Welcome to the Winter 2024 Academic Semester!

 

Dear Members of the UPEI Campus Community,  

 

Welcome to the Winter 2024 Academic Semester! The start of a new year is always an exciting time, bringing with it a sense of optimism. For me this year, that hope revolves around our shared commitment to improve the campus culture at UPEI through listening, collaboration, and action. I encourage you to learn more about the consultation currently underway on the preliminary draft of the UPEI Action Plan.

 

I hope that you had a restful holiday break, although I recognize that for some of our students, staff, and faculty, it was a difficult time due to loneliness or feelings of anxiety or concern for the well-being of family and friends affected by conflicts or other tragedies around the world. To new and returning students, I encourage you to stay connected, get involved in campus life, and reach out if you need support. Our campus community has consistently demonstrated a commitment to standing together in times of need.

 

An example of this was the tremendous outpouring of generosity in December from employees to the UPEI Campus Food Bank. I am pleased to report that donations to the food bank last month totalled $21,456, and the Office of the President has matched that up to $10,000. To faculty and staff, thank you for supporting our students through your generous giving as well as through your continued hard work to help them reach their full potential.

 

To our entire community, let’s embrace the challenges and opportunities that this semester brings with a renewed commitment to UPEI. I am confident that, together, we will create a campus that is filled with meaningful connections and shared successes, and is based on our collective dedication to our UPEI values of academic freedom and rigour; accountability and integrity; excellence; and in particular, equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation. The future is ours to build!

 

Here's to a promising new semester and year ahead. Happy New Year!

 

Regards,

 

Greg

 

GREG KEEFE, DVM, MSc, MBA (he/him)
President and Vice-Chancellor (Interim)