The University of Prince Edward Island takes centre stage at Calgary’s Glencoe Club on Saturday, November 3, when the Friends of UPEI gather to celebrate their university! This year’s event includes a fabulous dinner, a live and a silent auction, and music and stories by Hedgerow, one of P.E.I.'s best-known entertainment troupes.

Since the Friends of UPEI began in 1998, the group has raised over $600,000 for scholarships for students attending UPEI, invested through the Calgary Foundation that funds UPEI scholarships and bursaries in perpetuity. Since its beginning, the group has awarded almost $150,000 in scholarships to students attending UPEI.

Anyone interested in more information about the Friends of UPEI in Calgary should contact Kevin Lewis, Advancement Services, (902) 894-2888 or krlewis@upei.ca.

What some of our 2007 scholarship winners say about UPEI:

I came to UPEI because I wanted to attend a smaller university. I figured it would be a great opportunity to go to the Maritimes because I love the Island. I am glad I chose UPEI because f the small class sizes. You are not just a number to professors; they really care about your learning.-- Amy Hennebery, third-year English and Chemistry

Having been born and raised in Calgary, I chose UPEI because I wanted nothing more than to escape the huge city and live somewhere nice and quiet and small and peaceful. In the summer of my grade 11 year, my family travelled to PEI as part of a Maritime holiday, and I instantly fell in love with the Island. I decided right then that that was where I wanted to go to university. Four years later, I am still enamored with the Island. -- Caitlin Vavasour-Williams, fourth-year Biology (environmental ecology and wildlife conservation)

My mother is an alumna here and she really liked the idea of me attending UPEI. Initially I chose the school because of the small class sizes, which sounded perfect to me. I also have some family here, so a chance to be close to my grandmother was also very tempting. Now that I’m here, I choose to stay because of the small campus, great people, and excellent professors. All in all, it is just a great school! -- Joey Greco, second-year Business

Sponsored research income at the University of Prince Edward Island totalled $12.7 million in 2006, up a substantial 30.1 per cent over the previous year. UPEI's research accomplishments have placed the University in seventh position out of 20 primarily undergraduate universities across the country. It is the only university from the Maritimes that ranked in the top ten of the undergraduate category.

The figures have just been published in Canada's Top 50 Research Universities List 2007 prepared by Research Infosource Inc., Canada's premier source of R&D information. The report is based on statistics from 69 universities across the country.

"The Research Infosource report is a public way of recognizing what researchers, administrators, graduates, and students at UPEI already know: that our University has become a significant player in the development of new knowledge in our province, our region, and across Canada," says Dr. Katherine Schultz, Vice-President, Research Development at UPEI. "Our students and faculty are engaged in dynamic research projects that really matter to our society."

Researchers at UPEI are exploring a multitude of issues that touch us all, including human and animal health, milk quality, literacy and learning, small islands, watershed integrity, and the development and health of children and youth. They are contributing to discoveries related to school health, immigration, stroke, infectious diseases in marine life, cultural engagement, invasive species, animal movement, “green” chemistry,” and learning in a virtual environment.

Once again the University of Prince Edward Island has placed in the top ten of the country's 21 primarily undergraduate universities. UPEI was eighth overall in the annual Maclean’s rankings which were released today, November 8. This is the fifth year in a row that UPEI has been in the top ten.

Maclean’s magazine introduced a new method of collecting data this year causing some universities to drop significantly in the rankings while others have remained within one or two places of their 2006 results.

In the undergraduate category, UPEI placed fourth in Canada for its student-faculty ratio, fifth for student awards, and fifth for awards per full-time faculty. Among the nine Maritime undergraduate universities that were ranked, UPEI was in fourth position overall.

“We are very pleased to rank once again among the top ten in Canada,” says Dr. Vianne Timmons, Vice-President of Academic Development. “The Maclean’s report also included the results from the National Study of Student Engagement and they are even more encouraging because they are based on what university students really think about their educational experiences.”

The Maclean’s report drew attention to the level of satisfaction recorded by UPEI’s senior students in the National Study of Student Engagement (NSSE). UPEI was recognized as one of three notable exceptions to a national trend for students to become less supportive of their universities after completing their studies.

At UPEI, 87 per cent of students stated that they would select the same university again if they had the opportunity to start their degrees over. These figures are significantly above the North American benchmarks for student satisfaction. Ninety-one per cent of senior year students evaluated their experience as either good or excellent and they gave UPEI top marks in the country for student-faculty interaction.

The Maclean’s report also provided information about the composition of the student body at each university. The statistics reflected the increasingly diverse nature of the UPEI student community. 17.3 per cent of students came from out of province in 2006 and 8.7 per cent came from other countries.

Calgary, Alberta -- Wade MacLauchlan, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island, chats with Bill LeClair, founder of the Calgary Friends of UPEI; Bill Andrew, chancellor of UPEI; and George Rogers, a member of the Friends' organizing committee, at the group's annual fundraising event held in Calgary on November 3. Since the Calgary Friends of UPEI began in 1998, the group has raised over $620,000 for UPEI scholarships and bursaries in perpetuity, and has awarded almost $150,000 in scholarships to UPEI students. This year's event raised over $30,000 for the fund.

UPEI math students Mostafa Fatehi and Jonathan Murley, both of Charlottetown, earned some of the best marks ever by UPEI math students participating in an international math competition during a competition hosted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University recently.

This success comes hot on the heels of their second-place finish at the Atlantic Provinces Council on the Sciences’ 31st annual Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Conference held in Fredericton recently.

 The international math competition at Virginia Tech attracted 397 students from 67 schools from across the United States and Canada. The two-and-a-half-hour competition is often used by large schools to choose their best math students for upcoming competitions.

 A third-year math and physics student, Fatehi tied for 16th place with 40 out of 70 possible points.

 “This is the best score ever posted by a UPEI student in this contest,” says Dr. Dan Ryan, chair of the UPEI Mathematics and Statistics Department. “In the words of Dr. David Horrocks, the students’ math coach, ‘It’s exciting to see UPEI up there with the likes of Princeton, Duke, and Purdue!’ In fact, of the 15 who scored higher than Mostafa, most were from either Princeton or Duke.”

 Murley, a second-year math student, tied for 87th place, says Ryan, which is an excellent result for a second-year student.

 “To put the achievements of both these students into perspective, 58% of the students who wrote this exam scored 0 out of 70 possible points!”

 Competition results can be found at www.math.vt.edu/people/plinnell/Vtregional.

 Both students plan to return to the competition next year and look forward to the opportunity to compete with some of the best math students in North America. The Mathematics & Statistics Faculty are proud of their students and congratulate them on a job very well done.

Islanders have been keenly debating the impact of the fixed link before, during and after its construction. The Confederation Bridge's 10th anniversary, celebrated last May, spawned the latest series of reflections, including a scholarly book about the impact of bridging islands on PEI and on other islands around the world by UPEI professor Godfrey Baldacchino.

Discussing the pros and cons of fixed links was recently taken over to Japan, a sprawling island archipelago held together by bridges. Dr Baldacchino, who is Canada Research Chair in Island Studies at UPEI, was the distinguished guest speaker at a seminar organized by the Canada Project and the International Affairs Centre at the International University of Kagoshima (IUK), Kyushu Island, Japan, on October 27.

UPEI and IUK have a cooperation agreement that has seen many tangible benefits. IUK student Yoshiko Nishiyama spent a semester in Charlottetown in 2006, while three students from the UPEI School of Business (Neil Matheson, Kara Mackenzie and Erica Richardson) are currently enjoying a semester of studies and intercultural exchange at IUK.

The seminar included a musical performance by Amami Island singer Akemi Fuji, and brief presentations by the three UPEI exchange students about their experiences. The visit was coordinated by Professor David McMurray (who is Canadian) for the Canada Project and Director of the International Affairs Centre at IUK.

"During my presentation", explains Dr Baldacchino, "I outlined the complex relationship between isolation and integration that challenges every island community, and how different island people have seen a change in this relationship exacerbated by the construction of bridges, causeways or tunnels, linking their islands to mainlands: in tourism, trade, cost of property, environmental fall-outs and population change, to name a few. The Japanese were extremely attentive to such a critical assessment. They take bridges so much for granted in Japan, that they often fail to appreciate that there is an element of controversy surrounding their construction."

There were various opportunities to discuss further collaboration between IUK and UPEI during this visit. One of these includes research into the branding of Kyushu island products (such as the famous shochu alcoholic drink) and how this benefits from a close association with the branding of the island itself. Another is to engage faculty from UPEI's unique Master of Arts in Island Studies to spend time teaching at Kagoshima. Dr Baldacchino was kindly hosted to dinner during his visit by the Dean of Graduate Studies at IUK, Professor Megumu Kinugawa, during which time gifts were exchanged.

Dr Baldacchino's book Bridging Islands: The Impact of Fixed Links (2007) is published by PEI's Acorn Press and is available from local bookstores.

The University of Prince Edward Island is the top university in the Maritime provinces in terms of overall achievement and prospects for success and sustainability, but it faces serious challenges in today’s highly competitive and risky environment for Atlantic Canadian universities, said President Wade MacLauchlan in his annual University Update on November 22.

President MacLauchan’s address was attended by university students, faculty and staff as well as members of the general public, and is available on the Internet.

UPEI is very successful, particularly in enrolment, teaching, and research and development, but demographic and economic trends, relative to Canada and the world, are not working in favour of P.E.I. or the region, he said. It will take a strong sustained effort involving talent, focus and strategic investment if UPEI is to continue to thrive in the future.

He called on the provincial and federal governments to make comprehensive investments in education and research at UPEI on a scale equivalent to the commitment to establish a single provincial university 40 years ago. He suggested that multi-year investments of $60 to $100-million per year for five years from the federal and provincial governments, targeted at advanced education, research and innovation, including private sector innovation-based initiatives, are necessary if Prince Edward Island is to have a sustainable economy and make a difference in the world.

He challenged the community in general to support UPEI by surpassing the university’s Building a Legacy campaign’s $50-million target by the end of 2008. Funds from the campaign, now over the $40-million mark, support UPEI's research and teaching programs and facilities, including the establishment of funded chairs and enhanced funding for scholarships, especially for graduate students.

President MacLauchlan also highlighted some of UPEI’s recent accomplishments and priorities for the future, including maintaining current undergraduate enrolment through 2012-13; increasing numbers of international, mature and graduate students; tripling external research funding from $13.2 million to $40 million; and recruiting and retaining leading faculty who are committed to teaching and research excellence.

To view details of the University Update, please visit upei.ca and follow the link on the UPEI home page.

Dr. Ray Doiron, of the UPEI Faculty of Education, has been named one of the 2007 recipients of the Champion for Children Award.

Premier Robert Ghiz and Dr. David Wong, Chair of the Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development, announced the recipients of the Champion for Children Award on Monday, November 26.

A former public school teacher, Dr. Doiron has taught in the Faculty of Education since 1994. In recent years, he has done much to champion the cause of literacy and health literacy for children. Doiron has established countless initiatives and programs that involve children, parents, teachers, early childhood educators, community organizations and associations in learning about healthy living and learning.

A sample of research projects to his credit include 'Eating Between the Lines,' an early literacy healthy eating program for preschool children and their families; the impact of 'Project L.O.V.E.' on elementary children's literacy achievement; and 'Literacy in the Lives of Boys,' a school-wide, community-based study.'

He is an advocate for healthy child development issues including literacy and nutrition to policy makers. He was past chair of the PEI Literacy Alliance and co-director of PEI's Literacy Research Network.

The Champion for Children Awards celebrate the outstanding work and contributions made by individuals, organizations, communities and businesses who directly and positively impact the daily lives and future outcomes of young children and their families.

UPEI alumnus Danny Murphy, owner of DP Murphy Inc, and his wife Martie also were honoured with an award. The Murphys are strong supporters of UPEI as well as numerous organizations that benefit the Island community, particularly youth.

Other 2007 winners included kindergarten teacher Melissa Brownlow, of South Granville, and the Catholic Family Services Bureau.

Congratulations to Dr. Doiron, Danny and Martie Murphy, and all the winners!

UPEI alumnus and staff member Leo Cheverie recently received the 2007 Alumni Award by World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a leading Canadian development agency.

Involved with WUSC at UPEI for some 20 years, Cheverie is known for his participation in WUSC initiatives on campus, particularly the student refugee sponsorship program. This program allows student refugees from developing countries to resume their studies at Canadian universities. Some 45 student refugees from Africa and Asia enter Canada in a typical year.

WUSC local committees on campus must raise awareness of the student refugee sponsorship program and recruit sustainable financial support for it. Cheverie has played a vital role in all aspects of the student refugee sponsorship program at UPEI, from fundraising to helping student refugees adapt to their new environment socially, culturally and academically.

Cheverie graduated from UPEI in 1984 with a B.A. in history, and currently works on campus as a library technician at Robertson Library. He has been active in various social justice, labour and international development organizations on the Island and elsewhere for two decades.

A leading Canadian international development agency, WUSC is a network of people and post-secondary institutions whose mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training.

For information about the WUSC Local Committee at UPEI, contact Cheverie at lcheverie@upei.ca or 892-4404, or student co-chair Jennifer Morningstar at jmorningstar@upei.ca.