UPEI is gearing up to welcome incoming first-year students with a number of services and support offerings available on Saturday, September 1 from 9 am-3 pm. For the first time, the University will host New Student Orientation (NSO) Welcome Day, to give students and their families a chance to get oriented to campus and meet a number of staff and faculty who will support them throughout their university studies.

The beauty of NSO Welcome Day is that it brings all student supports and services to one area on campus -Don and Marion McDougall Hall and Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall-so that students can 'one-stop shop' and be ready to go even before classes officially start on Wednesday, September 5. Students can take a campus tour, get their student ID cards, pay for tuition and other fees, shop at the Bookstore, sign up for NSO activities/pick up NSO packs, register/change courses, purchase a meal plan, buy a parking pass, join a society or club, move into residence, check out the fitness centre and its programs, pick up student handbooks, find out about tutoring, the library, and other supports and resources, and much more! A barbecue will be held outside McDougall Hall from 12-2 pm.

After taking advantage of supports and services available during the day, students can continue right into NSO Week activities that begin at 4 pm and continue through to September 6. NSO Week is said to be the most spirited week of the year with welcome events to bring students together and build friendships with individuals from all years, faculties, and schools. NSO events include team meetings, PlayFair, pool and dance parties, breakfast/picnics and mass, scavenger hunts, hypnotist visits, and more. Students will fundraise all week for Shinerama, a national campaign that raises awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis treatment and research. The event raised a record-setting $32,000 last year and is a great way for students to discover the community and support a great cause.

For more information on NSO week activities, visit upei.ca/nso. Click here to view the UPEI campus map to get accustomed to campus places and spaces. The University looks forward to meeting new students and their families at upcoming NSO events!

The University of Prince Edward Island received this year's APPA Sustainability Award in the Small Colleges and Universities Institutions category. APPA supports educational excellence with quality leadership and professional management through education, research, and recognition.

APPA's newest award, the Sustainability Award in Facilities Management is designed to recognize and advance sustainability excellence in educational facilities. This award recognizes the facilities management department that has integrated sustainable policies and 'green' practices throughout all facets of its organization and embedded them within the educational institution.

Facilities Management initiatives include energy management, resource conservation, waste management, improved energy efficiency of buildings, improved maintenance and cleaning practices, implementation of sustainable landscaping, and construction. Last year, UPEI also achieved BOMA Building Environmental Standards (BESt) Certification from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada environmental certification for 22 of its campus buildings.

Greg Clayton, Director of Facilities Management said, 'We are excited to be recognized this year by APPA. This award is a result of hard work by a campus community, including Facilities Management, which has embraced sustainability concepts and practices over the years. We are pleased to be considered as a sustainability leader within higher education and our profession.'

'This award validates all the hard work and effort of the last number of years and provides motivation to continue improving sustainability on campus,' said David Taylor, UPEI's Manager of Environmental Services. 'With APPA being such a large organization, representing facilities management professionals from across North America, it's also very humbling.'

APPA is committed to supporting its members' ability to create and maintain sustainable campus environments.

Staff and faculty welcome all new and returning students to the University of Prince Edward Island. As we begin the 2012-13 academic year, the University continues to focus on the enhancement of student supports and improving the student experience so that all students feel at home. When better supported by the campus community, students will achieve success.

We welcome international and exchange students to campus on Friday, August 31 during a full-day International Student Orientation (ISO) event from 9:00 am-10:00 pm. Students are encouraged to attend a breakfast with ice breaker games, a picnic, city and scenic tours, and evening activities. Students will also learn about the International Student Connections 'Buddy' Program which offers assistance for a smooth transition by matching new students with returning local or international students. 'Buddies' help students adapt to a new country, culture, and environment. ISO is an opportunity for students to meet international peers and support staff before diving into New Student Orientation (NSO) week activities which kick-off on Saturday, September 1 with NSO Welcome Day.

NSO Welcome Day is a first-time event that brings together a number of services and support offerings in two areas on campus-Don and Marion McDougall Hall and Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall-so students can 'one-stop shop' and be ready to go before classes start on Wednesday, September 5. For more information on NSO Welcome Day, click here.

Organized by over 100 upper-year students, NSO Week also takes place September 1-6 and is said to be the most spirited week of the year. For a full list of NSO events and activities, visit upei.ca/nso.

UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) also welcomed its students to campus last week at its annual Blue Coat Ceremony which celebrates the students' achievements in joining the ranks of veterinarians in training. Vet students began classes on Monday, August 27.

New UPEI students will fundraise all week for Shinerama, a national campaign that raises awareness and funds for cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment and research. The event raised a record-setting $32,000 last year and is a great way for students to discover the community while at the same time, support a great cause.

Students attended a Shine Day Kick-Off event this morning at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre where they 'amped' up to collect some cash.

Christie Jay, who has CF and hopes to attend UPEI next year, related what it means to have CF and how she deals with it day to day. She explained, 'I have to take a number of drugs and vitamins every day to lead as normal a life as I can, and to prevent difficult breathing and side effects like reflux.'

Several dignitaries then joined in the kick-off, and had their shoes shined to officially start the campaign collections. Charlottetown MP Sean Casey, UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, along with VP Academic Christian Lacroix, VP Research Robert Gilmour, and VP Administration and Finance Jackie Podger, witnessed the enthusiasm and heard the Shinerama chants of the first-year students.

UPEI will join more than 35,000 post-secondary students from over 60 colleges and universities across the country as they take part in the largest post-secondary fundraiser this week. Keep your eyes and wallets open for energized students as they canvass around Charlottetown-look for orange and blue!

Stay up-to-date with the Shinerama progress by visiting their blog here.

Best of luck to all Shinerama participants; let's contribute to another successful campaign!

UPEI welcomed hundreds of new students and their families to campus on Saturday, September 1. For the first time ever, the University hosted New Student Orientation (NSO) Welcome Day, which gave students a chance to get oriented, meet other students, and get acquainted with staff and faculty who will offer guidance and support during their time at UPEI.

The first-year students were able to 'one-stop shop' all things UPEI as they went on campus tours, paid for their tuition and other fees, got their ID cards and meal plans, registered for courses, and much more. With the Bookstore open, a number of shopping bags were seen being carried by students and parents alike.

Staff and faculty from all service areas were onsite to help ease the student transitions to university. NSO leaders were also in attendance to give out NSO packs and get students excited for activities taking place Sept 1-6. Student societies were also on hand to let students know how to take part in rewarding extracurricular activities.

Kathy Kielly, UPEI Registrar, said in an interview on Saturday with The Guardian, 'We wanted to just throw the doors open to students and parents. We are all here to serve the students and there is a lot of excitement around.'

On Friday, August 31, the University welcomed international and exchange students to campus during a full-day International Student Orientation (ISO) event. Activities included a breakfast with ice breaker games, a picnic, city and scenic tours, and evening activities.

Click here for more information on upcoming NSO activities.

UPEI women's rugby team will honour former player Jessica MacDonald at their season opener against St. Thomas University on Saturday, September 8 at 3:00 pm. MacDonald will be honoured at a special ceremony before the game at 2:45 pm. Following the rugby game, alumni, family, and friends are invited to a reception at The Wave, UPEI's campus pub.

MacDonald, a public affairs contractor with the Department of National Defence, just returned home after a seven-month deployment in the Arabian Sea. She credits the education she received at UPEI for her strong writing and communications skills. She also believes her time playing rugby contributed to her success. 'The toughness and ability to push myself in rugby are skills I use often when deployed. The friendships and memories from athletics at UPEI are also top of mind when times are tough.'

MacDonald played rugby for the University as well as hockey for two seasons. As a determined dual athlete, MacDonald earned UPEI's Female Athlete of the Year in the 2004-05 athletic season, the only women's rugby player to ever receive the honour. During her time playing rugby for UPEI, she was also a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) All-Canadian in 2004, an Atlantic University Sport (AUS) All-Star in 2004-05, and a recipient of the team's Most Valuable Player award.

"We hope to see lots of alumni, family, and friends out for the game as we celebrate Jessica's time at UPEI,' said head coach Shannon Atkins. 'We are looking forward to our home opener on Saturday and we're hoping to start the season on a winning note.'

MacDonald coached rugby at the high school level and is a former UPEI assistant coach. She holds a bachelor of arts degree from UPEI, a bachelor of education degree from Memorial University, and will begin her master's degree in communication at Royal Roads University this fall.

The UPEI men's basketball team is excited to announce that Nova Scotian native Mandrez Downey will be joining the Panthers for the 2012-13 season. The Cole Harbour District High School graduate was MVP of the Metro High School League, leading the league twice in scoring.

Downey was also a starting player for Nova Scotia's entry in the 2009 Canada Games, playing a key role in the team's silver medal finish. At the national level, Downey has received tryout invitations for the cadet and junior men's national teams.

UPEI head coach Tim Kendrick has extreme confidence in Downey, having coached him previously with the Nova Scotian Canada Games team. 'He is a combo guard that can really shoot the ball. More importantly, I know he is a determined young player who will give us his all, both on the court and in the classroom,' said Kendrick.

Downey is excited and eager to get started with the Panthers this fall. 'I'm very happy to be at UPEI and to be playing again for Coach Kendrick,' he said. 'I know I will become a better player here, and will do my best in school and on the court to support my teammates.'

The Panthers begin the exhibition season by hosting the Mickey Place Basketball Tournament, October 12-14, with teams from across Canada competing in the event. Season passes are now on sale, which include admission to the tournament-contact (902) 566-0432 or pantherpass@upei.ca.

UPEI's Department of Music Recital Series begins its 2012-13 season on Saturday, September 15 at 7:30 pm, in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, with Clarinet Spectrum: Lyrical Traditions, featuring the faculty duo of clarinetist Karem J. Simon in collaboration with pianist Frances Gray.

As its title suggests, this performance will showcase many lyrical pieces from the clarinet repertoire, including two masterworks for clarinet and piano. Francis Poulenc's Sonata was among the last pieces written by this French composer. It is imbued with typical French flare capturing the salon style of mid-twentieth century France. Poulenc, a pianist, exploits the technical and expressive qualities of the clarinet supported by idiomatic piano effects.

Johannes Brahms wrote two sonatas for clarinet and piano as a result of his fascination with Richard Mühlfeld, one of the leading clarinetists of the late nineteenth century. Mühlfeld was an accomplished violinist, but was able to play the clarinet so well that he assumed the principal chair of the Meiningen Orchestra, among the finest European orchestras of its time. It is believed that he possessed a compelling artistry, which inspired Brahms to suspend his retirement and compose some of his finest chamber music. The two Sonatas Op. 120 integrate clarinet and piano seamlessly as it is the resulting composite that is truly remarkable. Brahms was a virtuoso pianist with particularly large hands and both sonatas place immense demands on the pianist. That Brahms, himself, participated in the first performances of these sonatas is indicative of the high regard he had for them. While the first sonata, which Simon and Gray performed this past summer, is the more passionate of the two, the second-featured during this recital-is much more intimate. Brahms uses the melancholy character of the clarinet tone to weave melodies spanning several octaves that evoke moods that are warm and welcoming. The dialogue between clarinet and piano represent deeply profound yet highly sensitive exchanges.

Other works on the program include transcriptions of Claude Debussy's The Girl with the Flaxen Hair and a baroque work by Georg Phillip Telemann, both of which Simon will perform on the smaller E-flat clarinet. Another piece, Denneriana by André Bloch, is a typical French contest piece exploiting the virtuosity capable on the clarinet.

The performers are long-serving members of the UPEI music faculty. Gray is well-known for her breadth of work as a soloist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician, while Simon, who performed this summer at the International Clarinet Association's conference, is also recognized as a conductor and music educator.

UPEI's School of Nursing, in partnership with the Association of Registered Nurses of PEI (ARNPEI), recently hosted a workshop on campus for the Prince Edward Island nursing community. Rachel Bard, CEO of the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) and a member of CNA's National Expert Commission on health-care delivered the keynote address.

The workshop welcomed approximately 70 nurses from all facets of the health-care system who came together to discuss the Commission's final report: A Nursing Call to Action.

'It's a pleasure to be able to come to PEI, reach out, and share the report-a blueprint to bring transformation and change to the health-care system,' said Bard. 'This workshop allows RNs with diverse backgrounds to come together and play a leadership role going forward.'

Dr. Rosemary Herbert, Dean of UPEI's School of Nursing, expressed her gratitude for Bard's visit. 'The School of Nursing is excited to work with Rachel and nurses across PEI to implement the report's recommendations,' she said. 'We look forward to working together on the implications for nursing education.'

ARNPEI representatives were also present at the workshop, including President Cheryl Banks. 'It's wonderful working with such a broad range of nurses to develop a unified voice in nursing,' she said. 'We need to work together to establish how nurses can make a difference in ensuring the health of our province and nation.'

The workshop was geared towards finding solutions to improve the health status of Islanders, to set goals, and to see the impact that RNs have here on PEI. The discussions focused on raising awareness, creating a movement, and leading changes to provoke nurses to work together to achieve maximum results.

To read the National Expert Commission's final report, visit http://expertcommission.cna-aiic.ca