The second meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on Friday, October 18, 2024, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). To view the 2024-2025 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here.

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. 

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre is offering COVID-19 vaccine appointments throughout November for all students, faculty, and staff.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is designed to target current variants more effectively, boosting your immunity and reducing the risk of severe symptoms. Protect yourself and those around you by scheduling your appointment today.

To book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment, email healthcentre@upei.ca with “COVID” in the subject line. Also, members of the campus community attending the flu vaccine clinics on October 23, 24, or 30 may book their COVID-19 vaccine appointment at that time. 

Important details:

• It is recommended that booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine are scheduled 3-6 months after your last dose or 3-6 months after COVID-19 illness (whichever is later).
• Vaccines are provided at no cost.
• Please note that we cannot administer COVID-19 vaccines to children under 12 years of age.
• Bring a valid provincial health card or your student ID for registration.
• A 15-minute observation period is required after your vaccination to monitor for any adverse reactions. Please plan your visit accordingly.

Protect yourself and help to reduce the spread in your community. Get vaccinated this November!

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre will offer flu vaccine clinics in October to all students as well as faculty, staff, and their families.

Flu clinic schedule:

• Wednesday, October 23, 10:00 am-3:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
• Thursday, October 24, 1:00–7:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre 
• Wednesday, October 30, 12:00 noon–7:00 pm, The McCain Foundation Learning Commons Atrium, Atlantic Vet College

Important details:

• Vaccines are administered on a first-come, first-served basis—no appointment is necessary.
• This service is free of charge.
• We are unable to administer vaccines to children aged 2 and under.
• Please bring a valid provincial health card or student ID for registration.
• You are required to wait 15 minutes in the post-vaccine waiting area after receiving your flu shot to ensure no allergic reaction. Please plan your time accordingly.

COVID-19 vaccines will be available in November. Members of the campus community who attend one of the flu vaccine clinics can book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccine at that time, or they can email the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre at healthcentre@upei.ca to make an appointment. If you are booking an appointment by email, please put COVID in the subject line. 

Stay healthy this flu season - come get vaccinated!

The Writing Centre will be open during the mid-semester break as follows:

• October 12 (Saturday)
• October 15 (Tuesday)
• October 16 (Wednesday)
• October 17 (Thursday)

Please go to upei.mywconline.com to make an appointment. 

Applications for the Fall 2024 Work-Integrated Learning bursary are due on Friday, October 11, at 11:59 pm. Students who are engaging in a project or placement with a community or industry partner as part of a course or program requirement are invited to visit https://www.upei.ca/exed/students/wil-bursary for details and complete an application. 

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next presentation of the 2024-25 Environmental Sciences & Human Biology seminar series on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 12:30 pm in Duffy Science Centre 204.

Jennifer Taylor, UPEI Department of Applied Human Sciences will present “Food Insecurity in PEI: Can Food Programs Address It?"

All are welcome.

In consideration of the difficulties that exposure to scented products causes to scent-sensitive individuals, UPEI asks for your cooperation in making our campus a scent-free environment. We ask that all faculty, staff, students, and visitors refrain from wearing or using products with strong scents/fragrances while on campus. 

A few examples of products to refrain from wearing or using are strongly scented lotions, hair care products, shaving lotion/aftershave, air fresheners, aromatic or essential oils, and cologne/perfume/body sprays.

If you have any questions about UPEI’s Scent-Free Initiative, please contact the Health, Safety, and Environment department at 902-566-0901 or HSE@upei.ca.

UPEI’s Scent-Free Initiative Policy can be viewed here.

Join Megan Glover and Lisa Steele on October 16 at 12:00 pm  in the TLC to learn about Moodle activities for use in active syllabi and anonymous surveys.

The Generative AI Taskforce (GAIT) will host two workshops for faculty interested in learning about GenAI. This second workshop will be tailored to the GenAI curious. Attendees will explore one or two GenAI apps and consider how GenAI might be used for course design, learning activity development, or the creation of a rubric. This workshop will be on Wednesday, October 16, at 1:30 pm in the TLC. Colleagues are encouraged to bring a device to this workshop.   

The Generative AI Taskforce (GAIT) will host two workshops in October for faculty interested in enhancing their digital literacy and learning about GenAI. This first workshop will focus on GenAI basics, which will include time for instructors to discuss and develop a GenAI statement for their course syllabi (or for a specific assignment in your course) that fits with your pedagogical approach to student learning. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, October 15, from 10:00 am to noon in the TLC.  

As UPEI continues to think about the best first-year experience or our students, Shannon Murray and Philip Smith will introduce two successful programs from our past: the First-Year Advantage Program and the senior student-led First-Year Seminar. After a brief description of each program, we will open up the discussion to the larger question of what we hope for in the experience of our first-year undergraduate students.

The Generative AI Taskforce (GAIT) will host two workshops in October for faculty interested in learning about GenAI. The first will be a GenAI basics workshop, which will include time to develop a GenAI statement for your course syllabus (or for a specific assignment in your course) on Tuesday, October 15, from 10:00 am to noon.

The second workshop will be tailored to the GenAI curious. Attendees will explore one or two GenAI apps and consider how GenAI might be used for course design, learning activity development, or the creation of a rubric. This workshop will be on Wednesday, October 16, at 1:30 pm.

Colleagues are encouraged to bring a device to these workshops, which will take place in the Teaching and Learning Centre.  An RSVP is not necessary.  

The Writing Centre will be open during the mid-semester break as follows:

• October 12 (Saturday)
• October 15 (Tuesday)
• October 16 (Wednesday)
• October 17 (Thursday)

Please go to upei.mywconline.com to make an appointment. 

Presented by the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI, the Island Lecture Series on October 22 will celebrate the launch of "Finding Home at the Harbour" by Barbara Palmer Rousseau. Weaving natural history with her own story and illustrations, Rousseau highlights the resilience of the Island and its inhabitants to ongoing environmental change in this collection of illustrated essays published by Island Studies Press. The lecture and launch will be held from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building Room 201, University of Prince Edward Island. 

A frequent summer visitor to PEI, Rousseau experienced its true beauty when she moved here from Ontario. At her cottage in St. Peters Harbour on the northeast shore, she learned the seasonal rhythms of spring peepers and barefoot beach walks, fall hurricanes, and winter freeze-up. Her creativity returned as she began to sketch her fox family neighbours, the nearby dunes, and the sand-locked lighthouse. Her essays reflect on the fluid nature of the shore and tell a story of adaptation and hope.

Rousseau moved to PEI in 2020 to return to school after a 30-year career in Ottawa’s software development industry. She is currently completing a Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) at UPEI, studying the environmental history of the north shore dunes and the resulting implications for the future of the Island.

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

Applications for the Fall 2024 Work-Integrated Learning bursary are due on Friday, October 11, at 11:59 pm. Students who are engaging in a project or placement with a community or industry partner as part of a course or program requirement are invited to visit https://www.upei.ca/exed/students/wil-bursary for details and complete an application. 

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next presentation of the 2024-25 Environmental Sciences & Human Biology seminar series on Friday, October 11, 2024, at 12:30 pm in Duffy Science Centre 204.

Jennifer Taylor, UPEI Department of Applied Human Sciences will present “Food Insecurity in PEI: Can Food Programs Address It?"

All are welcome.

All members of the UPEI research community are invited to attend a presentation about research security by Beth Canin, Regional Advisor (Atlantic), Research Security Centre. The presentation will cover information about the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships and the Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern (STRAC) and how these requirements relate to all tri-agency research grants and all CFI grants.

The information session will take place in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230, on October 24 from 12:00-1:00 pm. There will be an option to join virtually for those who are unable to attend in person. 

Bring your lunch; coffee and treats will be provided. Please RSVP here. 

Join us in the Department of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Human Rights, Kelley Memorial Building, Room 115, for an educational display on Islamophobia, where we will explore its origins, widespread effects, and the vital importance of addressing it within our university community.

Event highlights:

• In-depth presentations: Discover the historical roots of Islamophobia, orientalism, and anti-Arab racism, examining how it has evolved over time and how it manifests in our daily lives and institutions.
• Case studies: Delve into how the war on Palestine and the War on Terrorism exemplify Islamophobia in action, shaping public perception, policy decisions, and global narratives about Muslims and Arabs.
• Interactive discussions: Engage in meaningful conversations about the significance of recognizing and combating Islamophobia, and how it can foster a more inclusive campus environment.

Why understanding Islamophobia matters:

Understanding Islamophobia is crucial for several reasons:

1. Combatting stereotypes: By recognizing the origins and impacts of Islamophobia, we can challenge harmful stereotypes that perpetuate discrimination and division. This understanding helps us foster empathy and respect among diverse communities.
2. Promoting inclusivity: Universities are places for learning and growth. Addressing Islamophobia is essential for creating an inclusive environment where all students feel safe, valued, and able to express their identities.
3. Global perspectives: Islamophobia affects millions worldwide, particularly in conflict areas. By studying its manifestations, such as in the war on Palestine and the war on terrorism, we gain insights into broader issues of human rights, justice, and global solidarity.

The northeast entrance of the Kelley Memorial Building features an automatic door with a 36-inch clearance. The door swings outward and leads to a ramp that is 62 inches wide. Please note that the ramp makes a sharp right turn, after which the width reduces to 36 inches.

At the end of the ramp, you will find the exhibit entrance, which has a door clearance of 32 inches and a small bump at the threshold. We encourage all visitors to reach out if you require additional assistance or have any questions regarding accessibility.

On Wednesday, October 9, ITSS will conduct routine maintenance on the myUPEI portal 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, 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 directly using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at 902-566-0465.