On Thursday, December 29, over 60 former members of the UPEI Wind Symphony, representing graduating classes from 1972–2022, will give two public performances--at dress rehearsal at 9:30 am and a formal performance at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the performances are $20 (cash only) and can be purchased at the door.

Under the direction of Dr. Karem Simon, the Wind Symphony alumni will prepare an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary wind band music featuring some of the treasured pieces from its repertoire. Included will be movements from “The Lord of the Rings Symphony” by Dutch composer Johan de Meij and “Medieval Suite” by American Ron Nelson. Classics, including Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-flat” and Percy Grainger’s “Shepherd’s Hey,” will be juxtaposed with “Skyline” by Charlottetown’s own Evan Hammell, and emerging composer who is a former UPEI music student and a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Composition program. 

For more information, contact Dr. Simon at 902-566-0702.

UPEI is the first university in the country to launch "I'm Ready," a project working to eradicate HIV in Canada.

The study is sharing HIV self-testing kits and asking questions from the people who will use them so they can learn how to improve HIV testing and care in Canada.  Participation in "I'm Ready" is anonymous, and you control your own pathway through the program. Watch this video for more information on how to perform a self-test for HIV.

Test kits can be picked up from the registered nurse at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre, W.A. Murphy Student Centre (second floor).

The annual call for applications for the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is open. 

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is a program under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which aims to provide flexible and holistic services to help all young Canadians develop skills and gain paid work experience to successfully transition into the labour market.

Applicants are able to seek funding to hire youth (people aged 15-30 years) between April 24, 2023, and September 2, 2023. Work placements must be full-time (30-40 hours per week) quality jobs with a minimum duration of six weeks and a maximum of 16 weeks.

Approved employers will be eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 50 percent of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage of $14.50/hour.

For additional information and application information for this program, please click here.

To apply for this program, you will need to contact Human Resources:

Wendy Murphy at wmurphy@upei.ca (902) 628-4306, or

Monique Geurts at mgeurts@upei.ca (902) 566-0515.

The closing date for applications is January 9, 2023.

Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre holiday hours (subject to change)

Sunday, December 18: 10:00 am–8:00 pm

Monday, December 19: Friday, December 23: 6:00 am–8:00 pm

Saturday, December 24 and 25: Closed

Monday, December 26: 9:00 am–5:00 pm

Tuesday, December 27 to Friday, December 30: 8:00 am–8:00 pm

Saturday, December 31 and Sunday, January 1: Closed

Monday, January 2: 9:00 am–5:00 pm

Depending upon the work requirements of University departments, the Christmas holiday schedule will be in effect from December 24, 2022, through January 2, 2023, inclusive.  Office and regular business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

Payroll deadlines:

For the December 23 pay, the deadline for PTFs, pay changes, etc., is 12 noon on November 24. Electronic timesheets/overtime are due on December 12 at 10:00 a.m.

For the January 6 pay, the deadline for PTFs, pay changes, etc., is 12 noon on December 8. Electronic timesheets/overtime are due on January 3 at 10:00 a.m. 

For the January 20 pay, the deadline for PTFs, pay changes, etc., is 12 noon on December 23. Electronic timesheets/overtime are due on January 9.

Additional information regarding the Christmas holiday schedule can be found at MyUPEI.

Study & Stay PEI: We're excited to launch another program called Student to Professional for 75 international students from University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College, and Collège de l'Île. The application is now open! Please click on the link here: https://lnkd.in/giXvQAut to find out more and apply today!

The Student to Professional program (January - May 2023) is a scaled-down version of our comprehensive Study & Stay PEI program. There will be several skill development workshops, networking opportunities, and social events. This program combines in-person and online sessions. The deadline to submit the application is January 6, at 4:00 pm, or when we receive 75 qualified applications (whichever comes first)! 

The Scholarships and Awards Office is accepting applications for the 2nd Semester (Winter) Award Cycle!

Students can now apply for numerous awards with a deadline of February 1, 2023, through the Scholarship and Award Application portal. Students are encouraged to review the webpage, click the link provided, or find it listed on their MyUPEI account in the UPEI Forms section. Additional awards with a separate application process are conveniently listed on the 2nd Semester (Winter) Award Cycle webpage. Deadlines for the separate application awards vary across January and February. Be sure to click the links, review the criteria, and submit in time for the deadline!

If you have questions about the application processes, award criteria, or deadlines, please contact scholarships@upei.ca or visit us in Dalton Hall, Room 202. Best of luck to all who apply!

Student Affairs will be closed Thursday, December 22, for a staff development event. If you have an on-campus emergency, contact Security Services at 902-566-0384.

The University of Prince Edward Island and the UPEI Alumni Association are hosting their annual New Year's Levee, and all are welcome to attend.

The levee will be held on Sunday, January 1, 2023, from 11:30 am–1:00 pm in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering Building, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown.

For more information, call 902-566-0687 or email alumni@upei.ca.

The University’s holiday schedule is in effect from December 24, 2022 to January 2, 2023. Regular operations and office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, with most classes beginning on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

The UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment department (HSE) is offering Standard and Emergency First Aid/CPR training sessions:

Emergency First Aid/CPR
January 11, 2023
8:30 am–4:00 pm
AH 142

This basic one-day course offers lifesaving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. 

Standard First Aid/CPR
January 12 and 13, 2023
8:30 am–4:00 pm
AH 142

This comprehensive two-day course offers first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for those who need enhanced training as a work requirement (high-risk areas such as labs).

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. Please note that lunch will not be provided.

As space is limited, please pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell by the end of the day Wednesday, January 4, 2023, via email (hse@upei.ca) or by phone (902-566-0901).

All exams that were administered in Accessibility Services must be picked up by instructors before 4 pm on December 21. Exams can be collected in Room 111 in Dalton Hall. Our regular office hours are 8 am to 4 pm. If you'd like to pick up outside of these hours, please contact us by calling 566-0668 or emailing astesting@upei.ca. 

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Greg Keefe, president and vice-chancellor (interim), invites UPEI faculty and staff to attend the 2022 President’s Holiday Social on Monday, December 19, from 3 to 4:30 pm, in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons, Atlantic Veterinary College. Faculty and staff are encouraged to bring food and monetary donations for the UPEI Campus Food Bank. The Office of the President will match the value of your support up to $10,000. Celebrate with your colleagues while enjoying complimentary refreshments and listening to festive songs performed by UPEI music students! 

On Thursday, December 29, over 60 former members of the UPEI Wind Symphony, representing graduating classes from 1972–2022, will give two public performances--at dress rehearsal at 9:30 am and a formal performance at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the performances are $20 (cash only) and can be purchased at the door.

Under the direction of Dr. Karem Simon, the Wind Symphony alumni will prepare an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary wind band music featuring some of the treasured pieces from its repertoire. Included will be movements from “The Lord of the Rings Symphony” by Dutch composer Johan de Meij and “Medieval Suite” by American Ron Nelson. Classics, including Gustav Holst’s “First Suite in E-flat” and Percy Grainger’s “Shepherd’s Hey,” will be juxtaposed with “Skyline” by Charlottetown’s own Evan Hammell, and emerging composer who is a former UPEI music student and a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Composition program. 

For more information, contact Dr. Simon at 902-566-0702.

Dr. Greg Keefe, president and vice-chancellor (interim), invites, faculty staff, and students to the University’s 2022 Recognition of Founders ceremony on Monday, December 19, at 1:30 pm. During the ceremony, Dr. Douglas Dahn, Cathy Gillan, and Dr. Timothy Ogilvie will be honoured as Founders for their contributions to UPEI. The ceremony and reception will take place in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons, Atlantic Veterinary College. All are welcome to attend.

Employees who are using payroll deduction for parking are reminded to notify parking@upei.ca if they move to the Bell Aliant lot or no longer drive a vehicle to the campus so we can stop their parking deduction. 

Employees who take a leave of absence from UPEI (i.e., maternity leave, sabbatical, etc.) and park in one of the designated lots--B Gated, C Gated, Lot F, or Lot G--are asked to email parking@upei.ca with their employee ID number, departure date, and expected return date in order to maintain their access to the lot when they return. 

UPEI Panthers Men’s Hockey holiday gift packs are now available for purchase at the Eastlink Centre Box Office. The gift pack offers a great deal to watch one of the country's best hockey teams compete for an AUS title and a national championship.

Packages are $70 plus HST and include five individual tickets for the remaining 2022–23 regular season home games; $25 savings on a 2023 Cavendish Farms University Cup tournament pass; open ticket redemption; and the ability to hold a seat for the playoffs.

Consider purchasing a hockey holiday gift pack for the hockey lover on your list!

Thinking about health and wellness?  We can help!

The UPEI Department of Athletics and Recreation is offering a Sports Centre membership special, which extends beyond the campus to the greater Island community as well!

Purchase a one-year Sports Centre Fitness membership, including the walking track and squash courts, between December 1 and 23, 2022, and receive one month free....Your membership won't expire until January 31, 2024!

Visit Panther Central Desk at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre to purchase your membership. For more information, please visit recreation.upei.ca

Entries are now being accepted for the Science Exposed 2023 photo competition. Eye-catching images coming from research projects in the natural sciences, engineering, humanities, or health sciences can now be submitted. The individuals or groups that have the most successfully combined creativity and science will be awarded one of many cash prizes. The contest is organized by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and Acfas. The deadline to submit is January 30 at 11:59 pm (ET).
 
The goal of Science Exposed is to help foster a science culture in Canada by capturing vibrant research images that showcase the work of our talented research community. These images will help the Canadian population better understand and see, through the same lens as our scientists and engineers, the work that is being done behind the scenes.

Click here for more information. 

During final exams, access to the track will be allowed only on the following dates and times. Please note that no one is permitted on the track during exams.

Sunday, December 11: noon –2:00 pm and 5:00 –7:00 pm
Monday, December 12 to Friday, December 16: 6:00–9:00 am, noon –2:00 pm, and 5:00–7:00 pm
Saturday, December 17, and Sunday, December 18: noon –2:00 pm and 5:00–7:00 pm
Monday, December 19 to Wednesday, December 21: 6:00–9:00 am, noon–2:00 pm, and 5:00–7:00 pm

Note: Dates are subject to change due to any weather conditions.

PhD Thesis Defence

Presenter: Holly Wilts

Title of the Thesis: "Cultivating Shrub Willow Downslope of Potato Cropping Systems on Prince Edward Island to Mitigate Indirect Agricultural N2O Emissions, Enhance Stream Protection from Diffuse Pollutants, and Produce Renewable Biomass"

Date: Monday, December 19, 2022, 10:00 am

Via web conference. If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link. 

Everyone is welcome!