Campus Notices
UPEI's Marketing and Production unit is actively working to improve the accessibility of our website content. The majority of this work can be managed by our web team; however, UPEI staff, faculty, and students can help improve the overall accessibility of our site.
Visit the Marketing and Communications team site on myUPEI to find out why web accessibility is important, and to access resources and tools for creating accessible documents.
If you have any questions about web accessibility, the provided resources, and our work, please contact web@upei.ca.
New Student Orientation (NSO) is set to take place the first week of September!
NSO provides the opportunity for new students to get familiar with the campus through various events, activities and information sessions.
We hope to provide an eventful NSO that will leave lasting impressions on the new students and show them what it means to be a Panther!
The Teaching and Learning Centre is trying to gauge interest in a late summer reading group. The proposed book is "Reigniting Curiosity and Inquiry in Higher Education". There was a waiting list in the winter semester so we know there's interest in the book, just looking to see about when to start. If you'd be interested in reading and discussing this book in August, please email TLC@upei.ca by Wed. August 9. You can start reading right away using this link to access the e-book through the Robertson library or connect with the TLC to borrow one of our limited number of print copies.
The UPEI Department of Chemistry invites the campus community to a research seminar on Aug. 8, 2023. Dr. Beth Buchanan, Assistant Professor, UPEI will present:
Title: "Development and Validation of Semi-Quantitative Untargeted Mass Spectrometry Screening Methods to Support Natural Products Research"
Date: August 8, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: KC Irving, Room 104
Dr. Buchanan is a candidate for a tenure-track faculty position in Natural Products Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry.
A note on format: We're going to try a different approach this year for Let's Talk Teaching with two timeslots before the semester begins (we'll add more if needed). The first will be Thursday, August 24, from 10:00 to 11:30 am, and the second will be Friday, August 25, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex Room 230. Join us for informal sharing of questions, concerns, and inspirations as you prepare for your fall semester classes.
Our Topic: We all know that Googling something isn’t research and using generative AI to write a paper isn’t learning. In this session however, we’ll discuss how AI, when used as a learning tool and not just to generate output, can positively affect teaching and learning. We’ll discuss how you can re-examine your assignments to better align tasks with higher level learning outcomes such as critical and creative thinking and address the future of generative AI in education and the work world.
Orientation for New Faculty, Librarians, Clinical Nursing Instructors and Clinical Veterinary Professionals
Date: August 21–23, 2023
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 pm Atlantic
Location: Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex Room 230
This university-level orientation is meant for all newly hired faculty of all ranks and tracks, Librarians, Clinical Nursing Instructors, and Clinical Veterinary Professionals, and complements orientation programming offered by your unit and Human Resources. Our event will introduce you to several senior administrators, colleagues from a variety of teaching, research, and support units, as well as the UPEI Faculty Association. Orientation sessions will include background info, a review of key university policies, and tips to help your transition to UPEI be as smooth as possible.
Invitations will be sent on August 8. If you are a new academic member of the UPEI community, and you haven’t received an invitation or wish to ensure you receive the invitation, please contact the Teaching and Learning Centre at tlc@upei.ca.
UPEI Accessibility Services is implementing a new system called Accommodate, which will support the coordination of exams and accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The department’s previous system AccessDeck is being eliminated. Accommodate will be “Going-Live” on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
Faculty and Instructional staff will need to familiarize themselves with the system and related process changes, including improvements to tracking accommodated students, a change in the Accessibility Services testing process, and general information on accessing and navigating the Accommodate system.
Information and Training sessions have been scheduled to take place in RL 265 on the following dates:
- August 10 - Deans and Department Chairs at 10:30 am
- August 22 - Open to all Faculty at 2:30 pm
- August 23 - Academic Department Admins (Demo) at 10:00 am
- August 30 - Open to all Faculty at 10:00 am
- Additional training sessions will be added in September
If you have any questions, please email accessibility@upei.ca, and a member of the Accessibility Services team would be happy to respond.
Due to the Civic Holiday on Monday, August 7, there will not be any outgoing courier or mail service. Shipping & Receiving will be open for all your other shipping needs. Sorry for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at shipping@upei.ca
The deadline for animal care protocol submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, September 1, for the September 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."
UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice 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.
Note: All investigators are reminded that any deviations in animal use, including unexpected mortality, must be reported to the ACC and University Veterinarian Jonathan Spears at 902-620-5026.
New African Canadians and International Cities of Peace are organizing a Global Mental Well-Being and Substance (Mis)Use Conference from August 11 to 13 at the University of Prince Edward Island. The theme is Rest, Recovery, and Resilience During and Beyond Pandemics. Delegates will showcase knowledge and research from community members, advocates, service providers, allied health professionals, media, and policymakers.
The conference will take place in the UPEI Performing Arts Centre and Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Details on sessions being held at each venue will be available soon.
The registration fee has been waived for all Islanders and students. For more information, click here. To register, click here. For all other inquiries, email sroy@upei.ca or luyombya@gmail.com.
UPEI employees who pay for their parking permits through payroll deduction can now renew their permits for 2023-2024. Permits with no expiry date (Lots B, C, and reserved spaces) must be renewed yearly. All permit holders will be reassigned to their current lot/space; new employees will be assigned to the general lots.
To renew your permit, please go to “Buy a staff or faculty parking pass” on the UPEI Security web page (NOTE: this link will not work with Internet Explorer). All fields with a RED asterisk must be filled, including your office phone number and whether you have an electric vehicle.
Please note the following:
- If you wish to add additional information after you have submitted your form, you must submit a new application and inform parking@upei.ca that you have done so.
- If you change your vehicle, please email parking@upei.ca with the make, model, province or state, and plate number.
- If a student in your household is attending UPEI starting in September and has their own vehicle, please include their vehicle information, name, and student ID number on your application.
- If your permit is for a gated lot and a student in your household will be using your vehicle to come and go during the workday, please include their information on the application as an additional driver.
- If you use payroll deduction, and no longer wish to use a UPEI lot to park, please email parking@upei.ca so we can stop your deduction.
- Employees who park in Lots B, C, F, and G and are taking a leave of absence must email parking@upei.ca with their ID #, name, departure date, and expected return date in order to maintain access to their assigned lot.
- If you would like to be added to the wait list for a designated lot or wish to change lots, please email parking@upei.ca with the following information:
- employee ID #
- name (last, first)
- phone number
- current lot
- requested lot:
- Note: If you are already on the waitlist, there is no need to resubmit. While you are on the waitlist, you will be reassigned to your current lot until a spot opens in your requested location.
Please direct any questions or information changes to parking@upei.ca
NOTE: Parking meters are enforced Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, year-round.
With the recent release of the Rubin Thomlinson report, the University has coordinated two new confidential processes to support faculty and staff who have experienced harm from harassment, sexual violence, or discrimination at UPEI.
Confidential personal counselling
The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre has engaged a psychologist, who is bilingual (English and French), to meet individually with faculty and staff Tuesday and Wednesday mornings throughout the summer.
Employees may email Caylin Jenkins at cbjenkins@upei.ca, indicating “Appointment required” in the subject line. Caylin will coordinate their appointment with the psychologist and confirm the location of the appointment.
Making a confidential disclosure
People have asked about the process for making disclosures of incidents of harassment or discrimination by senior executive members of the University. The University has established an independent third-party process to address any such issues with Resonance Inc., a multidisciplinary human resources firm, based in Saint John, NB, that specializes in workplace assessments. The contact person at Resonance is Trisha Perry, who may be reached at tperry@resonanceinc.ca or (506)799-0412.
The UPEI Department of Chemistry invites the campus community to a research seminar on Aug. 8, 2023. Dr. Beth Buchanan, Assistant Professor, UPEI will present:
Title: "Development and Validation of Semi-Quantitative Untargeted Mass Spectrometry Screening Methods to Support Natural Products Research"
Date: August 8, 2023
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: KC Irving, Room 104
Dr. Buchanan is a candidate for a tenure-track faculty position in Natural Products Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry.
A note on format: We're going to try a different approach this year for Let's Talk Teaching with two timeslots before the semester begins (we'll add more if needed). The first will be Thursday, August 24, from 10:00 to 11:30 am, and the second will be Friday, August 25, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex Room 230. Join us for informal sharing of questions, concerns, and inspirations as you prepare for your fall semester classes.
Our Topic: We all know that Googling something isn’t research and using generative AI to write a paper isn’t learning. In this session however, we’ll discuss how AI, when used as a learning tool and not just to generate output, can positively affect teaching and learning. We’ll discuss how you can re-examine your assignments to better align tasks with higher level learning outcomes such as critical and creative thinking and address the future of generative AI in education and the work world.
Join us for the finale of the Student Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) 2023! Students will showcase their exciting summer research in a poster symposium, with three top awards up for grabs.
The poster competition will take place from 2:00–4:00 pm in the lobby of the UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building.
Contact Ellen O'Rielly at eorielly@upei.ca for more information.
Orientation for New Faculty, Librarians, Clinical Nursing Instructors and Clinical Veterinary Professionals
Date: August 21–23, 2023
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 pm Atlantic
Location: Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex Room 230
This university-level orientation is meant for all newly hired faculty of all ranks and tracks, Librarians, Clinical Nursing Instructors, and Clinical Veterinary Professionals, and complements orientation programming offered by your unit and Human Resources. Our event will introduce you to several senior administrators, colleagues from a variety of teaching, research, and support units, as well as the UPEI Faculty Association. Orientation sessions will include background info, a review of key university policies, and tips to help your transition to UPEI be as smooth as possible.
Invitations will be sent on August 8. If you are a new academic member of the UPEI community, and you haven’t received an invitation or wish to ensure you receive the invitation, please contact the Teaching and Learning Centre at tlc@upei.ca.
With the unsettling influences of artificial intelligences like ChatGPT on common assignments such as research essays, many of us are taking time this summer to think about how we might adapt our courses this fall. Here's a short article with several considerations...with the promise of a part two at the end of this week. Essential Considerations for Addressing the Possibility of AI-Driven Cheating, Part 1
New African Canadians and International Cities of Peace are organizing a Global Mental Well-Being and Substance (Mis)Use Conference from August 11 to 13 at the University of Prince Edward Island. The theme is Rest, Recovery, and Resilience During and Beyond Pandemics. Delegates will showcase knowledge and research from community members, advocates, service providers, allied health professionals, media, and policymakers.
The conference will take place in the UPEI Performing Arts Centre and Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Details on sessions being held at each venue will be available soon.
The registration fee has been waived for all Islanders and students. For more information, click here. To register, click here. For all other inquiries, email sroy@upei.ca or luyombya@gmail.com.
With the unsettling influences of artificial intelligences like ChatGPT on common assignments such as research essays, many of us are taking time this summer to think about how we might adapt our courses this fall. Here's a short article with several considerations...with the promise of a part two at the end of this week. Essential Considerations for Addressing the Possibility of AI-Driven Cheating, Part 1
The UPEI Department of Biology invites the campus community to a research seminar on August 3, 2023. Dr. Giulia Rossi, NSERC and L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Toronto, will present:
Title: "From air to insight: Unraveling physiology through animal breath".
Date: August 3, 2023
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Duffy Science Centre, Room 204
Dr. Rossi is a candidate for a Tenure-track Faculty position in the Department of Biology.
