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. Please plan to join us and save the date in your calendars.  

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 Roundtable 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 for submissions is Monday, February 23, 2026. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to TLC@upei.ca.  

Proposals can be submitted here.  

Join the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation (MCLT) for a hands-on, creative student mixer on February 25, 2026, from 1:30–3:30 pm in McMillan Hall.

Open to all students (undergraduate and graduate), participants can sign up in teams of three to build sustainability-themed miniatures—such as green homes and pollinator gardens—while learning about the MCLT program.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, with additional door prizes, food, and a relaxed opportunity for students to connect and explore future pathways in sustainability and graduate studies.

The event is free to attend but space is limited, so sign up today: MCLT Mixer & Miniature-Making Event - Sign Up – Fill out form

Questions? Email cleantech@upei.ca

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, March 6 for the March meeting. 

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

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they 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 UPEI Alumni office invites members of the campus community to gather at the Fox and Crow and cheer on alumnus and former varsity curler Brett Gallant (BBA'19) as he competes in Men's Curling at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Wednesday, February 11, 2:05 pm 

Friday, February 13, 2:05 pm 

Fans are encouraged to wear green and white or Panther gear and to participate in door prize draws. 

Go Brett! Go For Gold!

Now Live: Low-Value, Low-Risk Fee for Service Process 
 
We are pleased to officially launch the new Low-Value, Low-Risk Fee for Service (FFS) Process, effective today, February 9, 2026. 

What’s Changing?

Under the new process, FFS engagements valued at $50,000 or less that meet established low-risk criteria no longer require FFS agreements.  

Documentation 

A process overview document explaining the new Low-Value, Low-Risk FFS Process, along with supporting materials to assist employees, is now available on the Procurement SharePoint. Departments are required to review these materials before initiating an engagement under the new process.  

Updates Based on Feedback 

We thank members of the campus community for the feedback shared throughout development, including during recent campus presentations and information sessions. This feedback has informed updates to our materials. The most up-to-date documentation is available on the SharePoint page. Reference documents include version dates to track changes, and significant updates will be communicated to the campus community. 

Questions, Support, and Feedback 

For questions or assistance with the new Low-Value, Low-Risk FFS Process, please contact the Contracts & Insurance Office at contracts@upei.ca. Our team is happy to provide general guidance and to assess specific scenarios on a case-by-case basis.  

The UPEI Office of Study Abroad & International Partnerships is excited to host a Study Abroad Information Session on Thursday, February 12, from 1:00-2:00 pm in the Robertson Library Annex, Room 209.  We will explain the different Study Abroad Programs, explore UPEI's various partner schools, discuss funding opportunities, share past student experiences, and answer any questions you may have! To claim a seat, please sign up here!

UPEI annually acknowledges individuals for their outstanding contributions to the success of the University. The awards are valued at $1,000 each and given in recognition of the excellence of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff.

Nominations are now open! This is your opportunity to celebrate the people and achievements that make a meaningful impact at UPEI. Please submit your nomination by Friday, February 27, 2026, by completing the online nomination form. 

Questions can be directed to universityawards@upei.ca.

For further details about the awards and the nomination process, please visit  https://www.upei.ca/president/university-awards-of-excellence

The campus community is invited to a Retirement Reception in honour of Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Director of Institutional Priorities and Government Relations, and former Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement. After years of dedication and commitment to UPEI, it's time for Myrtle to plant the seeds for her next project—retirement!

Please join us to extend best wishes and enjoy light refreshments.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 2:30-3:30 pm
Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship
Robertson Library Annex

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) is very pleased to be collaborating with the UPEI Student Union, Robertson Library, and Residence Life for Love & Sex Week 2026 (February 9 – 13)! Make sure to visit the Love & Sex Week Displays:

• In September, you wrote Love Letters to Survivors and we asked you what makes a relationship feel safe.  At the Robertson Library Display, you will see the Love Letters collage and photos of your friends sharing their thoughts on safe relationships. You can also grab a fun Word Search Puzzle and check out a great Love & Sex Week reading list.  
• In November, we asked you about green flags and red flags in relationships (signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships) - come see what you told us at the Student Union Building Display. Your responses were combined into flag banners!

On the evening of February 10, SVPRO will be hosting Undeadies!  This is a collaboration with Residence Life. Together, we will make strange and unusual creatures from thrifted stuffed animals (all supplies are provided) and we'll chat about communication and consent. You'll make a great gift for a bestie or your Boo! For more information, email: sv-pro@upei.ca (spaces are limited)

Keep an eye out for the Love & Sex Week schedule of events from the Student Union - there will be lots of fun opportunities to take part!

Don't forget that one of the most powerful ways to show love to your partners, friends, family, and your community is to prioritize consent, communication, and respect in all your interactions. Let's continue to build our culture of consent at UPEI. 

SVPRO is here to help. If you experience sexual violence or sexual harassment, you are not alone. You can reach us at sv-pro@upei.ca or 902-620-5090

The Office of Research Services and the Teaching and Learning Centre are collaborating to put on a workshop about incorporating equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) in Research*.   

Dr. Shilpa Dogra is Professor in Kinesiology in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. Dr. Dogra’s diverse research program has been funded by NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR. Some of her CIHR funded projects focus on the inclusion of older adults from equity deserving groups in research. She has co-authored papers on the development of a sex and gender-based analysis tool (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0323834), a call to action on Indigenization and EDIA (https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/22/6/article-p644.xml), and has served on several CIHR review panels, including the Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (REDI) Early Career Transition Award.   

Dr. Dogra will join Dr. Nola Etkin, Dr. Josh MacFayden, Dr. Marissa Clapson, Dr. Cinthya Guzman, and Research Grants Coordinator Leslie Cudmore for an interactive workshop on incorporating EDIA into grant applications.   

In this session, researchers will explore their positionality, integrate EDIA into their proposal and highly qualified personnel (HQP) sections, and leave with actionable material to include in their next grant application.  

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026 

Time: 10:00 am–12:00 pm 

Location: FSDE 128A 

Open to all faculty members. Please RSVP here: EDIA in Research Workshop – Fill out form 

Storm date: Friday, February 20, 2026, 1-3 pm. FSDE 128A

*This session was previously marketed as a Indigenization and EDIA in Research Workshop. However, due to scheduling conflicts, the Indigenization portion has been removed from this session. We hope to run a separate Indigenization in Research session in the future.   

Questions can be directed to Julie VanLeeuwen (jmvanleeuwen@upei.ca), Research Navigator. 

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

In honour of Apukna'jit and Indigenous Story Telling Month, we are hosting a "Sharing Our Stories and Apukna'jit Spirit Ceremony" event with local knowledge keepers, community members, and UPEI staff and students on Wednesday, February 10, from 12:30-3:30 pm in McMillan Hall, Room 110. Four local knowledge keepers will share stories in a sharing circle.

Apukna'jit is the spirit of the winter. In some ways, the tradition involves making offerings to Apukna'jit with the hope of a light winter and an early spring. We do so by making tobacco offerings and a plate of food to feed Apukna'jit. 

We have 30 seats available; others may stand outside the circle.

The Faculty of Education invites members of the campus community – students, faculty, and staff – to attend a public presentation by Elizabeth Blake outlining her research agenda and how the work contributes to and advances the field of French Education and related fields.  Elizabeth Blake is candidate for the conversion of a term position to tenure-track position in French Education (B2.6b). 

The presentation takes place on Monday, February 9 at 3:00 pm in Memorial Hall, Room 417. 

A Microsoft Teams link is available here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/25590255599880?p=8PWl2TS7sLsaySxVA4

Meeting ID: 255 902 555 998 80

Passcode: BY7Zg9Se

For further information, contact Karen-Anne O’Halloran.

Join us February 12, at 4:00 pm in SDU Main Building, Room 117 for the first SMCS Pizza Seminar of the semester! Dr. Alexander Alvarez will present his talk entitled "Does God Play Dice with Mathematics?" about the role randomness can play in our study of mathematics. There will be free pizza to follow. 

Join the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation (MCLT) for a hands-on, creative student mixer on February 25, 2026, from 1:30–3:30 pm in McMillan Hall.

Open to all students (undergraduate and graduate), participants can sign up in teams of three to build sustainability-themed miniatures—such as green homes and pollinator gardens—while learning about the MCLT program.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, with additional door prizes, food, and a relaxed opportunity for students to connect and explore future pathways in sustainability and graduate studies.

The event is free to attend but space is limited, so sign up today: MCLT Mixer & Miniature-Making Event - Sign Up – Fill out form

Questions? Email cleantech@upei.ca

The Health, Safety, and Environment Department (HSE) is offering Basic (previously called Emergency) First Aid/CPR training sessions on the following dates:

• February 19, 2026, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Registration cut off: February 10, 2026
• March 2, 2026, 8:30 am–4:00 pm. Registration cut off: February 20, 2026

**Seats are limited, please register early to guarantee your spot!

To register, please email HSE@upei.ca. Include your name, department, contact number and the session date you are registering for. 

The cost of registration will be covered by HSE for all UPEI faculty and staff, including students who require training for on-campus employment. Students who do not require training for on-campus employment are welcome to attend; however, the cost of registration will not be covered by HSE. 

Intermediate (Previously called Standard) First Aid/CPR training is a comprehensive two-day course that offers first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for those who need enhanced training as a work requirement. Please contact HSE at HSE@upei.ca if you require this training.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, March 6 for the March meeting. 

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

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they 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 campus community is invited to a Retirement Reception in honour of Myrtle Jenkins-Smith, Director of Institutional Priorities and Government Relations, and former Executive Director of Development and Alumni Engagement. After years of dedication and commitment to UPEI, it's time for Myrtle to plant the seeds for her next project—retirement!

Please join us to extend best wishes and enjoy light refreshments.

Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 2:30-3:30 pm
Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship
Robertson Library Annex

The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) is very pleased to be collaborating with the UPEI Student Union, Robertson Library, and Residence Life for Love & Sex Week 2026 (February 9 – 13)! Make sure to visit the Love & Sex Week Displays:

• In September, you wrote Love Letters to Survivors and we asked you what makes a relationship feel safe.  At the Robertson Library Display, you will see the Love Letters collage and photos of your friends sharing their thoughts on safe relationships. You can also grab a fun Word Search Puzzle and check out a great Love & Sex Week reading list.  
• In November, we asked you about green flags and red flags in relationships (signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships) - come see what you told us at the Student Union Building Display. Your responses were combined into flag banners!

On the evening of February 10, SVPRO will be hosting Undeadies!  This is a collaboration with Residence Life. Together, we will make strange and unusual creatures from thrifted stuffed animals (all supplies are provided) and we'll chat about communication and consent. You'll make a great gift for a bestie or your Boo! For more information, email: sv-pro@upei.ca (spaces are limited)

Keep an eye out for the Love & Sex Week schedule of events from the Student Union - there will be lots of fun opportunities to take part!

Don't forget that one of the most powerful ways to show love to your partners, friends, family, and your community is to prioritize consent, communication, and respect in all your interactions. Let's continue to build our culture of consent at UPEI. 

SVPRO is here to help. If you experience sexual violence or sexual harassment, you are not alone. You can reach us at sv-pro@upei.ca or 902-620-5090

This annual competition is a public recital showcasing five of the UPEI Music Department’s outstanding emerging artists who were selected in a preliminary round. This year's finalists are Seth Cudmore-Gallant (trombone), Sadie Ghiz (soprano), Amy LeBlanc (flute), Emi Smith (soprano), and Nathan Wright (alto saxophone). The top awards include a cash prize, and will be chosen by an adjudication panel consisting of distinguished members of PEI's musical community.

Friday February 6, 7:30 pm

SDU Stage at Steel Recital Hall (SB 224)

Admission is by donation at the door. FREE for all UPEI students with a valid ID.