Welcome Message from the President
Dear Students,
With the 2017–18 academic year about to begin, I would like to thank you for choosing the University of Prince Edward Island. Whether you are a brand new student or returning for another great year, I am honoured to welcome you to our University. UPEI offers innovative, experiential learning opportunities in a close-knit, safe, Island community.
We strive every day to create a welcoming environment on our diverse campus. At UPEI, we embrace and respect one another because of our beautiful differences. Our outstanding faculty and staff work hard to create safe, inclusive spaces, where you can thrive academically, socially, and culturally.
I look forward to another year of creating future-focused programming by collaborating with faculty and staff and consulting with the community. We have many things to celebrate from last year, including the opening of the School for Sustainable Design Engineering building, the launch of the School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences, and the approval of our new program—Applied Communications, Leadership, and Culture—that starts this semester.
With the start of our new academic year also comes a commitment to renew our University’s strategic plan. Building on the momentum and considerable success of our existing plan (which was developed for 2013 to 2018), our campus community will once again explore the possibilities and priorities that will help us to achieve our vision of being a leader in delivering outstanding experiential learning opportunities that encourage our students to develop to their full potential in both the classroom and the community. As we undertake our plan’s renewal in the coming months, we look forward to refreshed dialogue and discussions, while maintaining our focus on ensuring continual growth in the quality of the education and experiences we provide our students.
UPEI is a community. As a community, we are all connected. And university is not a journey you need to take alone. UPEI has numerous departments and resources in place dedicated to your success, including the Student Health Centre, Counseling Services, the Mawi'omi Aboriginal Student Centre, the Chaplaincy Centre, the Campus Life program, the Student Diversity office, Webster Centre for Teaching and Learning, Career Services, and many more. I encourage you to reach out and explore the many different networks we have created to support your university experience.
Whether this is your first year or fourth, I urge you to take advantage of the many opportunities, activities, and celebrations that UPEI has to offer. Going to university is more than what happens in the classroom! The 2017–18 AUS season is kicking off, and our Panther varsity and club sports teams are striving to make this the best year ever. You can see the game-day details on gopanthersgo.ca. You can also view the University’s upcoming events on upei.ca. Participating in extra-curricular activities is a great way to have fun, make a difference, and build friendships that last a lifetime.
I wish you all the very best for a wonderful year at UPEI. You will receive an exceptional education in a warm, friendly atmosphere that is notably located on one of the most beautiful Islands in Canada.
Best wishes,
Alaa
Dr. Alaa S. Abd-El-Aziz
President and Vice-Chancellor
University of Prince Edward Island
