Overview: Communication is critical to success in every field, especially in business and the workplace. In this certificate program, participants will gain knowledge and practical experience in all key areas of communication, including proper workplace writing, public speaking and presentation skills, blog posts, websites, social media, and other forms of communication essential to functioning and growth in the professional world, as well as in-depth communication plans. This certificate is hybrid in nature; some content is online and asynchronous, and some content is in-person.

*Please note: If you already have completed the Intro to Workplace Writing course, you can take the rest of the certificate, and the price of the Intro to Workplace Writing course will be subtracted from the cost.

Designed for: People who deal with communication in businesses/organizations and in the workplace, from administrative professionals to communication officers, entrepreneurs, and executives

Type of Delivery: Virtual and in-person

Duration: Three courses for a total of approximately 28 hours

Facilitator: Christine Gordon Manley, Tracy Stretch, and Ann Worth

Cost: $1,800 for the entire certificate; $599 plus HST for Intro to Workplace Writing; $499 plus HST for Event Communication; $720 plus HST for Public Speaking Fundamentals

For more information, go to https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates/professional-communications-certificate 

The UPEI Chaplaincy Centre is crocheting a blanket in support of the 67 Blankets initiative, in memory of Nelson Mandela. Blankets are donated to people in need in South Africa.

We will gather to crochet together 11:30 am–12:30 pm on Tuesdays, beginning on October 18. Don't know how to crochet? No problem. There will be people to help get you started. All levels are welcome to join.

We are also gathering yarn and hooks to use in the project, if you have a few extras in your stash.

For more information, contact Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca

October 1 is Treaty Day and the start of Mi’kmaq History Month.

Mi’kmaq Treaty Day commemorates the key role of treaties in the relationship between the Mi’kmaq nation and the Crown, and the continuing importance of these treaties for Canada.

For more information on Treaty Day, visit https://lnuey.ca/treatyday/.

October is Mi’kmaq History Month, a time to promote awareness of Mi’kmaq treaties, culture, history, and heritage.

UPEI has stated in our “UPEI Strategic Plan, 2018–2023” that "UPEI is committed to advancing reconciliation through higher education. As a community, we have started a journey of growth to realize the role we must play in promoting an understanding of Indigenous history and culture, and supporting respectful relationships. UPEI recognizes that discussions in this era of truth and reconciliation will unveil difficult facts within our country’s history. However, in keeping with our institutional vision, we know that education is vital to understanding the history of colonialism and the forward-looking process of reconciliation. Working together, we must use knowledge as a catalyst for meaningful change in communities here in Prince Edward Island and around our world."

Check out our display of books on Mi’kmaq history from our Circulating Book Collection. Books in the display may be borrowed.

Because of the significant Mi’kmaq presence on Prince Edward Island (Epekwitk, often anglicized as “Abegweit”), many of our Library’s Mi’kmaq-related titles are housed in the PEI Collection (SPEC-PEI Location in the Library Catalogue). PEI Collection titles are available for consultation by anyone presenting a photo ID, but can only be used within the Library.

Check out the Library’s Indigenous Studies Guide and Mi’kmaq Research Guide for resources on Indigenous Studies.

The Indigenous Studies Research Guide, created by Courtney Matthews, subject librarian for Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies, is a living guide which supports UPEI’s new Faculty of IKERAS and its Indigenous Studies minor. Contact Courtney to schedule a research consultation or for further assistance.

The Mi'kmaq Research Guide highlights key resources that focus on the Mi'kmaq in Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada. The guide was created by Simon Lloyd, Special Collections Librarian. Contact Simon to schedule a research consultation or for further assistance. 

The 2022 Mi'kmaq History Month poster—Mi’kmaw Beadwork & the Art of Beading—is available from the Mi'kmaq History Month website.

This year’s poster honours and celebrates beading masters who have carried on beading traditions, designs and patterns through their ceremonies and art.

Catching up on assignments?  Starting early on assignments? Have something due immediately after reading week? The Writing Centre will be open all week except for Thanksgiving Monday for both in-person and online support.

Let our tutors help you get started, stay on track, revise your work, and answer your questions. Make an appointment at https://upei.mywconline.com/.

Enjoy your break!  May we all have good health and electricity.

The Search Committee for the Associate Vice-President Research and Dean of Graduate Studies announces an upcoming presentation by Marva Sweeney-Nixon, one of the short-listed candidates for this position. Dr. Sweeney-Nixon will deliver a Public Presentation on a Future Vision for Research and Graduate Studies at UPEI on Friday, October 7 at 2:00 pm in Andrew Hall, Room 142.

Dr. Sweeney-Nixon received her PhD degree in Neuropharmacology from Dalhousie University in 1989. Prior to joining UPEI in 1997, she held a faculty appointment in Physiology at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Sweeney-Nixon was promoted to Full Professor of Biology in 2014. She served as Department Chair of Biology during 2012 - 2019. As Chair, she led the Department's strategic plan, development of new programs (BSc in Biotechnology, BSc in Paramedicine) and a seven-year MPHEC Quality Assurance review of academic programs in Biology. In 2011, she received the UPEI Hessian Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching. From 2005–2008, she held the Jeanne and J.-Louis Lévesque Research Professorship in Nutrisciences and Health. Her research interests include cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, antioxidants, and diabetes, including 44 journal articles, 8 book chapters and $1.8M of research funding in these fields. She has contributed to the supervision of over 8 MSc students and 7 Research Assistants, and served on numerous supervisory committees at the MSc and PhD level.

All are welcome to attend. For any who are unable to attend, the presentations will be recorded and available afterwards for viewing from a secure site.

Written feedback on candidates can be submitted to Donna Lawless at dlawless@upei.ca by Friday, October 14, 2022. This feedback will be shared in confidence with the committee. 

Schedule and registration information for the Atlantic Association of Universities 2022 Teaching Showcase, Celebrating Success and Excellence in Times of Change, is now available. This year's showcase has a new format. Check out the showcase sessions here and here followed by a panel, Teaching with Impact, which includes UPEI colleague Dr. Andrew Zinck and two sessions with concurrent presentations. 

Each year, the AAU Teaching Showcase brings together faculty, academic librarians, graduate students, educational developers, and other professional staff interested in the quality of teaching and learning at universities in the Atlantic region. The showcase provides a forum to reflect on and critically examine teaching practice, share methods and strategies, and discuss issues related to university teaching and learning. 

Register Now!

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. UPEI will be offering its next ASIST workshop on Thursday, October 13, and Friday, October 14. This workshop has limited capacity and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. All other interested contacts will be included for future ASIST sessions. Please email ewhitrow@upei.ca to ask to join the workshop.

A reminder that the deadline for the 1st Semester (Fall) Award Cycle is Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 11:59 pm.

Most applications are accepted electronically through the Scholarship and Award Application portal. Be sure that you click the links provided on the webpage, review the award criteria, and follow the submission instructions. Submit your application by the extended deadline to be considered for over 100 scholarships and awards.

For questions about the application processes or award criteria, contact scholarships@upei.ca, or visit us in Dalton Hall, Room 202. Best of luck to all who apply!

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next presentation in the Environmental Sciences & Human Biology seminar series on Friday, October 7, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. in Duffy Science Centre, Room 204.

Mr. Aaron Ramsay, Shellfish Biologist, PEI Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, will present “The Vase Tunicate: Challenges for the Cultured Shellfish Industry and Recent Research to Mitigate its Impact.” 

All are welcome.

UPEI faculty and students are invited to register for a free online ACENET training session, "Introductory Programming with R," which will be held on October 11 and 13  from 12 noon to 6 pm.This is a beginner-level, hands-on workshop based on Software Carpentry materials (software-carpentry.org)  https://software-carpentry.org/  It covers the fundamentals of R, including data types, functions, importing, manipulating and analyzing data and data visualization, as well as program design, data management, and task automation. Participants will be encouraged to help one another and to apply what they have learned to their own research problems. The goal is to teach the practical knowledge needed to start programming, debugging and using R in everyday tasks.

DETAILS & REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/acenet-introductory-programming-with-r-tickets-413038628657 

The Health, Safety, and Environment department has moved to Kelley Memorial Building (KMB) 115-118 (previously Procurement Services). When you come in the east entrance of KMB, you can find us down the stairs to the right. 

All contact info for HSE remains the same so you may continue to email HSE@upei.ca or call the staff (check out the UPEI HSE website for individual contacts).

Drop by and visit anytime!

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. UPEI will be offering its next ASIST workshop on Thursday, October 13, and Friday, October 14. This workshop has limited capacity and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. All other interested contacts will be included for future ASIST sessions. Please email ewhitrow@upei.ca to ask to join the workshop.

The deadline for submitting applications and nominations for the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing has been extended to Friday, October 14, 2022, at 11:59 pm!

Returning undergraduate students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to apply for a MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing by submitting electronically to scholarships@upei.ca. Criteria and application forms for the four prize categories can be found through the links below. Note that there are numerous $500 awards available.

MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Community)
MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Course Work)
MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Faculty and Staff)
MacLauchlan Prize for Effective Writing (Webster Centre)

The family of Harry and Marjorie MacLauchlan of Stanhope PEI made another leadership gift to UPEI in July 2011 to create a substantial program of awards that encourages and recognizes student writing achievement. The gift honours H. Wade MacLauchlan’s twelve years of service as UPEI president and vice-chancellor and recognizes the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning.

The Scholarships and Awards Office is advising the campus community that the deadline for the First Semester (Fall) Award Cycle has been extended to Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 11:59 pm due to the University being closed because of tropical storm Fiona.

You can access over 100 scholarships and awards on the Scholarship and Award Application portal by clicking the link provided here or in the UPEI Forms section of your MyUPEI account. Review the application instructions and submit your electronic application by October 8 to be considered. Be sure to submit any saved applications you may have started. 

Dozens of awards are also available with a separate application process listed on the First Semester (Fall) Award Cycle webpage. Awards with an October 1 deadline will be considered extended until October 8. Be sure to click the links, review the award criteria, and submit for consideration. 

If you have questions about the application processes, award criteria, or deadlines, please contact scholarships@upei.ca or visit us in Dalton Hall, room 202 when we reopen October 3. Best of luck to all who apply! 

Registration has opened for the Atlantic Association of Universities 2022 Teaching Showcase Celebrating Success and Excellence in Times of Change. 

Each year the AAU Teaching Showcase brings together faculty, academic librarians, graduate students, educational developers, and other professional staff interested in the quality of teaching and learning at universities in the Atlantic region. The showcase provides a forum to reflect on and critically examine teaching practice, share methods and strategies, and discuss issues related to university teaching and learning. Information about the presenters and sessions will be posted soon.

Register Now! 

The UPEI Health & Wellness Centre will offer free flu vaccines on October 19 and 20. The clinics will be held in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre. The vaccines are for all students, faculty, staff, and their families. The clinics will be held on Wednesday, October 19, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, and Thursday, October 20, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The clinics will be first come, first served. Please bring a provincial health card. For international students who do not have a PEI health card, please bring your student ID.  

Overview: The Certificate in Customer and Client Service is designed to give the knowledge, skills, and tools for individuals to improve customer and client service within their organization. Not only are the benefits of improved customer and client service positive feelings and loyalty, but it also improves the workplace morale, which in turn leads to better production and results.

At the end of this certificate, participants will be able to elevate customer and client service both internally and externally within their organization, turn customer and client service failures into learning opportunities-–which will lead to positives--and create a culture that will make great customer and client service consistent and a priority among all members of an organization.

Designed for: All people involved with customer and client service, both in a retail and a multi-level organizational sense.  Especially relevant for all executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals who deal with other people within their workplace.

Type of Delivery: In-person

Duration: One course for a total of six (6) hours

Facilitator: Tracy Stretch

For more information, go to https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates/customer-and-client-service 

Do your eyes need a rest after the week we've just had? Try "Dark Mode" on your PC.

In Word's top-left corner, click “File.” From the sidebar on the left, choose “Account.” On the right pane, in the “Office Theme” section, click the drop-down menu and choose “Dark Gray or Black.” This disables light mode and activates dark mode.

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next presentation in the Environmental Sciences & Human Biology seminar series on Friday, October 7, 2022, at 12:30 p.m. in Duffy Science Centre, Room 204.

Mr. Aaron Ramsay, Shellfish Biologist, PEI Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, will present “The Vase Tunicate: Challenges for the Cultured Shellfish Industry and Recent Research to Mitigate its Impact.” 

All are welcome.

The Scholarships and Awards Office is advising the campus community that the deadline for the First Semester (Fall) Award Cycle has been extended to Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 11:59 pm due to the University being closed because of tropical storm Fiona.

You can access over 100 scholarships and awards on the Scholarship and Award Application portal by clicking the link provided here or in the UPEI Forms section of your MyUPEI account. Review the application instructions and submit your electronic application by October 8 to be considered. Be sure to submit any saved applications you may have started. 

Dozens of awards are also available with a separate application process listed on the First Semester (Fall) Award Cycle webpage. Awards with an October 1 deadline will be considered extended until October 8. Be sure to click the links, review the award criteria, and submit for consideration. 

If you have questions about the application processes, award criteria, or deadlines, please contact scholarships@upei.ca or visit us in Dalton Hall, room 202 when we reopen October 3. Best of luck to all who apply!