course of their programs. "The awards are an incentive for Island students to stay at home to study and to complete their programs. These new and enhanced programs, which are more generous and fair, will make it easier for more Island students to access the high quality post-secondary programs available here on the Island," he said.

Students do not have to apply for the awards. They will receive letters from the provincial government in early December advising them that the grant has been deposited in their tuition accounts.

Minister Greenan said planning will begin soon to implement the New Beginnings program in September, 2008. This new program will provide Island students entering UPEI with a $2,000 grant.

The UPEI School of Business Administration's Global Associates advisory group met on July 31 to discuss how the School can best position its program in a broader global context. This was the second annual meeting of the Global Associates, which is comprised of 13 highly accomplished business leaders and academics from organizations and institutions throughout North America and Europe.

"The Global Associates play a leadership role in the development of the School of Business. We are constantly working to deliver a high-calibre education that will equip our graduates with the skills they need to succeed in the global business community. The diverse experience and expertise of the Global Associates will help guide the development of programs that support this objective," says Roberta MacDonald, UPEI Dean of Business.

The members of the Global Associates have an impressive array of credentials and hold senior positions with companies such as IBM, Colgate-Palmolive, General Electric, and Novartis Animal Health. The group is chaired by Tim O'Neill, founder of O'Neill Strategic Economics and former Executive Vice President and Chief Economist of the Bank of Montreal Financial Group.

Discussion at the meeting focused on a global business environment that is becoming increasingly "flat," following up on a speech delivered at the UPEI Business Society's 30th annual luncheon by UPEI graduate Alex McBeath, Global Associates Member and Executive Partner and CEO of Grant Thornton LLP. Entitled "An Island in a and#145;Flat' World," the speech had challenged the Island's business community, educators, and leaders to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment. How the School of Business can tailor its programs to address this change in environment was on the minds of the Global Associates as participants considered the significance of emerging trends such as sustainability/eco-management, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and technology.

"We want to ensure that graduates of the School of Business are equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a and#145;flat' world, that we are providing an educational experience that is valuable to our students and applicable in today's business world," says Roberta MacDonald.

The School of Business has seen rapid growth over recent years and continues to introduce new opportunities and offerings to its students. In addition to the current bachelor's degree and certificate programs, the School is introducing new undergraduate streams in Entrepreneurship and Biotechnology Management, as well as Executive Education programming. To accommodate its continued evolution, a new 50,000-square-foot building is currently under construction and will house the School of Business Administration and Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

The UPEI School of Business Administration’s Global Associates advisory group met on July 31 to discuss how the School can best position its program in a broader global context. This was the second annual meeting of the Global Associates, which is comprised of 13 highly accomplished business leaders and academics from organizations and institutions throughout North America and Europe.

“The Global Associates play a leadership role in the development of the School of Business. We are constantly working to deliver a high-calibre education that will equip our graduates with the skills they need to succeed in the global business community. The diverse experience and expertise of the Global Associates will help guide the development of programs that support this objective,” says Roberta MacDonald, UPEI Dean of Business.

The members of the Global Associates have an impressive array of credentials and hold senior positions with companies such as IBM, Colgate-Palmolive, General Electric, and Novartis Animal Health. The group is chaired by Tim O’Neill, founder of O’Neill Strategic Economics and former Executive Vice President and Chief Economist of the Bank of Montreal Financial Group.

Discussion at the meeting focused on a global business environment that is becoming increasingly “flat,” following up on a speech delivered at the UPEI Business Society’s 30th annual luncheon by UPEI graduate Alex McBeath, Global Associates Member and Executive Partner and CEO of Grant Thornton LLP. Entitled “An Island in a ‘Flat’ World,” the speech had challenged the Island’s business community, educators, and leaders to succeed in a rapidly changing business environment. How the School of Business can tailor its programs to address this change in environment was on the minds of the Global Associates as participants considered the significance of emerging trends such as sustainability/eco-management, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and technology.

“We want to ensure that graduates of the School of Business are equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed in a ‘flat’ world, that we are providing an educational experience that is valuable to our students and applicable in today’s business world,” says Roberta MacDonald.

The School of Business has seen rapid growth over recent years and continues to introduce new opportunities and offerings to its students. In addition to the current bachelor’s degree and certificate programs, the School is introducing new undergraduate streams in Entrepreneurship and Biotechnology Management, as well as Executive Education programming. To accommodate its continued evolution, a new 50,000-square-foot building is currently under construction and will house the School of Business Administration and Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship.

An Atlantic research and training project entitled,"Train the Trainer: A Family Literacy Approach for Aboriginal Families in Atlantic Canada" was officially launched today during a ceremony at the University of Prince Edward Island. The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), Honourable Monte Solberg, announced that the federal government will provide $294,567 in funding.

Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development, is leading the three-year research project to develop and implement a family literacy training program with teachers and volunteers in Aboriginal communities. The research will be conducted in communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.

A train the trainer manual will be developed with the communities, based on relevant cultural materials, to use in the implementation of the program. It will then be available as a general guide to be used by other groups for training people for their respective projects. Local facilitators will acquire the skills and knowledge to host family literacy programs. Parents and children who participate will acquire skills related to literacy development. These skills can also improve parents' ability to support their children in all educational experiences.

"Recent research in developing family literacy programs in rural PEI has shown that engaging families in improving literacy for their children not only increases the children's literacy levels, but also builds family networks and transforms family practices," says Dr. Timmons. "The approach involves the whole family and benefits parents and children alike."

John Jerome Paul, Director of Programs and Services in Nova Scotia is very excited to partner with Dr. Timmons on this project: "We have hosted this family literacy program in our community in the past, and the feedback from families has been very positive. We look forward to working with Dr. Timmons and her team to train additional facilitators in the Atlantic region, so we can continue offering family literacy programming in our area."

The University of Prince Edward Island has been researching family literacy for the last six years. Dr. Timmons began her research to improve children's literacy levels in rural and Aboriginal communities across Atlantic Canada in 2001.

For further information, contact Dr. Vianne Timmons at vtimmons@upei.ca or 902 566-0405.

An Atlantic research and training project entitled,“Train the Trainer: A Family Literacy Approach for Aboriginal Families in Atlantic Canada” was officially launched today during a ceremony at the University of Prince Edward Island. The Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC), Honourable Monte Solberg, announced that the federal government will provide $294,567 in funding.

Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development, is leading the three-year research project to develop and implement a family literacy training program with teachers and volunteers in Aboriginal communities. The research will be conducted in communities in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island.

A train the trainer manual will be developed with the communities, based on relevant cultural materials, to use in the implementation of the program. It will then be available as a general guide to be used by other groups for training people for their respective projects. Local facilitators will acquire the skills and knowledge to host family literacy programs. Parents and children who participate will acquire skills related to literacy development. These skills can also improve parents’ ability to support their children in all educational experiences.

"Recent research in developing family literacy programs in rural PEI has shown that engaging families in improving literacy for their children not only increases the children's literacy levels, but also builds family networks and transforms family practices," says Dr. Timmons. “The approach involves the whole family and benefits parents and children alike.”

John Jerome Paul, Director of Programs and Services in Nova Scotia is very excited to partner with Dr. Timmons on this project: "We have hosted this family literacy program in our community in the past, and the feedback from families has been very positive. We look forward to working with Dr. Timmons and her team to train additional facilitators in the Atlantic region, so we can continue offering family literacy programming in our area."

The University of Prince Edward Island has been researching family literacy for the last six years. Dr. Timmons began her research to improve children's literacy levels in rural and Aboriginal communities across Atlantic Canada in 2001.

For further information, contact Dr. Vianne Timmons at vtimmons@upei.ca or 902 566-0405.