The Faculty of Science ESC/HB Seminar series invites the campus community to two graduate student presentations on January 30, 12:30 pm in Duffy Science Centre, Room 204

Nisha Owens (MSc-HB; Murphy's Lab, Biology) will present "Investigating the Kynurenine pathway in breast cancer", and Lucy Li (MSc-ESC; Wang's Lab, SCCA) will present "The impact of coastal erosion on mental health". 

Both talks are open to the public. 

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.

UPEI's Experiential Education will be hosting a session for staff and faculty who work with students in work-integrated learning (WIL) settings on Monday, February 2, 12-1:30pm in Andrew Hall, Room142 to explore opportunities and challenges to sexual violence prevention in WIL. Our department has been working on a project with the Interministerial Women's Secretariat to gather feedback to better understand the local landscape. Join for an overview of what we've heard so far from students and employers, and share your perspectives from the vantage of your own programs. Lunch will be provided.

Register here: Sexual Violence Prevention in Work-Integrated Learning Feedback Session – Fill out form

Email Shannon at smsnow@upei.ca with any questions.

Note to Professors and Course/Lab Instructors: 

Please add the testing information for any in-person quizzes, tests, and midterms for the Winter 2026 semester to Accommodate, as soon as possible. We do not need the test file immediately. 

Registered Accessibility Services students must submit a booking request at least 7 days in advance to ensure a seat in our centre. They cannot submit their testing request 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: Step-by-step guide 

How to view student accommodations:  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. 

Are you looking for talented and motivated students or recent graduates to join your team? If so, don’t miss the chance to register as an employer for the 2026 UPEI Summer Job and Career Fair!

The Summer Job and Career Fair is a great opportunity for UPEI departments to connect with potential employees or interns. You will be able to meet with hundreds of students and alumni from various disciplines and backgrounds and promote your department’s employment opportunities.

The fair will take place on March 11 (storm date: March 12, same time) from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Space at the fair is limited and restricted to employers hiring for 2026 summer jobs or looking to hire May 2026 graduates or recent grads. Registration is FREE for all UPEI departments, but you need to register by February 21 at 4:00 pm to secure your spot.

To register, please fill out this form: UPEI Departments - Summer Job and Career Fair Registration 2026 – Fill out form.

Registration includes a folding table, two chairs, electricity (upon request), and wireless internet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Community and Industry Outreach Coordinator Jess Cameron at careerfair@upei.ca or (902) 894-2817. 

We hope to see you at the fair! 

You're Invited!

This year the Faculty of Science is hosting the 2026 Global Women's (and Allies') Breakfast Event on February 10, 7:30 - 9:30 am at the Fox and Crow. The breakfast event will feature three outstanding speakers talking on their research and experiences in STEM, networking, a tie-dye your lab coat activity, and more! We hope you are able to attend this year's event and continue to celebrate women in STEM!

Breakfast is free at the event with registration. Spaces are limited. Registration closes Friday February 6 at 5:00 pm.

You can access the registration using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScH6j-1bHLKQvPj0i0MRRVbpdZtFDqKCQpp2luXxSs21wkeOg/viewform?usp=dialog

Invited Speakers:

• Dr. Devon Lynn: Assistant Professor (Environmental Studies)
• Dr. Amy Hsiao: Professor (Engineering)
• Dr. Maria Kilfoil: Associate Professor (Physics)

For more information on this global event, please see https://iupac.org/gwb/2026/
All are welcome!

The 2026 theme for UPEI’s Data Privacy Week (January 26-30) is “Privacy is Everyone’s Business,” highlighting the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust.

Data Privacy Week spreads awareness about online privacy with the aim of educating individuals on how to manage and protect their personal information and encourage organizations to respect data and be transparent.

Make privacy your business! To learn more about what you can do to be privacy aware, check out the resources on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s website.

To find out about UPEI privacy training for your department, please contact the UPEI Access to Information and Privacy Office at accessprivacy@upei.ca

On Wednesday, January 28, ITSS will conduct maintenance on Colleague and related services from 8:00 pm to midnight. During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI Self-Service, Web Advisor, and Colleague.

We encourage students, faculty, and staff who may need documents or links located on myUPEI to plan ahead and bookmark or download the resources they may need during this period.

As a reminder, you can access Moodle directly using https://moodle.upei.ca and Outlook email using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please fill out our new Help Form: https://go.upei.ca/itrequest

The Local Pub and Oyster Bar is sponsoring a Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, February 14 from 8am - 10am for the upcoming UPEI, IKERAS Faculty-Led Program for Study Abroad to New Zealand in May 2026! Only $15 per person for delicious pancakes (includes tea/coffee) and is being served by our students! 

From the moment a new student walks onto the UPEI campus they are a “Panther for Life,” and for this reason, the UPEI Alumni Association has adopted this phrase as part of its identity. The Association recognizes the importance of encouraging campus pride, and the impact that school spirit has within the university community. Because of this, this award was established in 2023 to acknowledge the contributions of an outstanding student in the campus community.  

Awarded 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.

Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year; however, nominations must be received by the end of February each year to be considered for that year’s cycle. Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations. Award nominee must be a current UPEI student. 

To nominate a current student for this award, please fill out our Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to shine a light on their colleagues’ hard work and dedication in 2025. We are excited to continue the Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues program in 2026 and have some great ideas planned for the year ahead.

Want to start the new year with gratitude? Take a moment to recognize a colleague today!

Complete this short form: https://forms.office.com/r/766cg9JsT6 

You’ll be asked to share:

• Who are you recognizing? (Name and department/faculty)
• Why are you recognizing them? (A brief description of what they did or the impact they made)
• Your name

Forms may be submitted up to the last Friday of each month. Human Resources will collect the submissions and work with Communications to feature them in the Campus Connector.

Please note: there is a section on the Human Resources SharePoint page dedicated to Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues.

Not currently subscribed to Campus Connector? Click here to learn how to subscribe.

The deadline for the next issue is January 30, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at hrengage@upei.ca. Thank you for helping us celebrate and strengthen our campus community!

Increasingly, faculty are reporting exhaustion, overwork, and burnout as serious issues affecting their work lives.  Join Elizabeth Wells from Mount Allison University for this ONLINE session, where we will explore the landscape of burnout through the literature, and offer support and solutions to today’s overburdened academic. Register here to receive the Teams link for this session  on February 3 at 12:00 noon. 

Collide Discover is the one-stop shop to get you started on your entrepreneurial journey, whether you already have an idea or not! Learn how to ideate with a customer focus, structure your concept into a business model, identify your most attractive customer segment, and communicate your early-stage idea effectively!

Collide Discover is the only way to make yourself and your team eligible to participate in the new Aspire stream of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program next semester for first and second year students!

The best part? You can complete the whole program in just 3 DAYS! The full bootcamp is taking place in FSDE 128A and B on the UPEI campus on the following dates:

• Friday, January 30 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm

• Saturday, January 31 from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

• Sunday, February 1 from 9:30 am - 2:00 pm

Any current UPEI and Holland College student, faculty member, or recent graduate within the last 5 years is eligible to attend. Food is provided throughout the bootcamp! Register today.

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development at the University of Prince Edward Island (OCEPD) is pleased to announce a new professional development opportunity for UPEI staff and faculty. Effective January 5, 2026, eligible UPEI employees may enroll in OCEPD Certificate programs, priced at $1,000 or more, for a reduced rate of $995.

This initiative reflects the OCEPD’s pledge to support UPEI’s ongoing commitment to supporting continuous learning, leadership development, and skills advancement across the University community. 

The following OCEPD Certificate programs are included in this initiative and are available to UPEI staff and faculty at the reduced rate of $995:

• Certificate in Case Management
• Certificate in Case Management – Specialization in Health Care
• Certificate in Case Management – Advanced Collaboration in Care
• Certificate in Collaborative Leadership
• Certificate in Introductory Data Analytics – Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
• Certificate in Marketing and Branding
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing
• Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Certificate in Professional Communications
• Certificate in Professional Office Administration
• Certificate in Project Management
• New Managers Certificate
• Certificate in Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being

These programs are designed for working professionals and focus on practical, evidence-informed skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace. Delivery formats vary by program and may include in-person, blended, or online components (please note the 15% UPEI staff and alumni discount does not apply to these reduced-rate Certificate programs).

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development, an Office of the University of Prince Edward Island, is Atlantic Canada’s premier provider of professional development programming. The OCEPD delivers high-impact Certificate programs, workshops, and customized training for individuals, organizations, and communities across the region.

UPEI staff and faculty are encouraged to explore program details, delivery formats, and upcoming intakes by visiting: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development

The fifth meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). To view the 2025-2026 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here. (Posted one week before the meeting)

All meetings are open to members of the University community, although certain in-camera items (e.g., granting of degrees) may require the Senate to go into a closed session. Only members of Senate are permitted to address the Senate unless otherwise recognized by the chair. 

For logistical purposes, members of the UPEI community who wish to attend the open session of a UPEI Senate meeting are asked to contact senate@upei.ca one week prior to the meeting. While Senate is an in-person meeting, members of the University community may request a virtual connection when they are unable to attend in person. 

UPEI's Experiential Education will be hosting a session for staff and faculty who work with students in work-integrated learning (WIL) settings on Monday, February 2, 12-1:30pm in Andrew Hall, Room142 to explore opportunities and challenges to sexual violence prevention in WIL. Our department has been working on a project with the Interministerial Women's Secretariat to gather feedback to better understand the local landscape. Join for an overview of what we've heard so far from students and employers, and share your perspectives from the vantage of your own programs. Lunch will be provided.

Register here: Sexual Violence Prevention in Work-Integrated Learning Feedback Session – Fill out form

Email Shannon at smsnow@upei.ca with any questions.

Note to Professors and Course/Lab Instructors: 

Please add the testing information for any in-person quizzes, tests, and midterms for the Winter 2026 semester to Accommodate, as soon as possible. We do not need the test file immediately. 

Registered Accessibility Services students must submit a booking request at least 7 days in advance to ensure a seat in our centre. They cannot submit their testing request 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: Step-by-step guide 

How to view student accommodations:  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. 

The 2026 theme for UPEI’s Data Privacy Week (January 26-30) is “Privacy is Everyone’s Business,” highlighting the importance of respecting privacy, safeguarding data, and enabling trust.

Data Privacy Week spreads awareness about online privacy with the aim of educating individuals on how to manage and protect their personal information and encourage organizations to respect data and be transparent.

Make privacy your business! To learn more about what you can do to be privacy aware, check out the resources on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s website.

To find out about UPEI privacy training for your department, please contact the UPEI Access to Information and Privacy Office at accessprivacy@upei.ca

The UPEI Department of Religious Studies’ popular Theology on Tap series returns on January 28 with a talk titled “More than Optimistic: Hope and Teilhard de Chardin” by Dr. Libby Osgood, Congregation of Notre Dame and Associate Professor in Sustainable Design Engineering. Dr. Osgood’s talk will take place at 7:00 pm at the Salvador Dali Café, The Arts Hotel, 155 Kent Street, Charlottetown. 

“People often use the words ‘hope’ and ‘optimism’ interchangeably, but hope requires much more than optimism,” said Dr. Osgood. “Hope is not naive. It is not sitting back and waiting for something to change, nor is it easy. Based on the writings of Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a paleontologist and Jesuit priest who helped discover an ancestor to homo sapiens, we will explore the need for hope during these challenging times of ecological change.”

Born in Sarcenat, France, in 1881, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a Jesuit priest and an accomplished paleoanthropologist who researched human beginnings and wrote imaginative, mystical writings on the evolutionary nature of the world and the cosmos. Though his Jesuit leadership did not allow him to publish during his lifetime, his writings were published by his secretary Jeanne Mortier after his death in 1955. Since then, generations of theologians and scientists have been inspired by his desire to find God in the world and how he embraced evolution. He asked, “Who at last will give evolution its God?” At times, he was criticized for being naively optimistic. Dr. Osgood suggests that Teilhard de Chardin is much more than optimistic—he is hopeful.

For more information about the series, contact event coordinator Alexandra Durant at alexandrajdurant@gmail.com, or follow Theology on Tap PEI on Facebook.

On Wednesday, January 28, ITSS will conduct maintenance on Colleague and related services from 8:00 pm to midnight. During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI Self-Service, Web Advisor, and Colleague.

We encourage students, faculty, and staff who may need documents or links located on myUPEI to plan ahead and bookmark or download the resources they may need during this period.

As a reminder, you can access Moodle directly using https://moodle.upei.ca and Outlook email using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please fill out our new Help Form: https://go.upei.ca/itrequest