Campus Notices

UPEI Administrative Services Showcase

You are invited to attend UPEI’s Administrative Services Showcase on Monday March 9, 12:00-2:00, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre - an opportunity to connect directly with the administrative teams that support our campus community.

Information booths hosted by:

  • Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights
  • Human Resources
  • Finance
  • Communications
  • IT Systems and Services
  • Facilities
  • Student Support Services

Each area will highlight what they do and the key processes and resources they manage - many identified through feedback shared during Dr. Jane Ngobia’s Listening Tour.

This event is designed to:

  • Demonstrate how campus feedback has been heard 
  • Showcase initiatives and improvements currently underway
  • Clarify what colleagues can expect moving forward
  • Identify items still under consideration
  • Create space for renewed dialogue and campus engagement

Strengthen your understanding of administrative services, ask questions, gather resources, and be part of ongoing conversations about improving the systems that support learning and student success at UPEI. All faculty and staff are encouraged to drop in. Light snacks available

IT Systems and Services Closed for Department Training

Please be advised that the IT Help Desk will be closed Tuesday, March 3 from 1pm-4pm for a scheduled department development session. The Help Desk will remain closed for the remainder of the day.

Only truly critical issues will be responded to via the ITSS Critical Phone Line: 902-566-0465, Option 2

Thank you for your understanding as we continue to invest in ongoing service improvement.

ITSS Operations

IKERAS BA Program Event

We are pleased to invite you to join us as we celebrate the launch of our new Major in Indigenous Studies.

This special event will introduce the program, highlight its vision and significance, and bring our community together in recognition of this important milestone.

Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Location: Schurman Market Square, Room 248, Don and Marion McDougall Hall

The celebration will feature traditional ceremonies led by our MCs, Bethany Paulisyn and Grace McQuaid, including:

• An Honour Song performed by Judy Clark, Thirly Levi, Doris Googoo, and Alicia Muttart
• Seven Sacred Teachings in Mi’kmaq shared by Doris Googoo

This new Major in Indigenous Studies reflects our ongoing commitment to Indigenous knowledge, education, research, and community engagement. We look forward to sharing more about the program and the opportunities it will create for our students and community.

We hope you can join us for this meaningful occasion.

Regular Spring and Summer 2026 Programming - OCEPD

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (OCEPD) at UPEI is pleased to announce our Spring and Summer 2026 Certificate programming. Whether you are strengthening leadership capacity, improving workplace culture, enhancing technical skills, or sharpening communication strategy, we have a program designed for measurable impact.

Explore full program details at: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development

The following programs are available with start dates this spring:

UPEI Staff are eligible for all of these programs for a rate of $995. Please contact pdp@upei.ca for more details.

For program selection guidance or group registrations, contact us at rdbyrne@upei.ca.

We look forward to supporting your professional growth this Spring and Summer 2026!

IKERAS Tenure-Track Candidate Research Presentation

Dr. Kayla Murphy, BA, MEd, Ed.D., a candidate for the tenure-track associate professor position in the Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research and Applied Studies (IKERAS), will give a research presentation titled "Relational Accountability in Education: Indigenous Methodologies, Student Experience, and Institutional Responsibility” on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:30 am in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, Room 142.

Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program Financial Fundamentals Workshop

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship invites you to join our Financial Fundamentals workshop. This workshop will provide an introduction to completing the core financial proformas required of a business startup:

  • Income statement
  • Balance sheet
  • Cash flows
  • Planning out your initial startup costs

The workshop will take place at Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall on Friday, March 6. Sign up today!

"Turning the Tide" book launch on March 2

A groundbreaking collection of essays titled "Turning the Tide: Climate Change, Social Change and Islandness" will be launched on March 2, at 7 pm, in the Faculty Lounge, Main Building Room 201, University of Prince Edward Island. The collection is published by Island Studies Press.

The book launch will include a panel discussion with co-editors Jean Mitchell and Laurie Brinklow from the University of Prince Edward Island, local contributors, and co-editors Eric Mijts from the University of Aruba and islands researcher Anouk Mertens, who will join virtually. The panel will engage in a unique conversation that spans art, agriculture, labour, and energy. Authors will highlight key findings from their chapters and answer questions about how art can function as a bridge between climate change and social change, or how remote islands face unique challenges when it comes to meeting energy needs, or what local and Indigenous knowledge can offer to resilient food systems.

This interdisciplinary book foregrounds island storytellers as they convey worldviews, knowledge, and cultural values, beliefs, and emotions that are often missing from climate change discourses. How are the effects of climate change and catastrophic weather experienced and narrated by islanders? What stories need to be told? How do local, traditional, and Indigenous knowledge practices facilitate the capacity to improvise, innovate, and adapt to volatile weather events? How do social relations on climate-stressed islands continue to flourish? How do governance structures and issues of sovereignty support and/or inhibit climate and social justice?

This wide-ranging and deep conversation places islands and islanders at the centre of climate change. The event is free, and all are welcome. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at Island Studies Press at 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.

PhD Dissertation Defense - Diane Montgomery

The Faculty of Education invites all to attend the public presentation of Diane Montgomery's PhD Dissertation Defense, "A Student-Directed Holistic Assessment Approach to Help Teachers Develop Self-Regulated Learners and Support the Diverse Needs of Students in Inclusive Educational Settings "

Please join us in person at Memorial Hall, Room 417 or through Teams: see the link below:
D. Montgomery PhD Dissertation Defense | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
 

NEW DATE: TLC Lunch and Learn: Maintaining Motivation and Engagement

Join us for a relaxed and informative Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) Lunch and Learn session focused on Maintaining Motivation and Engagement in your classes. This is a great opportunity to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and gain insights into connecting learning to real‑world purpose, building an interactive learning environment, fostering a sense of belonging, providing clear structure and expectations, offering autonomy and choice, giving meaningful feedback, and integrating active learning technologies.

RSVP: https://forms.office.com/r/c5DsnwcRTu

Bring your own lunch and join us for an engaging session hosted by: The Teaching and Learning Centre

Microcredential in Applied Artificial Intelligence for the Workplace, July 2026

The OCEPD is proud to announce we will be launching our first microcredential this summer, in the area of artificial intelligence!

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how work gets done across every sector, especially higher education – streamlining tasks, improving analysis, and supporting better decision-making. 

The Microcredential in Applied Artificial Intelligence for the Workplace microcredential gives you a practical, hands-on introduction to AI tools you can apply immediately in your role – no coding required. 

By the end of the three-day program, you will:

  • Understand what modern AI can and cannot do in real workplace contexts
  • Build confidence using practical AI tools to improve workflows and efficiency
  • Learn to evaluate AI outputs critically (quality, accuracy, limitations)
  • Strengthen awareness of ethics, privacy, data quality, bias, and human oversight
  • Leave with an individualized AI Readiness Plan to guide next steps for your team/unit 

Delivered by Atlantic Canada’s AI training leader – ACENET (https://ace-net.ca/)

Facilitated by ACENET – a regional, not-for-profit consortium recognized as Atlantic Canada’s leader in AI training, combining advanced computing infrastructure, expert support, and applied education. 

  • Dates: July 13–15, 2026 (3 modules over 3 days; 19.5 hours)
  • Time: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm each day
  • Location: Room 102, UPEI Alumni Hall (in-person; laptop required)
  • Cost:$995 (this is a discount for UPEI Staff/Faculty; regular price is $1,499)

Learn more and register: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates/microcredential-in-applied-artificial-intelligence-for-the-workplace

Teaching Community Conference 2026 - Call for Proposals Deadline Extension

Teaching Community Conference 2026 - RSVP and Call for Proposals

The UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre is hosting its annual full-day Teaching Community Conference on Tuesday April 28, 2026.  This year’s theme will be: Connected Teaching: Connecting with Community, Self, and Place. RSVP Here.

The Teaching Community Conference is an opportunity to breathe further life into our  strategic commitment to innovative and connected teaching, research, and scholarship by sharing our experiences, challenges, and opportunities of advancing teaching and learning at UPEI. Conference participants are invited to reflect on this theme and consider relevant questions such as:  

  • What supports, skills, and critical capacities do faculty need to embrace the relational and connected nature of teaching?
  • As we consider expanding the walls of our classrooms and broadening our partnerships, how do we ensure we aren’t simply supplementing traditional teaching practices but rather transforming what teaching itself means?
  • How does a commitment to relational and connected teaching help build faculty capacity to recognize and respond to structural barriers students face?  

We are looking for proposals from the UPEI community that highlight current  teaching and learning initiatives, share  new ideas, and build collaborative strategies for a more inclusive accessible, and courageous university. Proposals from staff and faculty are welcome. There are four formats suggested for proposals:

  • Traditional Oral Presentation: Presenters share a talk about a teaching and learning project or topic related to the theme, speaking for about 20 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes for questions.
  • Lightning Talk: "Small Shifts, Significant Gains." Presenters share a teaching strategy or practice that they’ve found effective in supporting student learning, speaking for about ten minutes, followed by a short group discussion.
  • Interactive Workshop: A hands-on session that encourages active participation and collaboration among attendees. The workshop could involve group activities, discussions, practical exercises, etc.
  • Indigenous Sharing Circle: A facilitated, safe space for individuals to come together to discuss topics related to the theme, share their experiences, listen to each other, build relationships, offer support, and connect with each other.
  • Facilitated Round table Discussion: A structured, collaborative conversation led by a facilitator to encourage open dialogue, balanced participation, and exploration of shared issues among participants. The session is guided by clear objectives and prompts, resulting in documented insights and agreed‑upon themes or recommendations.  

The deadline is extended to Monday, March 9, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to TLC@upei.ca.  

Proposals can be submitted here.

IT Systems and Services Closed for Department Training

Please be advised that the IT Help Desk will be closed Tuesday, March 3 from 1pm-4pm for a scheduled department development session. The Help Desk will remain closed for the remainder of the day.

Only truly critical issues will be responded to via the ITSS Critical Phone Line: 902-566-0465, Option 2

Thank you for your understanding as we continue to invest in ongoing service improvement.

ITSS Operations

Save the date - Explaining Professional/Clinical Service for Tenure and Promotion workshop

If you have Professional/Clinical Service responsibilities and you are preparing a tenure or promotion application in the next year then this workshop is for you.  Join Aimie Doyle from AVC and Charlene VanLeeuwen in the TLC to talk about effective ways to share the many details of your professional service activities in your tenure or promotion application on May 14 at 1:30pm in the Teaching and Learning Centre. 

IKERAS BA Program Event

We are pleased to invite you to join us as we celebrate the launch of our new Major in Indigenous Studies.

This special event will introduce the program, highlight its vision and significance, and bring our community together in recognition of this important milestone.

Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Location: Schurman Market Square, Room 248, Don and Marion McDougall Hall

The celebration will feature traditional ceremonies led by our MCs, Bethany Paulisyn and Grace McQuaid, including:

• An Honour Song performed by Judy Clark, Thirly Levi, Doris Googoo, and Alicia Muttart
• Seven Sacred Teachings in Mi’kmaq shared by Doris Googoo

This new Major in Indigenous Studies reflects our ongoing commitment to Indigenous knowledge, education, research, and community engagement. We look forward to sharing more about the program and the opportunities it will create for our students and community.

We hope you can join us for this meaningful occasion.

ESC/HB Seminar Series: Dr. K. Devon Lynn

The Faculty of Science Seminar Series invites the campus community to a presentation by Dr. K. Devon Lynn (Environmental Studies and Cleantech Academy) entitled "The efficacy of artificial reef structures in raising marine biodiversity" on Friday, February 27, at 12:30 pm, Duffy Science Centre 204. Everyone is welcome. 

Dr. Dale Sorensen Trombone Recital

The Department of Music presents Fantaisie de trombone, a recital featuring UPEI faculty members Dr. Dale Sorensen (trombone) with Dr. Magdalena von Eccher (piano), showcasing three 20th-century works by French women composers, along with 21st-century masterpieces by James M. David and Susan Mutter.

Tickets are available in advance at upei.universitytickets.com or by cash at the door.

Order your custom program hoodie or crew

You can now pre-order a custom hoodie (Black or Forest Green) or crew (Sport Grey) with your UPEI program on it. From February 20 to March 4 place your pre-order on our website and choose the custom program hoodie or crew of your choice. Pick up or delivery of all orders will be mid-April. If you are a current UPEI staff member enter the promo code STAFFWEB to use your staff discount. Contact us at bookstore@upei.ca for more information. 

https://upei.bookware3000.ca/Catalogue/custom-merch

PhD Dissertation Defense - Diane Montgomery

The Faculty of Education invites all to attend the public presentation of Diane Montgomery's PhD Dissertation Defense, "A Student-Directed Holistic Assessment Approach to Help Teachers Develop Self-Regulated Learners and Support the Diverse Needs of Students in Inclusive Educational Settings "

Please join us in person at Memorial Hall, Room 417 or through Teams: see the link below:
D. Montgomery PhD Dissertation Defense | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
 

Music Recital: Fantaisie de trombone

This trombone and piano recital featuring UPEI brass professor Dr. Dale Sorensen with Dr. Magdalena von Eccher will showcase three 20th-century works by French women composers, along with 21st-century masterpieces by American composers James M. David and Susan Mutter.

Fantaisie de trombone will take place on Sunday, March 1 at 2:30pm on the SDU Stage at Steel Recital Hall. Accessible parking is available, and the theatre has an accessible entrance via elevator.

Admission: $30 adults, $25 seniors, $10 students. FREE for all UPEI students with a valid ID card. Tickets are available in advance at upei.universitytickets.com or by cash at the door.

Don't Miss the OCEPD's Spring 2026 Professional Development Opportunities

We’re excited to share a fantastic lineup of Spring 2026 Professional Development opportunities offered by the Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (OCEPD) at UPEI — designed to help you grow your skills, expand your expertise, and elevate your impact.

UPEI Staff Special Rate:
A reminder that UPEI staff and faculty are eligible to take select OCEPD Certificate programs at a reduced tuition rate of just $995 — a great way to invest in yourself and your professional journey. 

Spring 2026 Certificate Programs

Why Take a Certificate?

Each of these OCEPD Certificate programs is practical, evidence-informed, and directly applicable to your work at UPEI. Whether it’s enhancing communication, boosting team morale, improving safety, strengthening analytics, or fortifying wellbeing — these Certificates are designed to give you the skills to improve in your role and contribute to stronger well-being. 

Ready to enroll or learn more?
Visit the full OCEPD Certificate listings on UPEI’s Professional Development site: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates

Feel free to reach out if you’d like help selecting the right program for your goals — we’re cheering you on as you continue your professional development journey!

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