The Robertson Library’s OER Development Program is accepting grant applications for the creation or adaptation of open educational resources (OERs). The grant types include

• Open Educational Resource or Textbook Grant (up to $7,000) for the development of a new open textbook on a topic that is currently not covered by an existing open textbook, or major adaptations of existing textbooks;
• Open Textbook Adaptation Grant (up to $4,500) for the adaptation of one or more open educational resources or open textbooks to create a new version or edition of a resource (i.e. a Canadian edition of an existing open textbook);
• Supplementary Resources Grant (up to $2,500) for the creation of ancillary materials for existing open textbooks, including, but not limited to test banks, slide decks, recordings, or interactive media, etc. 

Applications that support first-year courses will be given priority as they reach the greatest number of students, but all applications will be reviewed and considered. The deadline for applications is January 31, 2025. For more information, or to apply, visit https://library.upei.ca/OERProgram/grants. 

Questions about your grant idea? Don’t need a grant, but you’d like to make an OER? Contact Keri McCaffrey, One Health and Scholarly Communications Librarian, at knmccaffrey@upei.ca or Charlene VanLeeuwen, UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre, at cvanleeuwen@upei.ca. 

The Department of Companion Animals will interview Dr. George Munguia for a tenure-track faculty position in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. Dr. Munguia will be on campus on Tuesday, January 28, and Wednesday, January 29, 2025. 

Dr. Munguia received his DVM in 2020 from the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI. He then completed a small animal rotating internship and is currently completing an MSc and clinical residency program in emergency and critical care at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. 

As part of the interview process, he has been asked to present a 50-minute seminar on two separate topics: the first, a topic that would be appropriate to teach to third-year veterinary students; the second, to present his research interests:

SEMINAR NOTICE - Dr. George Munguia

Initial Triage and Stabilization of the Acutely Seizing Patient

Shoot For The…Clouds: A Practical Approach to Clinically Relevant Research

Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 12:30 pm, AVC Lecture Theatre “A”

Any interested faculty and staff are invited to attend. A copy of his CV and cover letter will be available from Jill Blaquiere (jnblaquiere@upei.ca). 

Note to Professors and Course/Lab Instructors: 

Please add the testing information (date, test length, test format, aids allowed, test open or closed book, contact information, and test start time – we do not need the test file immediately) for any in-person quizzes, tests, and midterms for the Winter 2025 semester to Accommodate as soon as possible.   

Students who are registered with Accessibility Services and want in-person testing accommodations must submit a booking request at least seven days in advance. They cannot schedule their test until you have entered the testing information in Accommodate. 

You do not need to add the test file until a few days before the test date. If needed, changes can be made to test dates after testing information has been added. 

Below are some faculty how-to resources: 

How to schedule a test in Accommodate: Video | Step-by-step guide 

How to view student accommodations: Video | Step-by-step guide 

If you have any questions about adding a test in Accommodate or testing with Accessibility Services, please contact astesting@upei.ca. 

ITSS, including the helpdesk, will be closed from 2:15 pm to 3:45 pm on Thursday, January 23. During this time, you can still submit a ticket by emailing helpdesk@upei.ca or calling 902-566-0465. Thank you for your understanding!

ITSS Team

Most of us have experience using a computer, whether for school, work, or entertainment, but how many of us have actually had an expert teach us how to use it? When one of your computing devices goes wrong, do you struggle to understand why? Perhaps you do an internet search in the hope that someone else who has had the exact same problem as you found a solution that also works for you. It doesn't need to be (quite) this way. This talk doesn't teach you how to troubleshoot everything, but does give you insight into how media, programs, and data are encoded and used by computers so you can make more sense of why computers behave the ways they do and solve some of your problems with greater efficiency and less frustration.

We provide an approachable overview of how a computer works, by both looking at their history and breaking one down to explain individual components, before highlighting some of the tradeoffs to consider when buying a computer. We provide practical, simple, and actionable advice on digital security and show you a few "pro tips" on how to make the most of your workstation, phone, or whatever device you happen to use. Whether you have a lot or a little experience using your digital technology, if you want to learn how to use your devices more effectively, this workshop is for you!

Register at https://www.acenet.training/courses.

The Advisory Selection Committee for the Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer has undertaken a comprehensive search and has selected one finalist candidate. This individual will join the campus community for an in-person vision presentation as well as several small-group meetings (by invitation only) on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Candidate A: Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
In-Person Vision Presentation and Q & A

• Thursday, January 23, 2025
• 2:30–3:30 pm
• Duffy Science Centre, Room 135 (DSC 135)

While it is important for the campus community to have engagement in this process, at the same time, the candidate’s privacy must be protected as much as possible to lower the risk to their careers and existing organizations. Therefore, the vision presentation is in-person only and limited to current UPEI students, staff, and faculty. 

Members of the campus community are asked to keep all discussions and comments confidential and not share the name of the candidate during or after their visit to the University. Recording the presentation is strictly prohibited and no recordings will be distributed following the sessions. Paper copies of the candidate’s cover letter and curriculum vitae/resume will be available for attendees to review.

A feedback survey for Candidate “A”, available at this link, is in place for members of the campus community to provide their input and feedback following the vision presentation and small-group meetings until 5:00 pm, January 30, 2025.

Read the message from the President.

Dr. Charles Adeyanju, chair and professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will give a presentation entitled “Black African Immigrants in PEI: ‘Stayers,’ ‘Leavers,’ and ‘Commuters’” on January 24 at 2:30 pm, in SDU Main Building, Room 320.

“This paper uses semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with Black African immigrants in PEI, immigration officers, immigration consultants, community advocates, and international student advisors to investigate the experiences of Black African immigrants in Prince Edward Island, with a focus on their decision to stay in PEI or relocate to other provinces in Canada. Findings show that PEI is a stepping stone to Canada for many Black African immigrants, while unemployment and lack of compatriot communities in PEI are the major driving forces of relocation to other jurisdictions.  By and large, all categories of study participants— ‘stayers,’ ‘leavers,’ and ‘commuters’ have a positive impression of PEI.”

ITSS, including the helpdesk, will be closed from 2:15 pm to 3:45 pm on Thursday, January 23. During this time, you can still submit a ticket by emailing helpdesk@upei.ca or calling 902-566-0465. Thank you for your understanding!

ITSS Team

The UPEI Alumni Association Panther for Life Spirit Award is given to a current UPEI student (of no particular standing), who exemplifies true Panther pride inside and outside of the classroom. This individual has contributed to the campus community in a meaningful way, whether it be through their volunteerism, participation in UPEI-related events and activities, support of Panther sport, or any other significant way that makes them a strong ambassador for UPEI, both now and as a future Panther alumni.

The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event.

Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. Nominations must be received by February 28 at 4 pm to be considered for 2025.

To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award

For more information, email alumni@upei.ca

What is high performance computing (HPC) and what can it do for me? How can ACENET help? HPC is used by researchers across many disciplines to tackle analyses too large or complex for a desktop, or to achieve improved efficiency over a desktop. This session takes participants through the preliminary stages of learning about high performance computing (HPC) and computing clusters, and how to get started with this type of computing. It then reviews software packages available for applications, data analysis, software development, and compiling code. Finally, participants will be introduced to the concept of parallel computing to achieve much faster results in analysis. This session is designed for those with no prior experience in HPC, and are looking for an introduction and overview.

Register at https://www.acenet.training/courses.

Most of us have experience using a computer, whether for school, work, or entertainment, but how many of us have actually had an expert teach us how to use it? When one of your computing devices goes wrong, do you struggle to understand why? Perhaps you do an internet search in the hope that someone else who has had the exact same problem as you found a solution that also works for you. It doesn't need to be (quite) this way. This talk doesn't teach you how to troubleshoot everything, but does give you insight into how media, programs, and data are encoded and used by computers so you can make more sense of why computers behave the ways they do and solve some of your problems with greater efficiency and less frustration.

We provide an approachable overview of how a computer works, by both looking at their history and breaking one down to explain individual components, before highlighting some of the tradeoffs to consider when buying a computer. We provide practical, simple, and actionable advice on digital security and show you a few "pro tips" on how to make the most of your workstation, phone, or whatever device you happen to use. Whether you have a lot or a little experience using your digital technology, if you want to learn how to use your devices more effectively, this workshop is for you!

Register at https://www.acenet.training/courses.

The Advisory Selection Committee for the Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer has undertaken a comprehensive search and has selected one finalist candidate. This individual will join the campus community for an in-person vision presentation as well as several small-group meetings (by invitation only) on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Candidate A: Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
In-Person Vision Presentation and Q & A

• Thursday, January 23, 2025
• 2:30–3:30 pm
• Duffy Science Centre, Room 135 (DSC 135)

While it is important for the campus community to have engagement in this process, at the same time, the candidate’s privacy must be protected as much as possible to lower the risk to their careers and existing organizations. Therefore, the vision presentation is in-person only and limited to current UPEI students, staff, and faculty. 

Members of the campus community are asked to keep all discussions and comments confidential and not share the name of the candidate during or after their visit to the University. Recording the presentation is strictly prohibited and no recordings will be distributed following the sessions. Paper copies of the candidate’s cover letter and curriculum vitae/resume will be available for attendees to review.

A feedback survey for Candidate “A”, available at this link, is in place for members of the campus community to provide their input and feedback following the vision presentation and small-group meetings until 5:00 pm, January 30, 2025.

Read the message from the President.

The calls for 2025 undergraduate summer research awards programs have now been launched. Please visit the Undergraduate Research Opportunities page for more information on the following opportunities:

• NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards
• Engineering Undergraduate Research Awards
• Science Undergraduate Research Awards
• Undergraduate Student Research Awards for Black Student Researchers

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 21, 2025, by 4 pm.

An information session regarding undergraduate student research awards will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in Kelley Building, Room 210. Students and supervisors are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Leslie Cudmore, Research Grants Coordinator at lcudmore@upei.ca or 902-566-0709.

Dr. Charles Adeyanju, chair and professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, will give a presentation entitled “Black African Immigrants in PEI: ‘Stayers,’ ‘Leavers,’ and ‘Commuters’” on January 24 at 2:30 pm, in SDU Main Building, Room 320.

“This paper uses semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with Black African immigrants in PEI, immigration officers, immigration consultants, community advocates, and international student advisors to investigate the experiences of Black African immigrants in Prince Edward Island, with a focus on their decision to stay in PEI or relocate to other provinces in Canada. Findings show that PEI is a stepping stone to Canada for many Black African immigrants, while unemployment and lack of compatriot communities in PEI are the major driving forces of relocation to other jurisdictions.  By and large, all categories of study participants— ‘stayers,’ ‘leavers,’ and ‘commuters’ have a positive impression of PEI.”

The UPEI Alumni Association Panther for Life Spirit Award is given to a current UPEI student (of no particular standing), who exemplifies true Panther pride inside and outside of the classroom. This individual has contributed to the campus community in a meaningful way, whether it be through their volunteerism, participation in UPEI-related events and activities, support of Panther sport, or any other significant way that makes them a strong ambassador for UPEI, both now and as a future Panther alumni.

The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event.

Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. Nominations must be received by February 28th at 4 pm to be considered for 2025.

To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award

For more information, email alumni@upei.ca.

Most of us have experience using a computer, whether for school, work, or entertainment, but how many of us have actually had an expert teach us how to use it? When one of your computing devices goes wrong, do you struggle to understand why? Perhaps you do an internet search in the hope that someone else who has had the exact same problem as you found a solution that also works for you. It doesn't need to be (quite) this way. This talk doesn't teach you how to troubleshoot everything, but does give you insight into how media, programs, and data are encoded and used by computers so you can make more sense of why computers behave the ways they do and solve some of your problems with greater efficiency and less frustration.

We provide an approachable overview of how a computer works, by both looking at their history and breaking one down to explain individual components, before highlighting some of the tradeoffs to consider when buying a computer. We provide practical, simple, and actionable advice on digital security and show you a few "pro tips" on how to make the most of your workstation, phone, or whatever device you happen to use. Whether you have a lot or a little experience using your digital technology, if you want to learn how to use your devices more effectively, this workshop is for you!

Register at https://www.acenet.training/courses.

The Advisory Selection Committee for the Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer has undertaken a comprehensive search and has selected one finalist candidate. This individual will join the campus community for an in-person vision presentation as well as several small-group meetings (by invitation only) on Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Candidate A: Vice-President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer
In-Person Vision Presentation and Q & A

• Thursday, January 23, 2025
• 2:30–3:30 pm
• Duffy Science Centre, Room 135 (DSC 135)

While it is important for the campus community to have engagement in this process, at the same time, the candidate’s privacy must be protected as much as possible to lower the risk to their careers and existing organizations. Therefore, the vision presentation is in-person only and limited to current UPEI students, staff, and faculty. 

Members of the campus community are asked to keep all discussions and comments confidential and not share the name of the candidate during or after their visit to the University. Recording the presentation is strictly prohibited and no recordings will be distributed following the sessions. Paper copies of the candidate’s cover letter and curriculum vitae/resume will be available for attendees to review.

A feedback survey for Candidate “A”, available at this link, is in place for members of the campus community to provide their input and feedback following the vision presentation and small-group meetings until 5:00 pm, January 30, 2025.

Read the message from the President.

The calls for 2025 undergraduate summer research awards programs have now been launched. Please visit the Undergraduate Research Opportunities page for more information on the following opportunities:

• NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards
• Engineering Undergraduate Research Awards
• Science Undergraduate Research Awards
• Undergraduate Student Research Awards for Black Student Researchers

The deadline for applications is Friday, February 21, 2025, by 4 pm.

An information session regarding undergraduate student research awards will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in Kelley Building, Room 210. Students and supervisors are encouraged to attend.

For more information, contact Leslie Cudmore, Research Grants Coordinator at lcudmore@upei.ca or 902-566-0709.

Got a business idea you’re excited about? Join the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship for MiniPitch on Tuesday, January 21, from 5:30 to 7:00 PM! It’s a great opportunity for students to sharpen their presentation skills and develop new ideas. Prepare a three-minute pitch, face a three-minute Q&A, and participate in a two-minute feedback session to discover what you did well, where you can improve, and what steps you should take next to move forward with your idea!

The first eight presenters to register will have their spots booked, and we will have some wildcard spots at the event if you don’t get registered in time!

Sign up here!

To begin the Island Lecture Series for 2025, the Institute of Island Studies will be screening the short movie N'AP Boule (Through the Barricades), including a facilitated virtual conversation with the filmmaker Alexandrine Benjamin. This is a big birthday year for us--the Institute turns 40 years old in June--so please come out and join us for our first event!

FILM SYNOPSIS: In the midst of the treacherous social protests that have paralyzed Haiti for months, a modest couple must face blocked roads and murderous gangs in the hope of finding a place to give birth safely.

BIOGRAPHY: Alexandrine Benjamin is a Haitian filmmaker and holds a master's degree in film production from the University of Greenwich in England. Her works mostly focus on social justice issues such as human rights, gender violence, and insecurity. She recently directed N'AP Boule, an award-winning short film that tells the heartbreaking story of a pregnant Haitian couple looking for a safe place to give birth in the midst of the Haitian socio-political movement “peyilòk”. For more than five years, Ms. Benjamin acted as project manager for Lakou Kajou, an engaging media program produced by the small American media company Blue Butterfly, which raises awareness among Haitian children about literacy and maths, but more importantly about how to solve problems. The filmmaker is now producing her first feature film, “O Negatif”, promoting the full emancipation and inclusion of people living with HIV around the world. Alexandrine believes that education is the path to a better future for her home country, Haiti; and if her art can be a tool to this end, it is the way to go.