Message re: 2021 Winter Academic Semester

Dear students, staff, and faculty,

UPEI is committed to helping our students reach their full potential in both the classroom and the community. As we approach the end of a challenging year, UPEI continues to look for ways to support students in their educational journeys, with particular emphasis on their overall well-being.

The UPEI Senate met and passed a motion today to change the starting date of the 2021 Winter Academic Semester to provide additional time to students for their health and wellness. The Senate decided unanimously that the UPEI Winter 2021 Academic Semester will begin on January 11, 2021, for students in the Faculties of Arts, Business, Education, Graduate Studies, Nursing, Science, and Sustainable Design Engineering. Other academic calendar dates will be adjusted as required; the last day of the semester will remain April 26, 2021.

As previously announced, the Winter semester starting date for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine will be January 4, 2021. However, with a shared commitment to student health and wellness, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine academic and student leadership teams have made some adjustments to allow Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students to spend more time in their home environments without interrupting their progression in the program. Therefore, learning for DVM students in years 1 to 3 will take place online for the first two weeks of the semester and will resume in-person on January 18, 2021. Clinical rotations for fourth-year students will commence as planned on January 4, 2021, while the end of the semester for DVM students remains May 1, 2021.

Students are encouraged to reach out to their respective Deans if they have any questions regarding the start of the 2021 Winter Academic Semester. Students are also reminded that UPEI has a number of supports through the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre as well as UPEI Student Affairs, including Personal Counselling, Accessibility Services, and the International Student Office. 

Yours truly,

 

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