This seminar is hosted by the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research (CVER) at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) as part of the CVER Seminar Series.

Featured Speaker: Charlene Vanleeuwen, Director of UPEI’s Teaching and Learning Centre

Date: Monday, March 3, 2025
Time: 10:00–11:00 am
Location: AVC Room 287N

What to expect;

• Constructive advice for crafting an academic CV
• Insights on highlighting research and professional experiences
• Q&A session to address your individual questions

Why attend?
Whether you’re preparing for the job market, grants, or academic collaborations, this seminar is your roadmap to presenting your achievements with confidence.

CVER Seminar Series (and Coffee Socials)
Join us for this informative session! Coffee, tea, and light refreshments will be provided to fuel your networking and learning.

See you there! Let’s build your future, one CV at a time. If further information is needed, please contact Beibei Jia, CVER member, at jbeibei@upei.ca.

UPEI will host Research on Tap with a presentation titled “The Puzzle of Existence and Reality” on Tuesday, March 11, at 6:00 pm, at the Upstreet Brewery Taproom, 41 Allen St., Charlottetown, PEI.

Dr. Nebojsa Kujundzic, Professor, Department of Philosophy, is the guest speaker for the event.

"The relationship between existence and reality is complex, as some things exist without being real, while others are real without existing physically," he said. "Language and technology further blur this distinction, especially with virtual reality and social media. For instance, Facebook pages of the deceased exist digitally but hold reality only through the emotions of those who remember them."

Currently there is no storm date for this event.

Research on Tap is a discussion series featuring UPEI researchers and is open to students, faculty, staff, and the general public. There is no charge to attend. All are welcome to attend.

The PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women, in partnership with the UPEI SVPRO, is hosting an on-campus discussion group on February 26, at 3:00 pm in Kelly Memorial Building, Room 210, to explore themes of gender-based violence, migratory labour, the environment, student debt, and extractive industries in "DUCKS: Two Years in the Oil Sands" by author Kate Beaton. Snacks and emotional support are available during the event. It is not required to own your own copy or have read the book prior to the event. Copies are available at the Robertson Library and Charlottetown Learning Library. 

Dr. Shannon Murray, UPEI Department of English, will moderate a virtual Freedom to Read Week event with Ira Wells, author of "On Book Banning: Or, How the New Censorship Consensus Trivializes Art and Undermines Democracy," on Thursday, February 27, at 7 pm.

Hosted by The Bookmark, the event is free, but spaces are limited to 300. Those interested are asked to pre-register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/freedom-to-read-week-virtual-event-with-ira-wells-tickets-1226483668669?aff=oddtdtcreator. A zoom link will be emailed to registered participants on the morning of the event.

Ira Wells is a critic, essayist, and an associate professor at Victoria College in the University of Toronto, where he teaches in the Northrop Frye stream in literature and the humanities in the Vic One program. His writing has appeared in "The Atlantic," "The Globe and Mail," "The Guardian," "The New Republic," and many other venues. His most recent book is “Norman Jewison: A Director's Life.” He lives in Toronto with his wife and children.

Freedom to Read Week takes place from February 23 to March 1, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.freedomtoread.ca/freedom-to-read-week/.

UPEI has a current posting for internal and external candidates for a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Nutrition, Physical Activity, or Health.

The posting details are available on the UPEI HR site.

Please contact UPEI’s Research Services Office (mlsteele@upei.ca) for eligibility details, and consult the CRC program for complete program information, including further details on eligibility criteria at http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/program-programme/nomination-mise_en_candidature-eng.aspx.

The UPEI community was saddened to learn about the tragic passing earlier this month of UPEI student Michael Oppong-Ampomah as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Michael was expected to graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering this spring.

A Service of Remembrance will be held to honour Michael on Thursday, February 27, at 5:00 pm in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre. While Michael’s uncle from Ontario plans to attend the service, family from Ghana will travel to Charlottetown later in the spring.

A Book of Condolences has been set up in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre for anyone who would like to write a memory about Michael or a message to his family. It will be available to sign until the Service of Remembrance.

Counsellors with UPEI Student Affairs are available for students needing support through this difficult time. To make an appointment, please contact them at studentserv@upei.ca. UPEI students, faculty, and staff can also access resources on the Department of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights site while eligible employees can call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-387-4765 for support.

Robertson Library would like to welcome everyone to come and have some free coffee or tea in the lobby today. Bring your own reusable cup any time between 10:00 and 10:30 am to get your morning coffee or tea!

Asian Studies and the Centre for Korean Studies invite Asian Studies (AST) students (who completed or are taking one or more AST courses) to this special evening event: the 2025 Korean movie evening, K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre, Room 104, March 19, 6:00–8:30 pm.  

Light dinner (lasagna or pizza, salad), popcorn, and beverages will be served from 6:00–6:30 pm. The movie begins at 6:30 pm.

This is a 2014 South Korean historical action war film. It revolves around the Battle of Myeongryang in 1597, which is regarded as legendary Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s most remarkable naval victory and “one of the most glorious victories in the global history of wars.” A national hero, he led only 12 Korean warships under his command to a heroic victory against an invading Tokugawa Japanese fleet of 330 vessels! The film attracted 17 million moviegoers in Korea, becoming the most-viewed and highest-earning film of all time there. The film was an international box-office hit with an earning of US$138M worldwide. See you there!  

For the event poster, e-mail to jbbandara@upei.ca or chung@upei.ca.

Acknowledgement: This event is funded by Professor Edward Chung’s international Seed Program for Korean Studies project grant (AKS-2022-INC-2230004) at UPEI, with thanks to Korean Studies Promotion Service (KSPS), Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), the Ministry of Education, Government of South Korea.

Contact Jay K. Bandarage (AST admin assistant) at jbbandara@upei.ca or 566-0331, or Dr. Edward Chung (AST director) at chung@upei.ca or 566-0324.

The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Monday, February 24, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street, Charlottetown. All are welcome.

During this gathering, we will discuss Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" The following passages capture the spirit of the book:

"Without imagination we cannot see truly, for to be lukewarm in a glowing world is to miss the truth"—Ella Lyman Cabot, "Everyday Ethics"

"It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. After 1989, capitalism has successfully presented itself as the only realistic political-economic system - a situation that the bank crisis of 2008, far from ending, actually compounded. The book analyses the development and principal features of this capitalist realism as a lived ideological framework. Using examples from politics, film (Children Of Men, Jason Bourne, Supernanny), fiction (Le Guin and Kafka), work and education, it argues that capitalist realism colors all areas of contemporary experience [including mental health and our approaches to it], is anything but realistic and asks how capitalism and its inconsistencies can be challenged. It is a sharp analysis of the post-ideological malaise that suggests that the economics and politics of free market neo-liberalism are givens rather than constructions."

If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.

Great workplaces thrive on recognition! The University Awards of Excellence celebrate employees who make UPEI an inspiring place to work and learn. By nominating a colleague, or someone that has supported your success at UPEI, you not only honor their contributions but also help create a culture of respect, teamwork and appreciation. 

Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff and students.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate those who go the extra mile. Nominate today!

Nominations close on Friday, February 28, 2025

For more information about each award including, eligibility and the nomination process, please click here

Dear UPEI Campus Community,

We need your help at the Campus Food Bank! As we prepare to distribute pre-packed bags for students, we’re looking for volunteers to assist with many important tasks including but not limited to

Tuesday (12-5 pm):

• Bagging rice
• Writing names and requested items on paper bags
• Packing items into bags
• Other duties as assigned by the food bank coordinator

Wednesday (10 am-3 pm):

• Distributing grab bags at the kiosk
• Other duties as assigned by the food bank coordinator

If you’re interested in helping, you can sign up for Tuesday here and Wednesday here.

Thank you for supporting our students who are facing food insecurity. Your time and effort make a real difference!

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Justine Brown’s public dissertation defence presentation of her PsyD research titled “Exploring PEI elementary school teachers’ mental health literacy and decision-making processes regarding student mental health concerns.”

Please join us virtually on March 5, 2025, from 3-5 pm AST at https://upei.zoom.us/j/61428838697?pwd=S7rSMfjBQLYJYHwcIquanIsyeLZsYz.1
Meeting ID: 614 2883 8697
Passcode: 983605

There will be a basic biosafety training session on Friday, February 28, at 9:00 am in AVC 287N. Topics will include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. This session is open to everyone, including graduate students.

To attend, you must pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell by the end of the day on Friday, February 21, 2025, via email (hse@upei.ca) or phone (902-566-0901). 

Please provide:

• Your name 
• Your supervisor’s name (if applicable)
• Department
• Email address
• Phone number
• Whether you're an employee or graduate student  

NOTE: An online biosafety training refresher course is available for those who completed basic biosafety training previously. Training must be renewed every three years. Please contact us for information on how to register for this training. 

A dossier to support a teaching award nomination is different from one you develop to apply for an academic position or for tenure and promotion. Right now, there are multiple calls for nomination open for teaching and educational leadership awards at UPEI. If you have been nominated by colleagues or students or are considering self-nomination, come and learn about what it takes. Bring your interest and questions about preparing a teaching award dossier to the Teaching and Learning Centre RL 230 on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 2:30 pm. If you have an existing teaching philosophy statement, bring it along too. 

Dr. Shannon Murray, UPEI Department of English, will moderate a virtual Freedom to Read Week event with Ira Wells, author of "On Book Banning: Or, How the New Censorship Consensus Trivializes Art and Undermines Democracy," on Thursday, February 27, at 7 pm.

Hosted by The Bookmark, the event is free, but spaces are limited to 300. Those interested are asked to pre-register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/freedom-to-read-week-virtual-event-with-ira-wells-tickets-1226483668669?aff=oddtdtcreator. A zoom link will be emailed to registered participants on the morning of the event.

Ira Wells is a critic, essayist, and an associate professor at Victoria College in the University of Toronto, where he teaches in the Northrop Frye stream in literature and the humanities in the Vic One program. His writing has appeared in "The Atlantic," "The Globe and Mail," "The Guardian," "The New Republic," and many other venues. His most recent book is “Norman Jewison: A Director's Life.” He lives in Toronto with his wife and children.

Freedom to Read Week takes place from February 23 to March 1, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.freedomtoread.ca/freedom-to-read-week/.

Members of the UPEI community are invited to submit a proposal for this year's Teaching Community Conference, which will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 9:00 am. This year's theme is "Teaching at the Intersections: Inclusion, Accessibility, and Courage in Education." The Teaching Community Conference aims to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities of advancing teaching and learning at UPEI, giving staff and faculty opportunities to engage in dialogue and share their experiences of teaching at the intersections. 

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.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 28, 2025. Successful proposals will be announced by April 4, 2025. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to TLC@upei.ca. 

Proposals can be submitted here.

RSVP to attend the Teaching Community Conference.

The UPEI community was saddened to learn about the tragic passing earlier this month of UPEI student Michael Oppong-Ampomah as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Michael was expected to graduate with his Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Design Engineering this spring.

A Service of Remembrance will be held to honour Michael on Thursday, February 27, at 5:00 pm in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre. While Michael’s uncle from Ontario plans to attend the service, family from Ghana will travel to Charlottetown later in the spring.

A Book of Condolences has been set up in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre for anyone who would like to write a memory about Michael or a message to his family. It will be available to sign until the Service of Remembrance.

Counsellors with UPEI Student Affairs are available for students needing support through this difficult time. To make an appointment, please contact them at studentserv@upei.ca. UPEI students, faculty, and staff can also access resources on the Department of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights site while eligible employees can call the Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-387-4765 for support.

The Robertson Library would like to welcome everyone to come and have some free coffee or tea in the lobby on Friday, February 21. Bring your own reusable cup any time between 10:00 and 10:30 am to get your morning coffee or tea!

The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Monday, February 24, from 5:00-6:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street, Charlottetown. All are welcome.

During this gathering, we will discuss Mark Fisher's "Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" The following passages capture the spirit of the book:

"Without imagination we cannot see truly, for to be lukewarm in a glowing world is to miss the truth"—Ella Lyman Cabot, "Everyday Ethics"

"It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. After 1989, capitalism has successfully presented itself as the only realistic political-economic system - a situation that the bank crisis of 2008, far from ending, actually compounded. The book analyses the development and principal features of this capitalist realism as a lived ideological framework. Using examples from politics, film (Children Of Men, Jason Bourne, Supernanny), fiction (Le Guin and Kafka), work and education, it argues that capitalist realism colors all areas of contemporary experience [including mental health and our approaches to it], is anything but realistic and asks how capitalism and its inconsistencies can be challenged. It is a sharp analysis of the post-ideological malaise that suggests that the economics and politics of free market neo-liberalism are givens rather than constructions."

If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.

The University Award for Support of Student Success is presented to a UPEI employee who has made significant contributions to higher education by supporting student success.

Nominated candidates will have demonstrated a commitment to supporting student success at the University of Prince Edward Island. Among the factors to be considered by the Committee will be: evidence of demonstrated commitment (beyond the scope of one's job) to assist students to achieve their goals by enhancing a positive student experience at UPEI; and/or a commitment to lifelong learning and/or encouraging in others the desire to learn and/or volunteer.

• Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, or a combination thereof. Nominations must be supported by two nominators. At least one nominator must be a member of the faculty or staff of UPEI. 
• Nominations must include a dated statement of no more than two (2) pages proposing the nomination, describing and justifying the achievements in the category for which the application is being made. 
• Nominations must provide specific examples to support the nomination.

Nominations close on Friday, February 28, 2025

For more information this award and other awards including, eligibility and the nomination process, please click here