The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will announce federal support for three projects focused on strengthening the shellfish industry, including the establishment of a world-class rapid response testing system for the Atlantic Shellfish Industry at UPEI, at a news conference today at 11:00 am in the UPEI Performing Arts Centre and Residence building, Amphitheatre (PAC 121S).

On October 14, Health PEI implemented a universal masking policy across its facilities to help protect patients, staff, and the public from the spread of illness.

At UPEI, we encourage everyone to take proactive steps to stay healthy during the fall and winter months. These include

• staying up to date on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations;
• staying home if you are experiencing symptoms;
• practicing good hand hygiene;
• wearing a mask if you are feeling unwell or have been exposed to respiratory illness.

For more details, please visit the UPEI Guidance For Respiratory Illness.

To help protect our patients and staff, masking is strongly recommended at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre.

COVID-19 rapid test kits are available at both the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre and the UPEI Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) office.

Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule:

• Wednesday, October 22, 9:00 am–3:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
• Thursday, October 23, 12:00–7:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre 
• Wednesday, October 29, 12:00–7:00 pm, The McCain Foundation Learning Commons Atrium, Atlantic Veterinary College

Important Details:

• Vaccines are administered on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary. 
• This service is free of charge for everyone.
• Please bring a valid provincial health card or student ID for registration.
• You are required to wait 15 minutes in the post-vaccine waiting area after receiving your flu shot to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction. Please plan your time accordingly.

Please Note: 

• We are unable to administer flu vaccines to children aged 2 and under.
• Flu Mist (nasal spray) is available only at the Public Health Nursing Community Vaccination Clinics for children 2 to 17 years of age.
• We are unable to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to children 12 and under. COVID-19 Immunization Clinics are located in communities across PEI.

Join us and volunteer at UPEI's premier on-campus recruitment event, the Fall Open House, where prospective students, parents, and guardians have the opportunity to discover all the benefits of joining the Panther family and how their big futures start at UPEI. This year's Open House will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm across the UPEI Charlottetown Campus. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here. There are volunteer opportunities to help with prep on October 23 and 24 and many opportunities on the day of Open House, October 25, for staff, faculty, and current students. 

If you have any questions about volunteering at Open House, please contact Student Engagement Officer Inara Bhalesha at binara@upei.ca.
 

ITSS is hosting an informal, in-person session to give you an overview of the services ITSS provides the campus — followed by an open Q&A.

• Got Wi-Fi questions?
• Need help with software?
• Want cybersecurity tips?
• Just curious?

No jargon. No presentations (Well, maybe just a quick overview of the services that ITSS provides for the campus). Just real answers from real people.

October 22, 2025
AVC 201N
12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

Bring your questions — and let’s chat!

The UPEI Student Union is proud to introduce The Interdisciplinary Panther Series, a new initiative led by UPEISU President Luciana Quiroa and Vice President Academic Deanelle Sotiar in collaboration with Experiential Education, the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship, and the Office of Student Culture and Community Standards. This series is designed to expand Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities for students across all faculties and year levels. This initiative offers hands-on, interdisciplinary case competitions where students tackle real-world challenges and build valuable skills.

Applications for the first competition are now open, due on October 20, 2025. Winning teams will be awarded cash prizes, including $2,500 for the top team, $1,250 for second place, and $500 for third place to be shared equally among team members. Don't miss your chance to engage, compete and make an impact!

Register to compete through this link, or save your seat to vote for the most innovative team through this link!

Based on feedback from the research community, the Release of Research Funds process has been updated. This updated mechanism allows researchers access to their full research funds before required compliance is approved, thereby reducing the restrictions at the start-up phase of research projects, including hiring of project team members. 

Please note that, under this new process: 

• When research funding is awarded, an account will be opened, and researchers will now receive immediate access to the full project funds. As always, these funds are NOT to be used for activities requiring compliance approval. 
• Already awarded research funds that have been fully or partially withheld under the previous release of funds process restrictions will now be released in full.  
• Either a compliance status update OR approval of all required compliance is required within three (3) months of the account opening/release of full funds. The compliance status update must be submitted in the UPEI Researcher Portal, using the 'Compliance Status Update’ event form. 

• If neither is completed, the corresponding account will be suspended until a status update or all compliance requirements are approved. 

• All required compliance must be approved at least six (6) months ahead of the corresponding project end date.  

• Adherence to the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy, in conjunction with the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, and all related institutional and Tri-Agency policies and procedures, is required at all phases of the research project. Not meeting any of the compliance requirements outlined above is Research Misconduct as defined by the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.  

For full details, please see section 5 of the “Sponsored Research and Research Contracts SOP”, available on the UPEI policy page. 

Please contact Stephanie Palmer, Research Compliance Coordinator, scpalmer@upei.ca with any questions.  

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last FOURTEEN draws, the total pot has grown to more than $55,000, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panther Recreation app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

The Canadian Career Virtual Symposium for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars will be three half-days jam-packed with career and professional development content. 

A selection of session titles include:

• Keynote: Motivation...It works!
• Ten healthy habits of financial management
• Building cultural and career competency through networking conversations
• A recruiter's perspective to applying and interviewing
• Panel: Career Roads: how to make the most of pit stops (featuring UPEI's own Rebecca Mok, Business Development Officer with UPEI Office of Commercialization, Industry & Innovation!)
• + more! 

For Agenda & Full Program, visit: https://gpdn-rpesp.ca/Career-symposium

Dates and Times:

• 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Tuesday, October 21
• 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Wednesday, October 22
• 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Thursday, October 23

UPEI graduate students and post-doctoral scholars are able to view sessions live and access session recordings, slides, and handouts for up to one year thanks to event sponsorship from the UPEI Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Registration open now: https://forms.office.com/r/gnN0Xa9dUW

For more information, contact: Kendra Mellish, Graduate Programs Officer at: kmellish@upei.ca

You’re invited to a series of TLC Lunch and Learn sessions throughout the month of October; each focused on a Core Principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Grab your own lunch to join us online for engaging conversations and practical strategies to support inclusive teaching.

Session Lineup:

• Wednesday, October 1, 12 – 1 pm – Expanding Access Through Representation
  • Learn how offering multiple ways for learners to access and engage with content can enhance understanding and equity. Register here.
• Wednesday, October 8, 12 – 1 pm – Fostering Engagement
  • Explore how to motivate and sustain learner interest through varied approaches to engagement. Register here.
• Wednesday, October 22, 12 – 1 pm – Supporting Action and Expression
  • Discover strategies for allowing learners to demonstrate what they know in diverse and meaningful ways. Register here.

Each session will include a brief presentation, followed by interactive discussion and idea-sharing with colleagues across departments. You’ll leave with practical insights and tools you can apply in your own teaching. 

Join us on Friday, October 24 in FSDE 128A for our first SMCS Pizza Seminar of the semester! Our speaker will be Jeremy Heartz, Entrepreneurship Program Officer, from the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship. There will be pizza to follow. 

Abstract:

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship exists to provide students with the opportunity to learn, get support for, and collaborate with like-minded students who share a mutual interest in entrepreneurship. During this talk, you'll learn about the opportunities the Centre offers to empower students at whatever stage of entrepreneurship you're in. Whether that's exploring what entrepreneurship is for the first time, you're trying to launch your product, or you fall somewhere in between: there's something for everyone at the Catherine Callbeck Centre!

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last FOURTEEN draws, the total pot has grown to more than $55,000, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panther Recreation app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

You’re invited to join the campus community at the next event in the President’s Town Hall series on the audit results for years 0 and 1of the UPEI Action Plan that were received by the UPEI Board of Governors at its last meeting.

President’s Town Hall: UPEI Action Plan Audit Results
Friday, October 17, 2025 – 9:30 am
Amphitheatre in the Performing Arts Centre and Residence (PAC 121S)

As with past town halls, there will be brief updates provided and opportunities to ask questions. If you are unable to participate in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams Town Hall link. 

We look forward to seeing you!

There will be a UPEI Bloodborne Pathogen Training Session on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 1:30 pm.

This session is for those individuals whose research involves human blood, tissue, and other bodily fluids. If you wish to attend you must pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell at HSE@upei.ca before Friday, October 17, 2025. Please provide your name, department and email address. 

If you have any questions about this training session, please contact Dr. Rhoda Speare, rspeare@upei.ca.

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Vincent Salabarria’s public dissertation defense presentation of his PsyD research titled: “A Neurocognitive Operationalization of
Reminiscence in Older Adulthood”

Date and Time: October 17, 2025 at 10:00 am
Location: SDU Main Building, Room 213

Based on feedback from the research community, the Release of Research Funds process has been updated. This updated mechanism allows researchers access to their full research funds before required compliance is approved, thereby reducing the restrictions at the start-up phase of research projects, including hiring of project team members. 

Please note that, under this new process: 

• When research funding is awarded, an account will be opened, and researchers will now receive immediate access to the full project funds. As always, these funds are NOT to be used for activities requiring compliance approval. 
• Already awarded research funds that have been fully or partially withheld under the previous release of funds process restrictions will now be released in full.  
• Either a compliance status update OR approval of all required compliance is required within three (3) months of the account opening/release of full funds. The compliance status update must be submitted in the UPEI Researcher Portal, using the 'Compliance Status Update’ event form. 

• If neither is completed, the corresponding account will be suspended until a status update or all compliance requirements are approved. 

• All required compliance must be approved at least six (6) months ahead of the corresponding project end date.  

• Adherence to the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy, in conjunction with the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, and all related institutional and Tri-Agency policies and procedures, is required at all phases of the research project. Not meeting any of the compliance requirements outlined above is Research Misconduct as defined by the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.  

For full details, please see section 5 of the “Sponsored Research and Research Contracts SOP”, available on the UPEI policy page. 

Please contact Stephanie Palmer, Research Compliance Coordinator, scpalmer@upei.ca with any questions.  

We are pleased to introduce UPEI’s new Exit Interview program, developed as part of the UPEI Action Plan: 

• 3.1.6.1: Develop a process to offer exit interviews for departing employees, and 
• 3.1.6.2: Develop a process to share aggregate information learned from exit interviews in confidential and appropriate ways. 

An exit interview is a voluntary opportunity for employees who are leaving UPEI or moving to a new department to share feedback about their work experience. This helps us better understand the employee experience and identify opportunities to strengthen our workplace. 

More information is available on the Human Resources SharePoint page, including: 

• The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining eligibility and reporting 
• A sample questionnaire 

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Employee Experience & Development Team in Human Resources at hrengage@upei.ca

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last FOURTEEN draws, the total pot has grown to more than $55,000, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panther Recreation app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

You’re invited to join the campus community at the next event in the President’s Town Hall series on the audit results for years 0 and 1of the UPEI Action Plan that were received by the UPEI Board of Governors at its last meeting.

President’s Town Hall: UPEI Action Plan Audit Results
Friday, October 17, 2025 – 9:30 am
Amphitheatre in the Performing Arts Centre and Residence (PAC 121S)

As with past town halls, there will be brief updates provided and opportunities to ask questions. If you are unable to participate in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams Town Hall link. 

We look forward to seeing you!

UPEI values their employees and recognizes the importance of programming such as "Take Our Kids to Work Day" whereby grade nine students join their parents at work as an opportunity to expose our youth to future job possibilities and to teach the value of education and the rewards of hard work.

To ensure the safety of all, the following criteria must be met before your child may be permitted to participate in the program at UPEI.

1. Permission from your supervisor
2. Appropriate precautionary measures are taken, and hazards have been considered or removed during the visit
3. Supervision of children is required at all times
4. Supervisors may require additional safety measures prior to such visits and may require written parental consent authorizing the site visit

Examples of high-risk safety areas include, but are not limited to:

1. Shops, mechanical rooms, confined spaces, food preparation areas
2. Any areas, indoors or out, containing power tools or machinery with exposed moving parts or rotating equipment
3. Areas with excessive noise, temperatures, inadequate ventilation, or potential for exposure to chemicals or hazardous biological material
4. University vehicles, heavy duty, or other motorized equipment
5. Any other high-risk areas such as rooftops, construction zones, etc.
6. Laboratories or specialized work areas that include chemicals, biological hazards, radioactive hazards, flammables, explosives, compressed gases, sharp objects, lasers, research animals, hazardous wastes, or other environmental hazards. Please refer to the UPEI Laboratory Safety Manual for specific laboratory visitor guidance.

Supervisors must email HSE@upei.ca prior to November 5, to notify that a child will be at the workplace and to include date, workplace location(s), and activity.

For any questions or concerns please contact your supervisor.

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre will offer flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics in October to all students as well as faculty, staff, and their families.

Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule:

• Wednesday, October 22, 9:00 am-3:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
• Thursday, October 23, 12:00–7:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre 
• Wednesday, October 29, 12:00 –7:00 pm, The McCain Foundation Learning Commons Atrium, Atlantic Vet College

Important details:

• Vaccines are administered on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary
• This service is free of charge
• We are unable to administer vaccines to children aged 2 and under
• Please bring a valid provincial health card or student ID for registration
• You are required to wait 15 minutes in the post-vaccine waiting area after receiving your flu shot to ensure no allergic reaction. Please plan your time accordingly.

Stay healthy this season - come get vaccinated!