The excitement for the UPEI Panthers Gold Rush draw continues to grow! With no winners in the last NINE draws, the total pot has grown to more than $15,800—the highest it's ever been—with half going to the winner of Saturday night's draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic programs. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panthers app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8 pm every Saturday.

On Friday, December 16, 2022, ITSS will conduct required maintenance on the myUPEI portal and related services from 9 pm to 12 am (midnight). During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI, Self-Service, Colleague, and Grade Submission.

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.

Due to UPEI's delayed opening on Wednesday, December 14, the UPEI Faculty of Medicine Update, originally scheduled for 11 am, will be postponed until early in the new year. As soon as a new date is scheduled, a revised invitation will be issued to members of the campus community by email. 
 

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. 

We promised a few extra Tea(ching) Breaks this week to help folks make it through marking exams and final projects. Today's Tea(ching) Break is from Alexandra Mihai who spoke at our Teaching Community Conference in May. In her most recent blog post, she ponders the question, "How (much) do you support your students?" To read what Dr. Mihai has to say in regard to questions like What is a good balance between scaffolding and independent learning? What are sustainable ways to support students that go beyond what is often seen as “hand-holding”? check out the blog.

The Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) is pleased to partner with Holland College and the University of Prince Edward Island to host the 2023 annual STLHE/SAPES conference at the Delta Convention Centre in Charlottetown from June 14-16, 2023. (Pre-conference workshops will take place on June 13th.) Submissions are welcome from anyone interested in presenting to a multidisciplinary audience about teaching and learning in higher education. Submissions will close January 15, 2023 (midnight). Link to full details for the call for proposals

UPEI Procurement Services is currently taking bids on a used 2012 Dodge Ram 1500. 

Bids are being accepted in the University's e-tendering portal "Bonfire" until December 16 at 2:00 pm. This portal requires you to register by creating a username and password as your UPEI credentials are not connected to this system. When registering for the Bonfire portal, please put your name in the Vendor Name and Contact Name fields.  You can access the information on this opportunity at https://upei.bonfirehub.ca/projects/60905/details

Are you planning a course for Winter 2023 with work-integrated learning components? Or are you interested in discussing what a work-integrated learning project could look like in your upcoming courses? The Experiential Education team is here to help! Email Shannon at smsnow@upei.ca for support with brainstorming, curriculum development, sourcing partners, and programming.

Award-winning educator and coach Dr. Elizabeth Wells, author of the book The Organized Academic, shares key strategies for making your career a more enjoyable, less stressful experience. Get ready for a new year with some tips on organization and productivity – with exercises and discussion around priorities and goals for a new year. This session focuses on “Why Am I Here?” – creating a compelling mission for your teaching, research, and service.

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!

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments is Friday, December 30, 2022. These applications will be reviewed at the January 19, 2022 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal. Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal.

Please note that the IBC has instituted a new category of protocol amendment: biosafety permit minor amendment. This event form is included in the Researcher Portal. Minor amendments that are strictly limited to changes in personnel and/or funding. Forms can be submitted at any time but require up to a two-week review period. The forms are normally reviewed by the IBC chair or designate and the BSO or designate. If the amendment is approved, then an approval notification will be sent to the PI. Submissions via this route may be sent for full committee review at the discretion of the IBC chair and the BSO.  

For more information about the IBC review and approval process, please contact the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca

Ethics protocols that involve "more than minimal risk" must be reviewed by the full UPEI Research Ethics Board (REB). The next deadline for submitting these protocols is Friday, December 30, 2022, for review at the January 18 meeting.

Other ethics protocol submissions, including new applications that do not involve "more than minimal risk"; renewals; and amendments may be submitted at any time. They will be sent for delegated review as soon as all necessary forms are received.

All research compliance applications, including Research Ethics Board application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal. This online system is paired with electronic approvals to replace the hard-copy signatures process. For more information about the REB review and approval process, please contact the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca.

Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researcherportal@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal.

On Friday, December 16, 2022, ITSS will conduct required maintenance on the myUPEI portal and related services from 9 pm to 12 am (midnight). During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI, Self-Service, Colleague, and Grade Submission.

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.

You might be thinking of giving a tech gift to a child or young teen this Christmas. The easiest way to explore the safety settings, reporting tools, and other features on the device you’ve just bought is by testing it yourself. If you can, charge it up and have a go at navigating the safety tools, parental controls, and resources provided.

Remember that you can have all the filters and safety settings, but none are 100 per cent effective. Talking to your child about what to do if they see something that worries or upsets them is key. Having a conversation demonstrates that you are engaged and interested in their online lives and shows you are always available to help them should they need it.

Research the smartphone, gaming device, or tablet, and be prepared!

Due to UPEI's delayed opening on Wednesday, December 14, the UPEI Faculty of Medicine Update, originally scheduled for 11 am, will be postponed until early in the new year. As soon as a new date is scheduled, a revised invitation will be issued to members of the campus community by email. 
 

UPEI students can enjoy free coffee, cookies, and cocoa at a Festive Coffee Break on Tuesday, December 13, from 11:30 am to 1 pm in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre (weather willing!). The Festive Coffee Break is sponsored by the Office of the President.

The winner of the iPhone 14 was Misty Rossiter. The UPEI Healthy Campus Committee thanks everyone for their feedback. We'll be tabulating the input from the survey to use toward the development of wellness programs and services for UPEI faculty and staff. Happy Holidays!

Are you planning a course for Winter 2023 with work-integrated learning components? Or are you interested in discussing what a work-integrated learning project could look like in your upcoming courses? The Experiential Education team is here to help! Email Shannon at smsnow@upei.ca for support with brainstorming, curriculum development, sourcing partners, and programming.

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).

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments is Friday, December 30, 2022. These applications will be reviewed at the January 19, 2022 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal. Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal.

Please note that the IBC has instituted a new category of protocol amendment: biosafety permit minor amendment. This event form is included in the Researcher Portal. Minor amendments that are strictly limited to changes in personnel and/or funding. Forms can be submitted at any time but require up to a two-week review period. The forms are normally reviewed by the IBC chair or designate and the BSO or designate. If the amendment is approved, then an approval notification will be sent to the PI. Submissions via this route may be sent for full committee review at the discretion of the IBC chair and the BSO.  

For more information about the IBC review and approval process, please contact the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca