Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning has a book review section called Books Worth Reading with a recently published review of a couple of books that tackle the challenges of reforming grading practices: Off the Mark by Jack Schneider and Ethan L. Hutt, and Grading for Growth by David Clark and Robert Talbert. Curious to know more? You can read or listen to the review, Reassessing Assessment. 

The Government of Prince Edward Island invites students aged 14 to 24 to undertake anti-racism work on PEI. Students can apply for funding ranging from $100 to $1,500 for projects that must align with one or more of the following goals: strengthening organizational capacity with activities focused on anti-racism; public outreach, engagement, and advocacy; and strengthening BIPOC communities. Project proposals will be accepted until February 26, 2024. For more information, visit princeedwardisland.ca/antiracismmicrogrants 

SkillsPEI is a division of the PEI Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population. It manages the design and delivery of employment and skills development programming funded by the Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement and Canada-PEI Workforce Development Agreement. 

Through SkillsPEI, the Post-Secondary Student Program supports full-time post-secondary students working a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 18 weeks during the summer. The exact number of weeks designated per placement will be based on factors such as but not limited to position, wage, and the likelihood of opportunity for experiential learning. Students must be entering or returning to full-time post-secondary studies in the fall.  

Wage subsidy offered:

• Employer can set the wage rate but must provide a minimum of $14.50/hour and will be funded up to $15.80/hour. 
• Employers will be reimbursed 100% of the approved hourly wage plus 4% vacation pay to a maximum of 40 hours per week, for the total weeks approved.
• Note: the subsidy does not include 8% benefits, so additional funding must be sourced elsewhere.

To centralize the administration of this program for UPEI researchers, Research Services is accepting/submitting research-related applications. To apply for the program, please provide the following details to Research Services (researchservices@upei.ca) by the closing date of March 31, 2024:

• Project or activity description
• Position title 
• Job activities/duties 
• Objectives to be achieved
• Education and skills required
• Duration including start and end date and total weeks
• Rate of pay (hourly)
• Mentorship plan
• Supervisor name and contact details 

For additional information about the program, please click here. UPEI researchers may contact Maria Steele, Manager of Research Services, for more details (mlsteele@upei.ca).

Send a postcard home! On Monday, February 12, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm at the Robertson Library, write a postcard to your family and friends back home. We provide the postcard, and we will mail it for free--anywhere in the world. Brought to you by the Robertson Library and the International Student Office. 

The Experiential Education Department is offering the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and certification program through the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion's See Different program on February 22 and 23, from 1-3:30 pm. This free certificate program is open to UPEI students and staff aged 15-24. This is a beginner-level certificate with two interactive workshops (2.5 hours each) and a final assignment. For further details and to register, visit our UPEI calendar event.

The Robertson Library invites the campus community to the final candidate's presentation for the permanent-track position of One Health & Scholarly Communications Librarian. 

Candidate: Dan Phillips, MI, MREM

Title: What can the Library do to support scholarly communications at a university like UPEI?

When: Monday, March 4, 2024, 2:45 PM

Where: AVC 278N

Dan Phillips earned his ALA-accredited Master of Information and Master of Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University. He is currently a Clinical Librarian with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. 

Ash Wednesday is February 14. Join the Chaplaincy Centre for Mass with the distribution of ashes at 12:05 pm. For more information, contact Sr. Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca.

UPEI annually acknowledges individuals for their outstanding contributions to the success of the University. The awards are valued at $1,000 each and given in recognition of the excellence of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff.

Nominations are open and must be submitted to universityawards@upei.ca by the last Friday in February each year. This year, nominations close on Friday, February 23, 2024. 

For further details about the awards and the nomination process, please visit https://www.upei.ca/president/university-awards-of-excellence

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC), University of Prince Edward Island, is now accepting nominations for the Atlantic Award of Excellence in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Care.

Established in 2005, this annual award recognizes veterinarians who have made significant contributions to animal health and welfare in Atlantic Canada. The award will be presented at the 2024 Atlantic Provinces Veterinary Conference, which will be held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from April 19–21.

Anyone may submit a nomination. Nominees must be practicing or retired veterinarians in the Atlantic provinces to be considered for this award. Nominees do not have to be affiliated with the AVC. Completed nominations must be received by February 19, 2024, at 11:45 pm.

If you are interested in learning more about this award, past award winners, and the terms of reference, or to download a nomination form, please visit: https://www.upei.ca/avc/about/awards-and-honours

Nominations can be emailed to avcspecialevents@upei.ca.

Workshop #3 in the virtual monthly Lunch and Learn Library series supporting UPEI graduate students.

REGISTER: https://forms.gle/3Tfu4zxs6McP1ddT8 to receive the Zoom link and/or recording
Facilitator: Kim Mears, Scholarly Communications Librarian
When: Noon (Atlantic), Friday, February 16 (recording available)
Where: Zoom

Description: Thesis to Journal Article (or vice versa): Considerations for Graduate Students
Are you planning to turn your Masters or PhD thesis into a journal article? Or are you writing a thesis that combines several published journal articles into one document? Do you know if you have the rights to do this? Learn more about publisher policies and copyright considerations in regards to thesis material in this session.

Target audience: Graduate-level students (Masters and PhD)

Send a postcard home! On Monday, February 12, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm at the Robertson Library, write a postcard to your family and friends back home. We provide the postcard, and we will mail it for free--anywhere in the world. Brought to you by the Robertson Library and the International Student Office. 

PhD in Environmental Sciences thesis defense

Presenter: Kassandra Devon Lynn

Title: “Sandy Beach Amphipods: Ecology and Response to Natural and Artificial Stressors"

Natural and artificial stressors shape the life history and ecology of sandy beach amphipods, so their study is relevant to predict how the role of these organisms may change with ongoing climate events. Behavioural and physiological responses of the sandy beach amphipod "Americorchestia longicornis" to natural and artificial stressors were assessed using field and laboratory studies. The results of this thesis advance the knowledge on the ecology of sandy beach amphipods in a cold-temperate region, especially with regards to the influence of light pollution.

Date/Time/Location: Friday, February 9, 2024, 1:45 pm, Duffy Science Centre 204

Everyone is welcome.

The Experiential Education Department is offering the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and certification program through the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion's See Different program on February 22 and 23, from 1-3:30 pm. This free certificate program is open to UPEI students and staff aged 15-24. This is a beginner-level certificate with two interactive workshops (2.5 hours each) and a final assignment. For further details and to register, visit our UPEI calendar event.

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next presentation of the 2023-24 Environmental Sciences & Human Biology seminar series on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. in Duffy Science Centre, Room 204.

Emily Gibbons, MSc Candidate (Environmental Sciences, Quijon lab – Department of Biology) will present “Health and local biodiversity role of the giant Irish moss.”

Riley McInnis, BSc Honours student (Springer lab – Department of Biology), will present “Anticamouflage: Do deciduous leaves change color to reveal their pests?”

All are welcome.

The Teaching Dossier workshop on Friday, February 9, in the Teaching and Learning Centre will now begin at 2:30 pm instead of 1:30 pm. The workshop is an opportunity for you to connect with peers to generate ideas for your teaching dossier, seek feedback, and have dedicated time to work on sections of your teaching dossier. We’ll spend some time focusing on strategies for developing your award dossier while reserving a large portion of work time for you to work on your own dossier.  

If you are unable to attend, please feel free to reach out to theTLC for 1-1 support.

The UPEI Department of Music is pleased to present a recital showcasing our wonderfully talented faculty members. All are master performers on their instruments and excited to share their gift of music with you. This recital will be a highlight of our concert season!

Performers include Sung Ha Shin-Bouey (soprano), Dale Sorensen (trombone), Nicole Strum (saxophone), Magdalena von Eccher (piano), Stephen Bouey (bass baritone), Krista Bryson (in a percussion duet with UPEI alumnus Branden Kelly), Jim Dickson (guitar), and Morgan Saulnier (flute). The program will feature a varied selection of repertoire.

Accessible parking is available, and Dr. Steel Recital Hall has an accessible entrance via elevator.

The UPEI Alumni Association Panther for Life Spirit Award is given to a current UPEI student (of no particular standing), who exemplifies true Panther pride inside and outside of the classroom. This individual has contributed to the campus community in a meaningful way, whether it be through their volunteerism, participation in UPEI-related events and activities, support of Panther sport, or any other significant way that makes them a strong ambassador for UPEI, both now and as a future Panther alumni.

The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event.

Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. Nominations must be received by February 29 at 4 pm to be considered for 2024.

To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award

For more information, email alumni@upei.ca

UPEI annually acknowledges individuals for their outstanding contributions to the success of the University. The awards are valued at $1,000 each and given in recognition of the excellence of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff.

Nominations are open and must be submitted to universityawards@upei.ca by the last Friday in February each year. This year, nominations close on Friday, February 23, 2024. 

For further details about the awards and the nomination process, please visit https://www.upei.ca/president/university-awards-of-excellence

From February 12-16, 2024, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (Alliance) and the Alliance Federation will offer an introductory digital research tools webinar series for humanities, arts, and social sciences researchers. These are introductory, beginner-level sessions. No prior experience or knowledge is required.

Tools available through the Alliance and Federation will be discussed, as well as some out-of-the-box tools available to Canadian researchers, and additional information and techniques relevant to digital research projects.

You may register for as many or as few of the sessions as you wish. Registration for English sessions is available here. 

Sessions at-a-glance:

• Keynote: Dr. John Simpson (ISED)
• Introduction to Canadian Certificate of Digital Humanities (cc:DH/HN)
• Canadian HSS Commons platform
• Introduction to GIS
• DMP Assistant
• Managing sensitive data in Canada
• Introduction to FRDR, Lunaris, Borealis, and Odesi platforms
• Stylo: semantic text editor
• TEI (Text Encoding Initiative)
• Introduction to interactive coding notebook environments: Jupyter and Colab
• Introduction to Python
• Introduction to R
• Machine Learning 
• 3D Visualization

Most sessions are in both French and English. For further information, contact hss-series@gw.alliancecan.ca.

PhD in Environmental Sciences thesis defense

Presenter: Kassandra Devon Lynn

Title: “Sandy Beach Amphipods: Ecology and Response to Natural and Artificial Stressors"

Natural and artificial stressors shape the life history and ecology of sandy beach amphipods, so their study is relevant to predict how the role of these organisms may change with ongoing climate events. Behavioural and physiological responses of the sandy beach amphipod "Americorchestia longicornis" to natural and artificial stressors were assessed using field and laboratory studies. The results of this thesis advance the knowledge on the ecology of sandy beach amphipods in a cold-temperate region, especially with regards to the influence of light pollution.

Date/Time/Location: Friday, February 9, 2024, 1:45 pm, Duffy Science Centre 204

Everyone is welcome.