The Honourable Allan Campbell, minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning, confirmed funding today of $300,000 per year for the Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology program at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Campbell made the announcement before a group of UPEI students, some of whom intend to apply to take the Kinesiology program this coming fall.

'By offering a degree program in Kinesiology,' Campbell says, 'UPEI is doing two important things-it is offering the opportunity to top-level training for careers in the sciences-and just as importantly, the program will train individuals to meet the health needs of Islanders.'

The program was approved by the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission in 2010, pending funding from the provincial government. It will be housed in the Family and Nutritional Sciences department, in the Faculty of Science, and is a four-year Bachelor of Science program.

UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan said, 'We thank the province for its support because we will be able to offer yet another high-quality program that allows students to acquire knowledge on the Island in this important field. This is another example of UPEI serving the educational needs of Islanders by providing a comprehensive education.'

Vice-President Academic Jim Randall added, 'The Kinesiology program will help provide a knowledgeable and skilled workforce, here on PEI, and in an area needing more and more qualified human resources, so we are very thankful for today's announcement.'

'We've been planning to add this area of study to our faculty for many years, as we know it will enhance our offerings in Family and Nutritional Sciences and, in general, health and wellness,' stated Dean of Science, Dr. Christian Lacroix. 'Kinesiology is a field that offers many opportunities for our students.'

Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics, is the science of human movement. It addresses the physiological, mechanical, and psychosocial mechanisms associated with human movement. Kinesiology graduates are exposed to a wide range of potential career opportunities in fields such as education, health promotion, rehabilitation, fitness assessment, and community program development. Students may continue their studies in graduate or professional programs such in physiotherapy, occupational therapy or education.

To apply to UPEI's Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology program, click here.

Creating a portfolio can be a life changing experience and UPEI's Bachelor of Integrated Studies 193 (BIS 193) can be the first step. For Islanders embarking in a new direction or starting a new profession, organizing one's achievements into a portfolio can lead to professional success.

There might be a lifetime of stories to tell and a portfolio allows those stories to be passed on to one's children and grandchildren. Students already attending university might want to take a course in the summer and not want to travel to Charlottetown. And then there are still others who are interested in going to university but want the learning that they gained in the workplace to count for academic credit. In fact, there are all sorts of reasons why Islanders might want to take UPEI's BIS 193.

Bachelor of Integrated Studies 193, offered in O'Leary in May and June, provides adults with an opportunity to take a university course where they use their prior workplace learning and knowledge to gain additional university credits. Using Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) principles, UPEI recognizes that Islanders have acquired many skills and competencies in their workplace. By developing a portfolio that captures these skills, Islanders can acquire a head start to earning a Bachelor's degree.

'For adults with work and family commitments, this is an ideal opportunity to begin taking university courses within West Prince,' said Dr. Richard Kurial, dean of Arts at UPEI.

Dr. Kurial noted that the University is interested in offering additional courses in West Prince, but this course has proven very attractive to many adult learners. Often, adults who have been thinking of going to university are hesitant to make that first step. The BIS 193 course makes the transition easy because developing a portfolio appeals to all kinds of people for many different reasons.

'The difference with the BIS 193 course is that beyond learning and sharing, this course is a lot of fun. When you think about it, we have already acquired significant knowledge and skills in our working lives. What this course does is give students an opportunity to share their knowledge too but in a format that highlights all those achievements.'

The course begins Tuesday, April 26 and runs every Tuesday from 6 to 9 pm through May and June. The location for the class is Future Tech West in O'Leary. It will be taught by Janice McKendrick, formerly of West Prince. Course registrations for the summer session at UPEI begin March 29th.

If you require further information, please contact Dr. Richard Kurial, Dean of Arts at 566-0310 or rkurial@upei.ca. Click here for additional information for adult learners interested in applying for PLAR.

The UPEI Wind Symphony will perform its final recital of the academic year - Freebirds - on Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 pm at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall to a sellout crowd. This has been a particularly successful year for the Wind Symphony with highly acclaimed performances of Angels in the Architecture, the release of its O Canada CD for Island public schools in February, and the receipt of the 2011 Music PEI Award for Best Classical Recording in January.

Two of Canada's finest clarinetists - Jana Starling, assistant professor at Arizona State University, and Wesley Ferriera, lecturer at Mount Allison University - will be featured in this recital performing Freebirds, a double concerto, by the American composer Scott McAllister. This happens to be one of several clarinet works of McAllister's which are somewhat jazz and rock-inspired. Freebirds takes its title and inspiration from the album by the iconic southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. A driving, ecstatic showpiece, the work begins with a cadenza-like passage for the soloists, takes the listener through some high beautiful lyrical passages and ends in a virtuosic cadenza. This piece grabs hold of the listener and never lets go.

This recital will also feature other contemporary works for the modern wind band by Canadian, English, American and Mexican composers. Frenergy, by Canadian composer John Estacio, gets its title from an amalgamation of the words 'frenetic' and 'energy'. The tempo for this short concert opener is brisk and the pacing of melodic ideas is frantic as befitting the title. John Mackey, an American, wrote a march titled Xerxes. Marches are prevalent in the wind band medium, typically cheerful and, in many cases, patriotic. Xerxes breaks this definition in that, like the nasty Persian ruler of the same name from 500 BC, it is angry. The dissonant harmonies, wide-skipping melodies, percussion colours, and soloistic passages make for an engaging listen. ‘The Courtly Dances' by English composer Benjamin Britten are written in Renaissance style. Taken from Brittten's opera Gloriana, these dances represent those typically found throughout the courts of sixteenth century Europe.

The Wind Symphony will have its first sojourn into the music of Mexico with its rendition of Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez. This contemporary Mexican music expresses and reflects on a dance style called danzón, which has its origins in Cuba but is a very important part of the folklore of the Mexican state of Veracruz. Influenced by the habanera and tango, listeners will be enthralled by the infectious, sexy salsa rhythms.

This recital will be the final Wind Symphony performance for three of its graduating students - Troy Martin, clarinet; Thayne Campbell, bass trombone; and, Miranda Godkin, trumpet. All three have made significant contributions to the Music Department, and the Wind Symphony in particular, throughout their undergraduate careers.

This recital has generated much interest and was sold out as of mid-March.

High school students are raring to study at the University of Prince Edward Island according to current application statistics-confirming the importance students place on a post-secondary education offered by the Island's only university.

As of March 29, UPEI had received 4.3 percent more applications from Canadian high school students, and 7 per cent more applications from PEI high school students, compared with the same date last year. In total, of 15 public and private schools on PEI, 735 Island high school students-versus 687 last year-have already applied to UPEI.

UPEI's Vice-President Academic Jim Randall says, 'We have been following recent reports that indicate university enrolment in Canada has reached record levels and are encouraged that students are continuing to look to UPEI to meet their post-secondary education goals. We now need to keep working to make UPEI the university of choice for these applicants. I am confident that the growing reputation of UPEI, both in terms of quality of instruction and greatly expanded program choices, will continue to make the difference for these students.'

Even more significant than provincial applications are those coming out of Ontario showing that 33% more high school students have applied to study at UPEI as compared with last year. This follows a rising trend in Ontario-in a report released in January by the Ontario Universities Application Centre, it indicated a 2.2 per cent increase in Ontario university applications, even after the double cohort years when there were Ontario high school graduates from both grades 12 and 13.

'Although the number of high school graduates in PEI is expected to drop in the coming years, experts predict overall enrolment numbers to continue to rise across the country as students of all ages recognize the numerous career and social benefits a university degree offers,' Randall added. 'With the rise in applications, especially from PEI and Ontario, we are focusing recruitment and conversion efforts to continue this trend into future years for UPEI.'

This Monday, April 4th, the Faculty of Science will hold its annual Graduate Studies Day at the K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre, room 104.

Beginning at 10:00 am, opening remarks by UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan, AVP Graduate Studies Dr. Brian Wagner and Dean of Science Dr. Christian Lacroix will set the stage for a day-long event that showcases the best of graduate student research in the Faculty of Science.

Dr. Sunny Hartwig, assistant professor at the Atlantic Veterinary College, will deliver the keynote address 'Understanding kidney stem cells and disease' followed by five student oral presentations and a poster presentation session on topics ranging from insect ecology to applied optics.

For a list of titles and abstracts, click here. To see the promotional flyer, click here.

Graduate Research Day for the Master of Arts in Island Studies was held on March 10. Upcoming graduate research events include:

• Education, April 27, Rodd Royalty Hotel, Charlottetown
• Atlantic Veterinary College, May 12-13, AVC Lecture Theatre
• Graduate Research Recognition Day, May 25, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, UPEI

Sharon MacLeod, brand-building director for Unilever Canada and the creative expert behind the Dove Canada brand will be the guest speaker at the fourth instalment of the ‘Spotlight on Student Engagement Series.' The event will take place on Tuesday, April 5, 2:30 pm in AVC Lecture Theatre A.

In her presentation entitled, The Way a Woman Leads, MacLeod will share how Dove challenged conventions with the ‘Campaign for Real Beauty' and helps girls reach their full potential through the Dove self-esteem fund. She will share her experience as a marketer, leader, and businesswoman.

MacLeod is best known for her expertise in consumer behaviour and her creativity. A true visionary in her field, MacLeod challenges traditional marketing and business practices, believing that professionals like her can extend the power of brands to positively impact the lives of women everywhere.

But the story doesn't end there - in fact, MacLeod's passion for helping women overcome obstacles, be proud of who they are, and aspire for something greater in their own lives started at a very early age.

Having lost her mother as a young child and growing up in a small town with three older brothers, MacLeod worked hard to follow her own path. She became the first person in her family to graduate from university, earned a Master of Science in Consumer Studies, and went on to teach the subject at Wilfred Laurier University.

Her work with Unilever has been recognized by consumers and industry peers alike. Accolades include two Grand Prix awards at Cannes Advertising awards for Dove's digital film Evolution and the title of ‘Brand of the Decade' for Dove by Strategy Magazine.

Today, as the director for Dove, Skin Care and Household Cleaning in Canada, MacLeod continues to blaze new trails and educate and inspire women.

For more details about the Student Engagement Speaker Series, please click here. Everyone is welcome.

Valerie Compton, born and raised on PEI, has recently published her first book, Tide Road, a historical novel set on the Island. She will give a public reading on Monday, April 11, at 7:30 pm, in the Faculty Lounge, Main Building at UPEI. A book signing and reception will follow. Her reading is sponsored by the UPEI English Department.

Sonia, the main character of Tide Road, is a widowed farm wife and former lighthouse keeper. When her daughter Stella disappears, leaving her toddler and husband behind, Sonia faces the possibility that her daughter may not have slipped through the ice. She may have been pushed. Sonia's past, a flotsam of lost dreams, bruised hopes, and buried love, wells up to meet her. Confronted with her own history of choices and failures, Sonia is compelled to revise her perception of her daughter's life and dramatically change the way she lives her own.

Through Sonia's memories, struggles, and transformation, Compton vividly re-creates a half-century of authentic Island life. Her characters vibrate with the reality of human experience. Compton is a strong new voice of the Island, joining J.J. Steinfeld, Michael Hennessey, Elaine Hammond, David Helwig, Hugh MacDonald, Orysia Dawydiak, Margie Carmichael, Steven Mayoff, and others imaginatively evoking Prince Edward Island in their fiction.

Compton now lives in Halifax, where she writes and teaches fiction writing. Her stories have appeared in numerous literary journals, and her articles and reviews have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Gourmet Magazine, The Ottawa Citizen, and Quill & Quire.

The UPEI Board of Governors recently approved the human resources committee's recommendations for dean of Arts, dean of Business, and the dean of Nursing.

Dr. Don Desserud is the next dean of the Faculty of Arts. Desserud is currently a full professor in Political Science at UNB Saint John, the director of the Urban and Community Studies Institute, and also served as associate dean of Graduate Studies. He will join UPEI on July 1, 2011.

UPEI Vice-President Academic, Dr. Jim Randall said, 'Dr. Desserud brings to UPEI considerable experience in academic administration as well as a passion for the Arts. Given Don's many public roles in the community, he also presents a strong voice for the role of the Arts in our broader society.'

Alan Duncan will begin his appointment as dean of the School of Business also on July 1, 2011. Duncan is currently an assistant professor in the School Alan Duncan is the new dean at the UPEI School of Business, effective July 1.of Business at UPEI and the director of International Relations for the School. He brings to the position a significant record of senior management experience and success in the business community.

'In addition to a growing understanding of a university setting, Alan brings to the position of dean a wealth of experience as a senior business leader in Canada and overseas,' said Randall. 'In the short period of time that Alan has been with the School of Business at UPEI, he has already made an impact on the lives of students, on the development of relationships within the local community and on the realization of the university's international objectives.'

Dr. Kim Critchley, current dean of Nursing, was renewed for a second appointment. Dr. Critchley has been dean since 2005, was acting dean in 2004, and joined UPEI as a professor of Nursing in 1996.

Dr. Kim Critchley has been re-appointed dean of Nursing.Randall commented, 'It gives me great pleasure to know that we are able to renew Dr. Critchley's appointment as dean of Nursing. During the time she has led the School, it has expanded tremendously, both in terms of numbers of students serving PEI, the number of specialized programs, and the School's relationship with the broader Island health community. I am pleased that Kim is going to be able to continue to lead the School of Nursing as it moves into a new building and begins to provide graduate level education.'

About Dr. Don Desserud

Don Desserud is currently the director of the Urban and Community Studies Institute as well as professor of Political Science at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. He has also served as associate dean of Graduate Studies and as chair of the Department of History and Politics.

Originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick, Don has a BA and MA from Dalhousie University, and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. He also has an MA in English and Creative Writing from UNB. Don's research interests include parliaments and legislative assemblies. He frequently comments on political issues on local and national media.

He and his partner Robin are very excited about the prospect of moving to Charlottetown. Describing UPEI as an excellent university situated in a gem of a city, Don is also looking forward to working with UPEI's faculty, staff, and students.

About Alan Duncan

Alan Duncan is currently assistant professor at the UPEI School of Business.

A chartered accountant with over 25 years' experience in the international financial services and pensions industries, Alan was a senior executive with companies in Canada and abroad where he focused on establishing new businesses in new and expanding markets.

Since joining the faculty at UPEI, Alan has been instrumental in forming links with other schools of business as well as with accounting organizations like CMA, which recently granted accreditation to UPEI. He looks forward to continue to work with faculty, staff, and students in his new role.

About Dr. Kim Critchley

Dr. Kim Critchley is the dean of the UPEI School of Nursing.

Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, and after nursing and teaching for several years in Alberta and British Columbia, Kim joined the UPEI faculty in 1996. She has a BSc Nursing from St. Francis Xavier University, a master of Nursing from the University of Calgary, and her PhD from the University of Helsinki in Finland.

Her clinical areas of expertise are emergency and critical care nursing. Primary health care, cardiovascular rehabilitation, aboriginal and international children's health are her research areas of interest. Kim also serves as the UPEI principal for the Atlantic Regional Training Centre that offers a master in Applied Health Services Research among four Atlantic universities.

Kim has played a key role in establishing the accelerated bachelor of Nursing and master of Nursing programs, and in securing a new facility for the School of Nursing, now under construction. She looks forward to beginning her new appointment as the School moves into its new building and into expanded programming.

UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan says today's provincial budget, that includes a 3 per cent increase to UPEI's operating grant, will help to address cost pressures, plus growth in enrolments and research.

'UPEI appreciates the increase in support from government,' MacLauchlan said. 'Today's provincial budget affirms the University's role and mandate, and we look forward to delivering on those expectations.'

He added, 'Today's announcement now permits us to move forward with developing the University's budget which will be presented to the Board in early May. It still involves continuing belt-tightening for the University, which we accept in challenging fiscal times.'

To view the 2011/12 provincial budget on the Government of PEI website, click here.