The Senate Committee on Teaching Evaluation has invited Dr. Natasha Kenny, Executive Director of the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the Universty of Calgary to give a a presentation to the campus community about teaching evaluation.  While details are still being worked out, students, faculty and staff are invited to hold Monday March 23 at 2:30pm available for this virtual presentation. More details will be shared in the next few days. 

Do you (or someone you know) have Permanent Resident status?

If you have a PR card, but are NOT a Canadian citizen, you are eligible to join our next free 9-week UPEI Professional Communications course starting at the end of March, in order to improve your English Language skills and help your understanding of Canadian workplace culture and job searches.

We can accept you if you have (a) proof of PR status; and (b) a CLB benchmark level of 5 or more in English. If you meet these requirements, you can apply by emailing elcentre@upei.ca

Classes will be both in person one evening per week and also online (up to 3.5 hours weekly split between synchronous Zoom sessions and independent work). 

The UPEI Relay for Life is a student-led initiative dedicated to supporting the Canadian Cancer Society. The event will take place on March 14, 2026, and committee members are asking for campus and community support.

Through fundraising and community engagement, the Canadian Cancer Society strives to support those affected by cancer and fund groundbreaking research. Last year, the UPEI student team raised over $16,000. This year, they have set their sights even higher with a goal of $20,000 and are donations and participation in the event.

Event Details:

• When: Saturday, March 14, 2026
• Time: 11:30 am to 5:00 pm
• Location: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre indoor walking track
• What: A day of fun activities, entertainment, food, and beverages. Most importantly, it is a time to celebrate cancer survivors and honour those who lost their lives to cancer.
• General registration: $20 (100 per cent of proceeds are donated directly to the Canadian Cancer Society)
• Survivors: We invite all survivors to register and participate free of charge as our honoured guests. 

The event will begin with the cancer survivors leading the way and cutting the ceremonial banner to officially start the walk. After the opening lap, participants are encouraged to walk between activities and entertainment as much as they would like. 

Registrants can participate in two ways:

• Join a team: Join an existing group and make some new friends.

• Create your own: Rally your family, friends, or coworkers to start a new team. While teams are typically around 10 people, there is no limit, and all groups are welcome.

For more information, to donate, or to register as an individual or team, email upeirelayforlife@outlook.com or visit UPEI Relay for Life.

UPEI's Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program invites you to attend an upcoming online information session on Tuesday, March 17, 12-12:45 pm.

The MAIS program is an interdisciplinary, policy-driven graduate program that critiques islands on their own terms. We offer both thesis and course-based streams with specializations in Island Tourism, Sustainable Island Communities, and International Relations & Island Public Policy. Graduates from this program are trained in providing leadership in addressing the complex issues facing modern governments and policy-making organizations. In order to accommodate working professionals, the program has been designed with flexible completion timelines and classes are usually in the evening.

The information session will include general information and guidance on completing your application. Attendees will be given a promo code to have their application fee waived ($50 CAD value). The deadline for applying for the September intake is August 15; and the deadline for the January intake is November 1.

For more details on the program and entry requirements, visit the MAIS information page on the UPEI website. To register for the session, please follow the link to this Google form. A link will be sent in advance of the session.

And if you have questions regarding the program or application, please contact Laurie Brinklow (brinklow@upei.ca) or call 902-894-2881. Please feel free to share this message with anyone who may be interested in joining the session. 

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you!

The UPEI Department of Music is thrilled to be hosting its first Contemporary Music Festival, March 6-13, 2026. All events are open to the public and take place in Steel Recital Hall or the Performing Arts Centre Theatre.

The festival continues this week with our New Music Spotlight: Proxima Centauri, an ensemble of saxophone, piano, percussion, and electronics, presents "Mouvements," a multidimensional, immersive sonic experience not to be missed! This event takes place on Thursday, March 12th at 7:30pm in Steel Recital Hall.

Other performers/presenters this week include Indigenous cellist Cris Derksen and UPEI students in recital.

Tickets are available online or by cash at the door.

Join Sharon Meyers, William Whelan and John VanLeeuwen for a panel and Q & A session on Preparing for Tenure / Permanency and Promotion where they will talk about Putting it All Together. They will share observations from their experiences serving on review committees at the department and university level. Bring your questions about preparing your file to the Teaching and Learning Centre on Friday March 13 at 12:30pm.  

As part of the UPEI Department of Religious Studies’ Theology on Tap series, Dr. Doug Al-Maini, associate professor of philosophy, St. Francis Xavier University, will give a talk titled “Greek Mysticism Leading into the Christian Era” on March 12 at 7 pm. The presentation will take place at the Salvador Dali Café, The Arts Hotel, 155 Kent Street, Charlottetown. All are welcome to attend.

“Scholars have long noted and been fascinated by a tradition of mysticism within the broader history of Christianity; they have also noted how much that tradition was influenced by the Greek philosophers who preceded it,” says Al-Mani. “Indeed, Augustine famously says that ‘By the Platonic books I was admonished to return into myself . . . I entered and beheld with the eye of my soul a light unchangeable.’ There is wide agreement that Augustine is referring to the influence that reading Plotinus, among other authors, had on him, and how it helped him make sense of Christianity. But what was in those Neo-Platonic texts that was so affecting for Augustine?

“In this talk, I will attempt to give an overview of the main theses of the ‘Greek Mystics’ and the thinking that brings them to the positions they hold. Included among these ‘Mystics’ are figures such as Parmenides, Empedocles, Plato, Plotinus, and Proclus, some of whom are not usually associated with mysticism. In different ways, these philosophers argue to what they think is the limit of what can be properly expressed discursively and then show how that cannot give a full and satisfying account of Being itself and all that could be experienced; this in turn helps define the parameters of mysticism for future thinkers.”

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

Multiple-choice questions provide an efficient means of assessing a broad range of knowledge. Still, mistaken assumptions persist (such as multiple-choice tests being limited to only assessing recognition of basic facts, rather than the effective application of principles).

In this session, Drs. Scott Cassidy and Blake Jelley (both of whom have used psychometrics in high-stakes testing contexts), will discuss how multiple-choice testing can be effectively deployed within course assessments – with a specific focus on promoting psychometric effectiveness. The session, which will use examples from in-class tests, will include a general discussion regarding the construction, quality assurance, and refinement of multiple-choice questions; as well as a demonstration of how statistical information available through the Remark® software in ITSS can be used to evaluate and refine such assessments.

This lunch and learn will take place in the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre, located in the Robertson Library Annex (RL 230) on March 18 at 11:30 am.

Register here. Registration is not required, but you will receive an event invitation.

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (OCEPD) at UPEI is pleased to announce our Spring and Summer 2026 Certificate programming. Whether you are strengthening leadership capacity, improving workplace culture, enhancing technical skills, or sharpening communication strategy, we have a program designed for measurable impact.

Explore full program details at: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development

The following programs are available with start dates this spring:

• Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Certificate in Introductory Data Analytics – Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
• Certificate in Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being
• Certificate in Conflict Resolution
• Certificate in Professional Communications
• Certificate in Marketing and Branding
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing
• Microcredential in Applied Artificial Intelligence for the Workplace

UPEI Staff are eligible for all of these programs for a rate of $995. Please contact pdp@upei.ca for more details.

For program selection guidance or group registrations, contact us at rdbyrne@upei.ca.

We look forward to supporting your professional growth this Spring and Summer 2026!

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship invites you to join our Elevator Pitching workshop on March 17 at 5:00 pm. The workshop will take place in Room104, Health Science Building.

This workshop will provide tools, tips, and tricks around executing an elevator pitch effectively, efficiently, and engagingly. This workshop is open to both Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program participants as well as the general public. Sign up today!
 

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, April 3 for the April meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

The UPEI Relay for Life is a student-led initiative dedicated to supporting the Canadian Cancer Society. The event will take place on March 14, 2026, and committee members are asking for campus and community support.

Through fundraising and community engagement, the Canadian Cancer Society strives to support those affected by cancer and fund groundbreaking research. Last year, the UPEI student team raised over $16,000. This year, they have set their sights even higher with a goal of $20,000 and are donations and participation in the event.

Event Details:

• When: Saturday, March 14, 2026
• Time: 11:30 am to 5:00 pm
• Location: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre indoor walking track
• What: A day of fun activities, entertainment, food, and beverages. Most importantly, it is a time to celebrate cancer survivors and honour those who lost their lives to cancer.
• General registration: $20 (100 per cent of proceeds are donated directly to the Canadian Cancer Society)
• Survivors: We invite all survivors to register and participate free of charge as our honoured guests. 

The event will begin with the cancer survivors leading the way and cutting the ceremonial banner to officially start the walk. After the opening lap, participants are encouraged to walk between activities and entertainment as much as they would like. 

Registrants can participate in two ways:

• Join a team: Join an existing group and make some new friends.

• Create your own: Rally your family, friends, or coworkers to start a new team. While teams are typically around 10 people, there is no limit, and all groups are welcome.

For more information, to donate, or to register as an individual or team, email upeirelayforlife@outlook.com or visit UPEI Relay for Life.

Get excited for the changing of seasons with the Swing into Spring 5k hosted by the AVC Class of 2029 as a fundraiser event for our white coat ceremony and the PEI Humane Society! 

When: March 28, 10 am start

Where: Confederation Trail

Registration is ONLY $10 and is now open on our website for runners (and volunteers)! Everyone within the community is encouraged to participate; bring the fam, friends, pets, etc.!

We can't wait to see you at the start line! https://swingintospring5km.rsvpify.com

The UPEI Faculty of Graduate Studies invites the UPEI community to attend the 2026 Three Minute Thesis (3MT™) Competition. 

The Three Minute Thesis challenges research graduate students to explain their research project to a non-specialist audience in just 3 minutes, using only 1 slide. This year’s competitors represent a range of disciplines, including Education, Science, Sustainable Design Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine. 

Join us to support UPEI graduate students and learn about the fascinating and impactful research taking place across campus in this fast-paced and engaging format. 
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three competitors, and the first-place winner will go on to represent UPEI at the regional 3MT competition. 

Audience members will also have the opportunity to play fun and supportive 3MT Bingo while watching the presentations for a chance to win a prize. 

Date: Friday, March 20, 2026 
Time: 4:00–6:00 pm 
Location: Fox & Crow, W.A. Murphy Student Centre 

Light refreshments and door prize draws will be available.

UPEI students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to attend.

Along with many other institutions in Canada, UPEI is taking part in the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) again this semester. The survey collects important information on students' participation in programs and activities, as well as their perceptions of personal growth and university support. Results from the survey will inform initiatives to improve student experience. 

Many first- and fourth-year students in Arts, Business, Nursing, Science, and Sustainable Design Engineering have been invited to fill out the survey. Students are encouraged to check their UPEI email for the invitation and to complete the survey. If you have questions about the survey, please contact Dr. Yuqin Gong, Manager of Institutional Research at the Office of VP Academic and Research, via 902-566-0361 or ygong@upei.ca.

Thank you to the students for responding to the survey and to all who helped spread the word about the survey.

The UPEI Department of Music is thrilled to be hosting its first Contemporary Music Festival, March 6-13, 2026. All events are open to the public and take place in Steel Recital Hall or the Performing Arts Centre Theatre.

The festival continues this week with our New Music Spotlight: Proxima Centauri, an ensemble of saxophone, piano, percussion, and electronics, presents "Mouvements," a multidimensional, immersive sonic experience not to be missed! This event takes place on Thursday, March 12th at 7:30pm in Steel Recital Hall.

Other performers/presenters this week include Indigenous cellist Cris Derksen and UPEI students in recital.

Tickets are available online or by cash at the door.

Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at Tim Horton's in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Wednesday, March 11 from 8:00-9:00 am.

These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.

Students are invited to the Climate Career day, Wednesday, March 11 from 10-12:30 in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building (Room 201) to meet with local professionals and organizations that work with climate issues. This opportunity is intended to connect students with potential employers while also learning about different career paths. 

Guest speakers will take part in a panel discussion at 11am where they will chat about their roles, how they found their way into climate work, climate projects their organization is working on, and how to find joy in a challenging field of work. 

Free to attend.

Join Sharon Meyers, William Whelan and John VanLeeuwen for a panel and Q & A session on Preparing for Tenure / Permanency and Promotion where they will talk about Putting it All Together. They will share observations from their experiences serving on review committees at the department and university level. Bring your questions about preparing your file to the Teaching and Learning Centre on Friday March 13 at 12:30pm.  

New poetry collection speaks to and from the Island

In her third poetry collection, Judy Gaudet “brings us heart-deep and eye-level with Prince Edward Island’s fields, woods, and shores,” says Deirdre Kessler, former PEI Poet Laureate. Published by Island Studies Press, the book will be launched on March 24, at 7 pm, in the Faculty Lounge, Main Building Room 201, University of Prince Edward Island.

Another Landscape addresses the ordinary wonders of a life shared with her partner and their dog, where “Nothing is needed. Everything is here between us.” Though the poems grow out of this one life on the Island, Gaudet takes the long view of time. She sees at once the molecules of the red sandstone cliffs and her own, that have held together for greatly different timespans. The poems gather small but notable moments of Island life and insist we look closer, for “this is life, as long as we have it.”

Readers will recognize the “fishing boats and their bright primaries” and “that open spot where the water is moving fast enough to not freeze up.” Gaudet’s poems, writes Richard Lemm, professor emeritus in English, speak to the human capacity to be renewed and deeply transfigured by observant intimacy with nature. And they return again and again to gratitude: “What luck to spend a lifetime / seeing what things are” and to her uplifting faith that there is “good luck and gold / flying up everywhere.”

Judy Gaudet is a Prince Edward Island poet and painter whose books include Conversation with Crows (Oberon, 2014) and Her Teeth Are Stones (Acorn, 2005). She is the editor of 150+: Canada’s History in Poetry (Acorn, 2018). 

The event is free, and all are welcome. Thanks to Bookmark, books will be available for purchase. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at Island Studies Press, 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.