UPEI announces blended delivery model for 2021 Winter Academic Semester

This message from the Office of the Vice-President Academic and Research was distributed to UPEI students, faculty, and staff on September 25, 2020 to their @upei.ca emails. While we will continue to update our COVID-19 website, the latest news will be first shared with the UPEI community by email and on UPEI SAFE, the University’s safety app (available on The App Store and Google Play). View UPEI's Operational Ease-Back Plan

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

I am pleased that through the efforts of our entire UPEI campus community, we have had a successful start to the 2020 Fall Academic Semester.

We have had a very positive return to university this fall with UPEI students being able to rejoin our campus community healthy and eager to continue their progression of learning. Thank you to everyone for your efforts and commitment on this front. In addition, thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to transition to our student-focused blended delivery model to ensure the continued health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and Island community.

While we are fortunate to be in Prince Edward Island, we are well aware that the COVID-19 pandemic is enduring and that other parts of Canada are experiencing a second wave of cases. With the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, we must continue to be vigilant in terms of the health and safety protocols we have put in place. Although we are only in week three of the fall term, we are mindful of the need to communicate the plan for the 2021 Winter Academic Semester so that students and faculty and staff can prepare well in advance.

At the recent meeting of the UPEI Senate, it was unanimously decided that UPEI will continue with a blended delivery model for the Winter Academic Semester (January to April 2021).

This means that UPEI courses will continue to be primarily online with exceptions for in-person, on-campus instruction. These exceptions include accredited programs in health and clinical-based programming (such as Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Psychology, and Sustainable Design Engineering), some lab-based courses in Science, performance-based programming in Arts (such as Music), and post-degree and graduate studies. Other students who are required to be on-campus for in-person activities include varsity student-athletes, and graduate and undergraduate honours students conducting research.

As we move forward with planning for the next semester, we are committed to continuing to engage with our learning community to identify opportunities to provide additional in-person experiences and activities, where possible, that align with PEI Chief Public Health Office guidance.  

I encourage everyone to visit our Program Delivery by Faculty page to view a summary of how each Faculty is managing program delivery. Contact information and further updates on programs will be posted to this page as well. In addition, I encourage any students who require assistance or who are eager to make further connections to build their university experience at UPEI to visit https://www.upei.ca/current-students for information ranging from student services and supports, to upcoming events and health and wellness resources.

Thank you again to all our students, faculty and staff for a positive start to our academic year. I wish everyone continued good health and a great semester.


Dr. Katherine Gottschall-Pass
Vice-President Academic and Research (Interim)