At the Chaplaincy Centre thoughts are with the students during exam time, their success, and yes, of course, the chili dinner. On the first two days of exams -Wednesday and Thursday, December 4 and 5 - between 11:30 am–1:30 pm, a chili dinner is served at the Chaplaincy Centre, free for the students. About 300 students show up each day with smiles and conversation on this busy week. If you are able to volunteer some time, sign up here: http://bit.ly/1brACv4

Please note the following changes to the hours of operation for the food services retail locations on campus: December: Beginning Monday, December 2, Courtyard Café (W.A. Murphy Student Centre) will operate from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. It will close for the holidays at 2:00 pm on Friday, December 6. The AVC cafeteria will close for the holiday break on Friday, December 20 at 3:30 pm. Beginning Monday, December 16, Samuel's (Robertson Library) hours of operation will be 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. This location will close at 3:00 pm on Monday, December 23 for the holiday break. January: On Thursday, January 2 Samuel's - will be open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm; AVC - will be open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Courtyard Cafe - will remain closed. On Friday, January 3, Samuel's - will be open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm; AVC - will be open from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Courtyard Cafe - will remain closed On Monday, January 6 Samuel's will resume regular hours of operation: Monday to Thursday: 8:00 am - 9:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 3:30 pm AVC will resume regular hours of operation Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm; Courtyard Cafe will resume regular hours of operation Monday to Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm The staff of Ancillary Services and Chartwells would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.

From Monday December 2 until Saturday December 7, UPEI and AVC staff and faculty can charge UPEI Bookstore purchases to their staff accounts. Payment for the purchases will be done through payroll deductions in the new year. The minimum purchase is $100.00 up to a maximum of $500.00. If you have any questions please contact Bea, Don, or Kevin at the Bookstore 566-0625.

Over one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. International Day for Persons with Disabilities is a day to acknowledge and celebrate the ability of people with disabilities and also to increase awareness of disability issues in the community. UPEI staff, and faculty are enouraged to observe this day on Tuesday, December 3. The United Nations’ theme for this year’s observance is: “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all”. For more information on UPEI's committment to assisting students with disabilities visit http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/accessibility or contact Cathy Rose, Accessibility Services, Coodinator at crose@upei.ca or 628-4364.

UPEI staff, faculty, and students are invited to attend an international potluck tonight from 6:00-9:00 pm in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre put on by the Society of International Students (SIS). The potluck will feature food, music, and dance from around the world. Please bring a dish for the sharing table, keeping in mind the safe food handling procedures. Listed below are some guidelines that serve as reminders with respect to food handling and preparation: 1. Ensure that areas around food preparation are kept clean. 2. Avoid cross contamination of food by keeping raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or reheating. 3. Keep time between cooking and serving to a minimum by preparing foods as close to the event as possible. It is also important to cook food fully and finish it at a later time. 4. Chill food promptly recognizing that large batches take longer times to cool. 5. If you do bring your dish early, there may refrigeration space available. Please plan ahead and check with your coordinator. It may be easiest to bring your dish with you at 6:00 pm. *There will be a sheet to fill out where you can make note of any peanuts or other items that individuals may be allergic/sensitive to or unable to eat for personal reasons. 7. Also check expiration dates on food labels that are components of your dish. 8. Ensure dishes are properly covered when transporting. 9. Please check the Environmental Health website for more information regarding preparing and transporting food for events such as our potluck - www.gov.pe.ca/health/environmentalhealth. For more information, contact Erica Stanley at estanley@upei.ca or (902) 566-0443.

You have until today at 4:00 pm to return your United Way Pledge form to Human Resources in order to be eligible to win these great prizes: - One month parking pass in a RESTRICTED lot - Lunch for four at the Wave - $50 Bookstore gift card The UPEI 2013 United Way Campaign will be wrapping up today with a celebration at The Wave from 4:00-6:30 pm Prize drawing with be done at 5:30 pm We invite you to come out and celebrate with us. The Wave will also be donating $1 from every order or nachos purchased during this time the the United Way. If you still need a pledge form please contact kharrison@upei.ca or come to the Wave between 4:00-5:30 pm. We will have some available on site before the prize drawing.

Exams are fast approaching. At the Chaplaincy Centre thoughts are of the students, their success, and yes, of course, the chili dinner. On the first two days of exams - Wednesday and Thursday, December 4 and 5 - between 11:30 am–1:30 pm, a chili dinner is served at the Chaplaincy Centre, free for students. About 300 students show up each day with smiles and conversation on this busy week. If you are able to volunteer some time, sign up here: http://bit.ly/1brACv4.

Moodle courses for January 2014 are now posted. If you have questions or issues please email moodle@upei.ca.

There will be a UPEI biosafety training session on Tuesday, December 17, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the McCain Foundation Learning Commons, AVC, Room 287N. Topics to be covered include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. Please note: only those who attended the training sessions in December 2012, February 2013, or June 2013 are currently considered to be “up to date” in their training requirements. If you wish to attend, you must pre-register by contacting Carol Heartz, Research Services and Graduate Studies, before December 10 by email (heartz@upei.ca) or by phone (x 0775). Please include your name, department, email address and phone number in your email.

Over one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. International Day for Persons with Disabilities is a day to acknowledge and celebrate the ability of people with disabilities and also to increase awareness of disability issues in the community. UPEI staff, and faculty are enouraged to observe this day on Tuesday, December 3. The United Nations’ theme for this year’s observance is: “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all”. For more information on UPEI's committment to assisting students with disabilities visit http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/accessibility or contact Cathy Rose, Accessibility Services, Coodinator at crose@upei.ca or 628-4364.

UPEI staff, faculty, and students are invited to attend an international potluck tonight from 6:00-9:00 pm in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre put on by the Society of International Students (SIS). The potluck will feature food, music, and dance from around the world. Please bring a dish for the sharing table, keeping in mind the safe food handling procedures. Listed below are some guidelines that serve as reminders with respect to food handling and preparation: 1. Ensure that areas around food preparation are kept clean. 2. Avoid cross contamination of food by keeping raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or reheating. 3. Keep time between cooking and serving to a minimum by preparing foods as close to the event as possible. It is also important to cook food fully and finish it at a later time. 4. Chill food promptly recognizing that large batches take longer times to cool. 5. If you do bring your dish early, there may refrigeration space available. Please plan ahead and check with your coordinator. It may be easiest to bring your dish with you at 6:00 pm. *There will be a sheet to fill out where you can make note of any peanuts or other items that individuals may be allergic/sensitive to or unable to eat for personal reasons. 7. Also check expiration dates on food labels that are components of your dish. 8. Ensure dishes are properly covered when transporting. 9. Please check the Environmental Health website for more information regarding preparing and transporting food for events such as our potluck - www.gov.pe.ca/health/environmentalhealth. For more information, contact Erica Stanley at estanley@upei.ca or (902) 566-0443.

You have until today at 4:00 pm to return your United Way Pledge form to Human Resources in order to be eligible to win these great prizes: - One month parking pass in a RESTRICTED lot - Lunch for four at the Wave - $50 Bookstore gift card The UPEI 2013 United Way Campaign will be wrapping up today with a celebration at The Wave from 4:00-6:30 pm Prize drawing with be done at 5:30 pm We invite you to come out and celebrate with us. The Wave will also be donating $1 from every order or nachos purchased during this time the the United Way. If you still need a pledge form please contact kharrison@upei.ca or come to the Wave between 4:00-5:30 pm. We will have some available on site before the prize drawing.

Exams are fast approaching. At the Chaplaincy Centre thoughts are of the students, their success, and yes, of course, the chili dinner. On the first two days of exams - Wednesday and Thursday, December 4 and 5 - between 11:30 am–1:30 pm, a chili dinner is served at the Chaplaincy Centre, free for students. About 300 students show up each day with smiles and conversation on this busy week. If you are able to volunteer some time, sign up here: http://bit.ly/1brACv4.

Moodle courses for January 2014 are now posted. If you have questions or issues please email moodle@upei.ca.

There will be a UPEI biosafety training session on Tuesday, December 17, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the McCain Foundation Learning Commons, AVC, Room 287N. Topics to be covered include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. Please note: only those who attended the training sessions in December 2012, February 2013, or June 2013 are currently considered to be “up to date” in their training requirements. If you wish to attend, you must pre-register by contacting Carol Heartz, Research Services and Graduate Studies, before December 10 by email (heartz@upei.ca) or by phone (x 0775). Please include your name, department, email address and phone number in your email.

The UPEI 2013 United Way Campaign will wrap up this Friday November 29. We invite you to join us at The Wave between 4 and 6:30 pm to celebrate our fundraising achievements. At 5:30 pm we will draw from the pledge forms received for some great prizes! Prizes include: - $50 Gift Certificate to the UPEI Bookstore - Lunch for four at the Wave - One Month Parking Pass for a Restricted Lot on Campus. A reminder that payroll deduction donations do need to be renewed each year by completing a new pledge form each year. The Wave will also be donating $1 to the United Way for each order of nachos purchased between 4 and 6:30 pm on Friday. So come out, bring your co-workers and friends, have some nachos, and support a great cause! If you would like a pledge form, additional information on United Way of PEI, or have any questions, please contact Kathryn Harrison, UPEI United Way Campaign Co-Chair, at kharrison@upei.ca

Exams are fast approaching. At the Chaplaincy Centre thoughts are of the students, their success, and yes, of course, the chili dinner. On the first two days of exams -Wednesday and Thursday, December 4 and 5 - between 11:30 am–1:30 pm, a chili dinner is served at the Chaplaincy Centre, free for the students. About 300 students show up each day with smiles and conversation on this busy week. If you are able to volunteer some time, sign up here: http://bit.ly/1brACv4

Please keep in mind that December deadlines are fast approaching and we would ask that you please pay close attention to these dates - given the compressed time lines around this holiday season. IMPORTANT DECEMBER PAYROLL DATES: All pay changes, PTF's, overtime submissions, paper timesheets, etc., must be received by Human Resources by noon: Monday, December 2 for the December 20 payroll Monday, December 9 for the January 3, 2014 payroll ESHEET DEADLINES Monday, December 9 - Esheet Deadline (approvals must be completed) for December 20 pay Monday, December 16 - Esheet Deadline (approvals must be completed) for January 3 pay Please refer to the Payroll Deadlines Calendar and the Christmas Holiday Schedule posted on the Human Resources Webpage for more details. http://hr.upei.ca/files/hr/xmas_post_2013.pdf

Wear your jersey to work on Friday, November 29 and stop by Panther Central at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. For those wearing their favourite sports team jersey, we'll provide a ballot for a few prize draws. Prizes include tickets to men's and women's Panther basketball games, women's Panther hockey games, and a 5-punch Sports Centre pass.

Dr. Abbas Dehghani, Leeds University, candidate for Chair of Engineering at UPEI will be giving a presentation on Monday, December 2, 2013 at 2:30 pm in McDougall Hall, Room 246. The title of his talk is "Building the Future Now - The impact of interdisciplinary engineering." The world is more complex and sophisticated today and it will become more so in the future while user expectations are becoming higher. In today's highly competitive environment, manufacturing is a key factor in achieving success when developing new and innovative products. As a result, our approach to engineering design will have to increasingly focus on achieving more intelligent products with increased functionality taking into account features such as energy, efficiency, safety, reliability, and affordability. Design engineers equipped with mechatronic systems engineering knowledge and experience, together with appropriate entrepreneurial skills, can play a significant role in shaping the future. This campus wide talk and discussion will address the issues through some real world examples. Everyone is welcome to attend.