Waltes Drop-In: November 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Mawi'omi Indigenous Student Centre

Experience the rich cultural heritage and spiritual wisdom of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq communities as we invite you to dive into the traditional game of Waltes. This event offers you the chance to learn the game and uncover its teachings and significance.

Waltes is more than just a game; it's a sacred and spiritual practice that has been passed down through generations, offering a window into the deep traditions of Indigenous peoples in the Atlantic region. By participating, you'll gain a unique insight into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of this game, connecting with the rich history of these Indigenous communities.

Métis Heritage Week: November 13 to November 19

Celebrate the vibrant heritage, rich history, and invaluable contributions of the Métis people in Canada during Métis Week, an event that offers a profound opportunity to embrace and learn about this culturally diverse community. Join us in paying tribute to the Métis people's profound influence on Canada and in taking part in our ongoing mission to Indigenize UPEI.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an enriching and transformative experience. Come to our events, connect with the Métis community, and help us honour the shared histories and cultures that make Canada a truly diverse and beautiful nation.

Rock Your Mocs Week: November 13 to 17 (workshop on November 14)

Starting in 2011, Rock Your Mocs began as a way for Indigenous Peoples to learn more about moccasin teachings and provide an opportunity to wear them in solidarity with others. Moccasins carry spirit and connect us to those who have passed them down through the generations. The Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre will not only be encouraging all to wear their mocs but will also host a moccasin-making workshop on November 14 in Room 214, Dalton Hall (time TBD). All are welcome to sit in and learn or make a pair of mocs.

Ribbon Skirt, Shirt, and Pant Workshop: November 22 and 23 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm

This event was hosted in September during TRC week and is now being hosted again due to demand!

Every post-secondary institution in the Atlantic region (also known as the Wabanaki Confederacy) with an Indigenous centre will sew a ribbon skirt or shirt together. Participants are welcome to join in person or virtually. The program is meant to create a sense of nationhood while sharing important teachings about the ribbon skirt/shirt. Held on November 22 and 23 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, the workshop will be hosted by the Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre in Room 240, Bernardine Hall. All are welcome to take part (UPEI community and greater PEI community). There will be light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with others. Two sewing machines will be available as will be some material. 

Full Moon Gathering: November 27 starting at 7:00 pm (location TBD)

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have followed the 13 Moons or moon cycles to ground themselves in their teachings and ensure balance. This is captured in their turtle's back teachings, which capture the different moon phases (13 different moons and 28 days in each moon cycle). Life on Earth is connected to and regulated by Grandmother Moon, through the tides and waters, which stabilizes our Earth's position and determines the cycle of women and the birth of new life. Grandmother Moon helps us with healing and is strongly connected to human life, especially women. Every phase of Grandmother Moon has a different focus, and this month, we focus on the strength and beauty of slowing down as Mother Earth begins her time of rest (freezing moon). All are welcome to join and share.

As part of engaging with and listening to the various audiences that make up the University community, Interim President Greg Keefe has been undertaking a series of smaller-sized, moderated sessions. The feedback received at these listening sessions will be provided to the UPEI Action Plan Advisory Group, which is developing the framework for the comprehensive action plan in response to Rubin Thomlinson’s University of Prince Edward Island Review. 

Here are some updates since the original message about the Staff Listening Sessions was issued:

• An additional session has been scheduled to accommodate any staff who are unable to attend the session for their particular staff-unit grouping. (See below for all dates and groupings)
• Supervisors who have employees attending the same session will be welcome to stay for the first half, but will then be asked to leave.
• While no online or virtual participation is offered, employees are welcome to email feedback or comments to president@upei.ca at any time.

Five staff-only sessions are now planned as follows: 

• Academic-associated staff (For any staff member who reports directly, or whose supervisor reports to the Vice-President Academic and Research): Thursday, November 9, 2:30–4:00 pm, Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre (DSC 135), Moderator: Charlene VanLeeuwen 
   
• Facilities Management staff: Wednesday, November 15, 12:30–2:00 pm, Performing Arts Centre (PAC 121 S), Moderator: Patti Wheatley 
   
• Any staff unable to attend other group sessions: Thursday, November 16, 8:30–10:00 am, Performing Arts Centre (PAC 121 S), Moderator: Patti Wheatley
   
• All other staff (For any staff member who reports directly, or whose supervisor reports to the Chief Information Officer; Vice-President, People and Culture; Vice-President Administration and Finance; or President): Thursday, November 16, 2:30–4:00 pm, Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre (DSC 135), Moderator: Charlene VanLeeuwen 
   
• Atlantic Veterinary College staff: Monday, November 20, 12:00–1:30 pm, AVC 287 N and 286A N, Moderator: Patti Wheatley 

The Animal Care Committee does not meet in December. The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions--new, renewal, or amendment--is Friday, January 5, 2024, for the January meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

The search committee for the Dean of Sustainable Design Engineering announces upcoming presentations by each of the three finalist candidates. Since the search began in June, the committee has conducted a comprehensive search and selected the following finalists for a series of stakeholder meetings on campus. Presentations are scheduled on the following dates and times.

Dr. Ali Akgunduz is a professor and Associate Dean, Academic Programs, at Concordia University. He received a BS (1992) from Gazi University, Turkey, and an MBA (1996) and PhD (2001) in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the Illinois Institute of Technology.  As associate dean at Concordia since 2012, he has led the faculty's accreditation process for all nine undergraduate engineering programs and continual improvement of academic programs. From 2003 to 2008, he served as the Co-op program director. His research interests include airline operations, and decision support system design, using artificial intelligence, including 70 journal and conference papers in these fields. Dr. Akgunduz has received an IIE Excellence Award and Distinguished Professor Award from the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Canadian Society of Industrial Engineers.

• Public Presentation: November 15, 2:30–3:30 pm, AVC 207N

Dr. Regina Lee is a professor of space engineering at York University. She received a BASc (1994) in Engineering Science, MASc (1995), and PhD (2000) in Space Engineering from the University of Toronto. From 2018 to 2019, she was the Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies. Between 2013 and 2017, she served as chair of the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering. Dr. Lee has co-authored over 100 journal and conference papers. Her research interests lie in nanosatellite technologies including micro-propulsion, actuators, remote sensing, and space object tracking. At York University, she has secured over $10 million in research funding, including a $4.2 million CFI project to establish York's first comprehensive microfabrication facility where she served as the founding director. Dr. Lee received the AKCSE Women in Science and Engineering Award in 2022, and the KOFST Engineer of the Year Award in 2020.

• Public Presentation: November 16, 9:00– 0:00 am, AVC 201N

Dr. Yudong (David) Yao is a professor of electrical engineering at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. At Stevens, he served as chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering from 2007 to 2018. He received a BS and MS (1985) from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications and a PhD (1988) from Southeast University, Nanjing, all in electrical engineering. His research interests lie in machine learning, sensors and signals, telehealth, and AI medicine. Dr. Yao has (co-)secured over $10 million in research grants, and his publications have been widely cited (h-index of 51 with over 10,000 citations). Prior to Stevens, he was a senior engineer at Qualcomm in San Diego, and a technical staff member at Spar Aerospace in Montreal. Dr. Yao is a Fellow of several professional associations, including IEEE and the Canadian Academy of Engineering.

• Public Presentation: November 22, 9:00– 10:00 am,  AVC 205N

All are welcome to attend. For any who are unable to attend, the presentations will be recorded and available afterward for viewing from a secure site. Paper copies of each candidate’s CV will be available for viewing in the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Research, Kelley 205. Following each presentation, you are invited to provide feedback on the candidate’s suitability for the role to vpar@upei.ca. All feedback will be considered by the committee in its deliberations.

Submissions and inquiries for Central Printing should now be sent to cpo@upei.ca.  The use of whenderson@upei.ca will come to an end at the end of November. You can also call Wendy at Central Printing at 902-566-0558.

The Office of Study Abroad and International Partnerships is hosting an information session for ANY students interested in learning more about Study Abroad opportunities that are available to them! Pizza will be provided. Please RSVP! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/study-abroad-info-session-tickets-748479912567

On Wednesday, November 8, ITSS will conduct routine maintenance on the myUPEI portal and related services from 8:00 pm to midnight. During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI, Self-Service, and Colleague.

We encourage students, faculty, and staff who may need documents or links located on myUPEI to plan ahead and bookmark or download the resources they may need during this period.

As a reminder, you can access Moodle directly using https://moodle.upei.ca and Outlook email directly using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at 902-566-0465.

This two-part session is the second of our beginner-level Humanities and Social Sciences data organization and analysis series. Many web applications, research project websites, and library and archival repositories store data in relational databases. A relational database can help you keep your data separate from your analysis, improve quality control of data entry, reduce duplication of data, and improve your ability to search across large and complex datasets. Structured Query Language, or SQL, is a powerful language used to search and manipulate relational databases. This workshop teaches participants about relational databases and SQL using SQLite. You will learn how to write queries in SQL and how to use aggregate functions to combine data. It uses examples and challenges from the Humanities, Social Sciences, and library research fields and uses librarycarpentry.org materials. There are no prerequisites.

DETAILS & REGISTER

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Shauna Reddin's public dissertation defence presentation of her PsyD research titled, Planting the Seeds of Evidence-Based Practice in a Child Protection Clinical Service.

Please join us virtually on Zoom on Tuesday, November 14, at 2:30 pm Atlantic; 1:30 pm Eastern at this link: https://upei-ca-healthcare.zoom.us/j/62143663852?pwd=c1FkWEpDemNIM0pjODQ1Nmw0azl5QT09

The Animal Care Committee does not meet in December. The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions--new, renewal, or amendment--is Friday, January 5, 2024, for the January meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

With the release of the UPEI Review Report, the University has coordinated two confidential processes to support faculty and staff who have experienced harm from harassment, sexual violence, or discrimination at UPEI. 

Confidential third-party personal counselling:

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre has engaged a psychologist to meet individually with faculty and staff, by appointment. Employees may email Caylin Jenkins at cbjenkins@upei.ca, indicating “Appointment required” in the subject line. Caylin will coordinate with the psychologist and confirm the time and location of the appointment with the employee. 

Making a confidential disclosure:

People have asked about the process for making disclosures of incidents of harassment or discrimination by senior executive members of the University. The University has established an independent third-party process to address any such issues with Resonance Inc., a multidisciplinary human resources firm, based in Saint John, NB, that specializes in workplace assessments. The contact person at Resonance is Trisha Perry, who may be reached at tperry@resonanceinc.ca or (506)799-0412. 

For more information, go to https://www.upei.ca/response-to-independent-review/community-support

DYKT Google can proof read your essays? It's often hard to spot errors in something you've been working on for what feels like forever. Why not use your ears instead of your eyes?

Copy and paste your content into Google Translate and click on the listen icon. Your work will be narrated back to you (hopefully it will help you make improvements).  

Authenticity in tourism is a hot topic. Can tourism experiences ever really be authentic and truly reflect the character, history, and people of a place? One underrepresented voice in authentic tourism is that of locals. Using a research panel of 600 Prince Edward Islanders, we asked if it was possible for visitors to experience the "real" PEI, and if so, what kinds of experiences best reflected the place that locals call home. Over 400 respondents enthusiastically proclaimed that indeed it was possible for visitors to glimpse the "real" Prince Edward Island, and they identified myriad ways that could happen in areas such as culinary-, cultural-, historical-, and Anne of Green Gables-based experiences. Join us on November 21 at 7 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building, to hear more about this research project from Dr. Susan Graham, Faculty of Business.

Does the thought of research ethics make you feel

1. excited 
2. overwhelmed 
3. intimidated 
4. frustrated 
5. prefer to specify: _________________ 
6. prefer not to specify 

No matter how you feel about research ethics right now, we’ve got good news for you! 

Your friendly colleagues on the UPEI Research Ethics Board have been working hard to adapt to recent TCPS 2 updates and to streamline and demystify related processes.  

If you do research with humans at UPEI, please join Research Compliance Coordinator, Dr. Stephanie Palmer, and Research Ethics Chair, Dr. Jessica Strong, to learn about recent changes to the TCPS 2 and UPEI REB process, including multi-jurisdictional applications, among others. We will also introduce some new tools you can use to streamline your application process. We look forward to seeing you on November 24 at noon at the TLC! 

Waltes Drop-In: November 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Mawi'omi Indigenous Student Centre

Experience the rich cultural heritage and spiritual wisdom of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq communities as we invite you to dive into the traditional game of Waltes. This event offers you the chance to learn the game and uncover its teachings and significance.

Waltes is more than just a game; it's a sacred and spiritual practice that has been passed down through generations, offering a window into the deep traditions of Indigenous peoples in the Atlantic region. By participating, you'll gain a unique insight into the spiritual and cultural dimensions of this game, connecting with the rich history of these Indigenous communities.

Métis Heritage Week: November 13 to November 19

Celebrate the vibrant heritage, rich history, and invaluable contributions of the Métis people in Canada during Métis Week, an event that offers a profound opportunity to embrace and learn about this culturally diverse community. Join us in paying tribute to the Métis people's profound influence on Canada and in taking part in our ongoing mission to Indigenize UPEI.

Don't miss this opportunity to be part of an enriching and transformative experience. Come to our events, connect with the Métis community, and help us honour the shared histories and cultures that make Canada a truly diverse and beautiful nation.

Rock Your Mocs Week: November 13 to 17 (workshop on November 14)

Starting in 2011, Rock Your Mocs began as a way for Indigenous Peoples to learn more about moccasin teachings and provide an opportunity to wear them in solidarity with others. Moccasins carry spirit and connect us to those who have passed them down through the generations. The Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre will not only be encouraging all to wear their mocs but will also host a moccasin-making workshop on November 14 in Room 214, Dalton Hall (time TBD). All are welcome to sit in and learn or make a pair of mocs.

Ribbon Skirt, Shirt, and Pant Workshop: November 22 and 23 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm

This event was hosted in September during TRC week and is now being hosted again due to demand!

Every post-secondary institution in the Atlantic region (also known as the Wabanaki Confederacy) with an Indigenous centre will sew a ribbon skirt or shirt together. Participants are welcome to join in person or virtually. The program is meant to create a sense of nationhood while sharing important teachings about the ribbon skirt/shirt. Held on November 22 and 23 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, the workshop will be hosted by the Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre in Room 240, Bernardine Hall. All are welcome to take part (UPEI community and greater PEI community). There will be light refreshments and an opportunity to connect with others. Two sewing machines will be available as will be some material. 

Full Moon Gathering: November 27 starting at 7:00 pm (location TBD)

Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have followed the 13 Moons or moon cycles to ground themselves in their teachings and ensure balance. This is captured in their turtle's back teachings, which capture the different moon phases (13 different moons and 28 days in each moon cycle). Life on Earth is connected to and regulated by Grandmother Moon, through the tides and waters, which stabilizes our Earth's position and determines the cycle of women and the birth of new life. Grandmother Moon helps us with healing and is strongly connected to human life, especially women. Every phase of Grandmother Moon has a different focus, and this month, we focus on the strength and beauty of slowing down as Mother Earth begins her time of rest (freezing moon). All are welcome to join and share.

November 28th is Giving Tuesday! This year, it's all about supporting UPEI Athletics and Recreation!

UPEI Athletics and Recreation is such an important part of our campus--where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and our community members come together to create a sense of camaraderie and PRIDE.

Your support on Giving Tuesday will be a game-changer! You'll be contributing to supercharging varsity academic support, fueling nutrition programs, making dreams come true with athletic financial awards, cranking up high-performance training, boosting recruitment, and making schedules even more exciting, as well as the awesome community engagement, club sports, and recreation activities that are so very important.

These initiatives aren't just about making our student experience rock; they're also about inspiring the future generation of leaders and athletes.

Every donation designated to "UPEI Athletics and Recreation" made on or before Giving Tuesday will be matched by our amazing friends--John Horrelt, Donnie MacFadyen, Bruce Donaldson, and the UPEI Alumni Association--up to a total of $15,000!

Your support is the key to empowering our student-athletes to reach their full potential, both academically and athletically, and to create club sport and recreation opportunities for our campus community.

Get ready to make a splash on Giving Tuesday and be part of something truly extraordinary! Let's come together, donate, and support UPEI Athletics and Recreation!  

Donate on Giving Tuesday, and let's make a lasting difference! 

upei.ca/donate or call 902-894-2888

For more information visit the Giving Tuesday page.

Giving Tuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Black Friday. As the “opening day of the giving season,” it is a time when charities, companies, and individuals join together and rally for favourite causes. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, you can visit givingtuesday.ca.

On Wednesday, November 8, ITSS will conduct routine maintenance on the myUPEI portal and related services from 8:00 pm to midnight. During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI, Self-Service, and Colleague.

We encourage students, faculty, and staff who may need documents or links located on myUPEI to plan ahead and bookmark or download the resources they may need during this period.

As a reminder, you can access Moodle directly using https://moodle.upei.ca and Outlook email directly using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at 902-566-0465.

Join the multi-faith community on Tuesday, November 7, at 12:05 pm for about 30 minutes at the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre to pray for peace in our troubled world.

Drop-ins are welcome to join the fall reading group in discussing Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education: A Realist’s Guide to Getting Started with Inquiry-Based Learning. Get the e-book through the Robertson Library. Reading group meetings will be in the TLC (RL 230) on

• Wednesday, November 8, 10:30 am  
• Wednesday, November 22, 10:30 am

The Animal Care Committee does not meet in December. The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions--new, renewal, or amendment--is Friday, January 5, 2024, for the January meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.