Today, the Hon. Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue recognised support for the international poverty reduction efforts at the University of Prince Edward Island. In partnership with Canadian universities, this project will deliver concrete results for people living in Chiloe, Chile. Canadians want to make a difference for those in need around the world and expect real results from Canada's international assistance. Our Government will work with Canadian universities to deliver tangible results for people in developing countries,' said Minister Shea. 'By tapping into their expertise, Canada will help provide the essentials for people in need, and give them the economic tools they need to become self-sufficient over the long-term.'

Today's event, supported through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Partners for Development Program's call for proposals, will help the University of Prince Edward Island to examine the social and cultural context of how young indigenous people live and learn, and build a unique school and curriculum based on that knowledge. This project will allow UPEI to share our knowledge, skills and capacity towards sustainable operation of a school that will support development of dignified, sustainable livelihoods in remote small island Indigenous communities.

'This project builds on a relationship of trust and respect between Islanders of PEI and Chiloe that has developed over the past seven years,' said Dr. Irene Novaczek, Director of UPEI's Institute of Island Studies, and co-leader of this initiative, along with Dr. Kate Tilleczek, Canada Research Chair in Child/Youth Cultures and Transitions. 'This project gives us a brilliant opportunity to make a significant positive impact on the lives of young people in Williche territory who struggle with many of the same issues faced by rural indigenous youth here in Canada. In the process, we will also learn and grow, in ways that will enrich what we offer to UPEI students and to the wider Island community.'

The University of Prince Edward Island was one of 15 different schools and 17 different projects that CIDA selected to implement projects around the world that will stimulate sustainable economic growth, secure the future of children and youth, increase food security and advance Canada's commitments on maternal, newborn and child health. The selected Canadian universities will implement the projects in partnership with institutions and organizations in developing countries, to ensure the results will directly benefit people in need.

The total CIDA contribution the University of Prince Edward Island is $3,778,270. UPEI's contribution is $1,548,059, which is 29 percent of the cost of the project.

For more information on the Partners for Development Program and the call for proposals process, please visit CIDA's website at www.cida.gc.ca/partnership.

For information:

The UPEI Student Union is taking part in Canadian Blood Services' 'Get Swabbed!' event on November 15 from 10:00 am-6:00 pm in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre's McMillan Hall. The third annual national university challenge is a coast-to-coast competition amongst universities in support of the OneMatch stem cell and marrow network.

Participants across the country will have their cheeks swabbed to see who will be this year's national champion. The event targets young and diverse-specifically male donors (17-35)-as this particular demographic is vital to OneMatch's efforts in building an optimal stem cell network in Canada. Everyone is encouraged to attend and get swabbed to support UPEI and the Canadian Blood Services.

For more information, contact Amir Hosseinzadeh, President, UPEI Iranian Society at iraniansociety@upeisu.ca

UPEI celebrated the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing today at its first annual event in recognition of the importance of effective writing as a foundational skill for academic success and lifelong learning. The award-presented to 39 students and one faculty member this year-was established in 2011 by the MacLauchlan family to honour H. Wade MacLauchlan's contributions to the University and his 12 years of service as UPEI president and vice-chancellor.

UPEI's interim vice-president academic, Christian Lacroix, acted as the event master of ceremonies. 'The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing allow us to recognize students enrolled in a wide variety of programs at UPEI who produce notable written work, or have shown significant improvement in their writing,' he said. 'These awards also allow us to recognize faculty and staff who have contributed to the development of our students' writing skills.'

Fourth-year arts student and prize recipient Danielle MacDonald read an excerpt from her piece entitled 'Sexual Intercourse, Repression, and the Body,' and said receiving the award was an honour. 'The MacLauchlan family's generosity will help me continue my education at UPEI, and it's very encouraging to see students being rewarded for their academic successes,' she said. 'Their continued support of post-secondary education and contribution to students on an individual level is exemplary.'

'On behalf of the entire UPEI community, I thank the MacLauchlan family for their outstanding generosity in establishing the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing. I also thank former President Wade MacLauchlan for his long history of commitment to excellence in education,' said UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'I congratulate each recipient of these prestigious prizes and encourage them to continue developing their writing ability which will impact their potential for future success.'

Host of CBC News: Compass and author of RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME Sidney, Heather, Boomer and Me, Bruce Rainnie was the event's special guest speaker. Rainnie entertained the crowd as he spoke about his own personal journey as a new author and the importance of writing as an effective skill for success.

The MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing distribute up to $30,000 annually in awards. The family has made previous contributions to the Harry W. MacLauchlan Scholarships in Entrepreneurial Leadership, MacLauchlan Arena, Robertson Library, athletic scholarships, and student prizes in mathematics and entrepreneurship.

UPEI invites you to share in the Island Studies Press launch of "A Taste of Islands," edited by UPEI's Canada Research Chair, Island Studies, Godfrey Baldacchino and his wife Anna on Friday, November 16 at 6:30 pm at The Farm Centre.

"A Taste of Island: 60 Recipes and Stories from Our World of Islands" is the newest title from Island Studies Press and features signature recipes from the world of islands and their fascinating stories.

The event will feature delicious sample dishes from the book! All are welcome to attend.

For more information on the book visit islandstudies.com

The UPEI Wind Symphony will perform its final recital of the fall semester on Thursday, November 22 at 7:30 pm at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall. This program will feature an eclectic variety of outstanding contemporary works for the modern wind band designed to engage the audience and showcase its unique sounds.

Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovitch's 'Festive Overture' will open the performance. Written in 1954, this work is a favourite of the orchestral repertoire as it is noted for its opening fanfare and rapid, lyrical melodies.

'Traveler,' by the American composer David Maslanka, is the centrepiece of the program. An emotional and virtuosic work, listeners will be immediately captured by its cascading runs, colourful orchestration, and spiritual melodies.

Saxophonist Kevin MacLean is soloist in the performance of Claude T. Smith's 'Fantasia.'

This work exploits the technical and lyrical capabilities of the saxophone. MacLean is UPEI's sessional saxophone instructor and is known for his body of work as a soloist and chamber musician. He has been featured with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra.

Among the highlights of this recital will be the world premiere performance of Richard Covey's 'Maestoso.' This work was commissioned by the Wind Symphony with the assistance of a grant from the PEI Council of the Arts. A dramatic piece, 'Maestoso' explores different perspectives of what it means to be ‘majestic,' through distinct musical gestures and stylistic features. With regard to musical texture, phrasing and character, this piece provides unique interpretations of standard wind ensemble conventions found throughout the existing literature. The result is a fresh, exciting, highly expressive, and technically challenging piece of music for wind band. Dr. Covey is a sessional instructor of theory and composition at UPEI.

The Wind Symphony will conclude the evening with Charles Ives' 'Variations On America.' Ives was only 17 when he wrote this work for organ. It has been popularized as a result of transcriptions for orchestra and wind band. This piece presents five variations each with its unique character.

This year's UPEI Wind Symphony consists of 24 music majors, other UPEI students, and community musicians. Its mandate is to provide opportunities for its participants to apply their performance skills and develop musically through the study and performance of original and transcribed wind band literature. In addition, it is a forum through which professional attributes of ensemble performance are developed. It is within its mission to give its audiences meaningful and personal experiences with quality wind music, in the widest possible range of musical style and expression. The Wind Symphony has one two-hour rehearsal each week.

Each year the Wind Symphony tours selected areas of the region to provide its membership with additional performance experiences and share its music with a wider audience. As part of this process, it has partnered with most of PEI's school band programmes. Recent performances in Montague, Summerside, and Saint John, NB were favourably received.

During the past 14 years the Wind Symphony has produced an annual compact disc featuring selected repertoire from each year's performances. 'Cathedrals,' released in May 2010, received the 2011 Music PEI Award for Best Classical Recording. In February 2011, the Wind Symphony released its 'O Canada' CD, a project exclusively for PEI public schools. Its most recent CDs-'Freebirds,' (2011) and 'Lord of the Rings' (2012)-have been highly acclaimed.

Recent performances of the UPEI Wind Symphony have generated much interest with capacity audiences filling UPEI's recital hall. While tickets may be available at the door, advance purchase is recommended.

A new fundraising initiative designed to enhance the recruitment of student-athletes to the University of Prince Edward Island is now underway, says Ron Annear, UPEI Director of Athletics and Recreation.

'Aeroplan Miles can now be donated to UPEI through a Charitable Pooling Program on the Aeroplan website and the miles will be used to help our coaches recruit student-athletes to the University,' said Annear. 'People can donate their miles any time during the year, but we also have a contribution campaign goal of 500,000 miles for the month of November. Once we achieve 90 percent of the goal, Aeroplan will donate the remaining 10 percent.'

UPEI has nine teams participating in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference, a part of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), and takes pride in its student-athletes who prove time and time again to be excellent role models and leaders in the community. Last season, UPEI had 57 CIS Academic All-Canadian athletes-those who achieved an academic average of 80 per cent or higher. In order to continue to attract the best and brightest student-athletes to UPEI, the recruitment effort is critical and the University is thankful for the opportunity to earn Aeroplan Miles through the Charitable Pooling Program.

Aeroplan members anywhere in the world can easily donate points to UPEI and support recruitment efforts for the Panthers. To donate, visit beyondmiles.aeroplan.com/eng/charity/123 and click 'donate now.' Login with your Aeroplan account number to donate your Aeroplan Miles. Aeroplan contributions are not eligible for charitable tax receipts.

Kim (Sullivan) Watson, former UPEI women's rugby player, who now resides in Calgary, helped kick-off the campaign with a 25,000 mile donation.

'Every donation counts, and when put into action, introduces potential Panther student-athletes to our province's university. We encourage people to donate their miles to help us achieve our goal and support the Panthers,' added Annear.

You have been walking by for a long time...why not drop by the newly renovated Chaplaincy Centre? Come out to a coffee break/open house on Wednesday, November 21, 10:00 am-12:00 noon with words of appreciation at 11:00 am.

Did you know we have Christian and Muslim prayer spaces and a full kitchen, food bank, and clothing cupboard? Student tours and Chartwells coffee break treats will be offered-a sure incentive! All are welcome!

2014 is the anniversary of the 1864 'Charlottetown Conference' and the government of PEI has made funds available to Island initiatives that celebrate and promote the spirit around this historic event. The University has struck a committee to develop and review ideas from the campus community, and to submit a set of proposals where the requirement for matching funds has been identified. The Committee will also be looking to define links between proposals where there is benefit in doing so.

In order to accommodate the proposal deadlines and allow effective review, the Committee is asking for interested individuals and groups to submit their ideas by November 21. Please forward your ideas to Committee chair Mark Leggott (mleggott@upei.ca).

More information can be found at the 2014 site: http://www.pei2014.com.

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

As we approach the final weeks of the first semester of the 2012-13 academic year, with exams and the busy holiday season drawing near, it is important to pause and recognize the privilege and responsibility of membership within the University of Prince Edward Island, and the greater PEI community.

Our University has a proud history, and plays a critical role in educating an informed, engaged, and increasingly global citizenry. Positioning the University and our graduates for success in a rapidly changing world is a challenge and a priority that we accept with a sense of purpose and urgency.

The commitment and vision essential to pursuing a successful future for our students, community, and province arise from shared values and a sound understanding of the University of Prince Edward Island's current challenges, accomplishments, and goals.

This understanding is critical to informing UPEI's 2013-14 budget development process, now underway.

Post-secondary educational institutions around the world are confronting numerous and complicated issues that include: difficult economic and societal conditions, changing higher education models, and increased competition. Demands by governments, granting agencies, and students call for modernization and greater accountability-including clearly identified links to value-for-investment and innovative career pathways.

Closer to home, UPEI's operating budget is heavily dependent on government funding in a province facing its own difficult financial reality. UPEI appreciates that the economic and societal value of post-secondary education continues to be affirmed in discussions with political leaders, and, along with health, is recognized and advanced as a priority for the Government of Prince Edward Island. (The Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning recently created a task force that will seek means to promote Prince Edward Island as a destination for post-secondary education.) However, in the 2012-13 budget, lower government revenues and higher deficits reduced government funding to higher education resulting in a three per cent reduction in UPEI's operating grant. This funding challenge was further complicated by reduced grants from the four Atlantic Provinces to fund the Atlantic Veterinary College.

This funding situation combines with a declining regional demographic in high school age students, potentially impacting enrolment numbers and thus negatively affecting the University's other major revenue source. UPEI experienced steady growth in undergraduate, graduate, and international student enrolments over the past decade. But in 2011-12 the University began to see a flattening in enrolment growth, and in 2012-13 a slight decline. Preliminary enrolment figures for the current school year (as of September 2012) show current Grade 6 enrolment to be 72 per cent of current Grade 12 enrolment, a 28 per cent reduction. With PEI high school graduates making up over 70 per cent of the UPEI student body, the projected decline in PEI high school enrolments creates a significant pending enrolment (and fiscal) challenge.

In the face of these serious issues, the University must continue to enhance its high quality programs and protect the interests of students, staff and faculty. Within the 2012-13 budgeting process and throughout the year, the University sought opportunities to increase revenues and decrease expenditures, and to strategically position itself to manage available resources towards institutionally identified priorities. This effort involved every colleague and all departments and units on campus. I wish to thank each of you for your ongoing creative thought, fine work, and commitment. Following are several examples of your accomplishments during a difficult budget year.

The Future Directions visioning exercise identified core University strengths, and the subsequent Dare to Dream campaign engaged the campus community in an ideas generation process. The recent settlement of two faculty agreements and salary provisions with the other union groups on campus positions UPEI for stable labour relations over the next four years. Additional achievements include the creation of the International Relations Office and alignment of Student Affairs; the development and approval of new programs and accreditations; and the enhancement of relationships with the provincial government and external partners. Also, in addition to previously established international relationships, the University has targeted specific agreements with universities and organizations in China, Egypt, England, and Ireland. Research at the University continues to have a significant impact, both locally and globally, on a wide range of activities, from child development to fish health and climate change.

As UPEI begins budget development for 2013-14, we will anchor discussion around priorities that include the following:

1. Strategic action plan-evolving from the Future Directions Vision Document and the Dare to Dream campaign, and building on historic strengths in teaching, programs, research, service, student experience, identified pillars, and strategic platforms,

2. Strategic enrolment plan-recruitment (domestic and international), and retention,

3. Continued focus on enhanced engagement with government, partners, and community,

4. Capacity building and infrastructure improvement (human, financial, technological, physical) with a focus on effectiveness and sustainability,

5. Fundraising and friend-raising, and

6. Risk management planning-pension plan, ERP, deferred maintenance.

It is critical that the University community works together towards a transparent and sustainable budget that advances the important mission of the University of Prince Edward Island.

I invite you to attend a Town Hall meeting at 10 am on Thursday, November 22, in The McCain Foundation Learning Commons (285 N) at the Atlantic Veterinary College. Your participation is encouraged and appreciated.

For a recent statistical overview of the University, please visit: www.upei.ca/bythenumbers

Best wishes,

Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, President and Vice-Chancellor

The UPEI co-operative education program is currently seeking motivated students in business, computer science, and physics to sign up. The program offers students real-life work experience where they can learn practical job-related skills in their area of study, which will help to increase employability after graduation. As a bonus, students earn an hourly wage which goes a long way to paying down student debt.

Since 2009, approximately 500 work terms have been completed in various sectors, including accounting and finance, marketing, information technology, health and medical sciences, bioscience, and renewable energy.

James Manning, a fourth-year business co-op student believes joining the program was 'the best decision I have made during my academic career.' James decided to leave his hometown of Erin, Ontario, to attend UPEI in 2009. He chose UPEI because it provided all of the great aspects that go along with attending a small university-smaller class sizes and communication on a first name basis with professors-and he is able to gain quality advice as he faces the difficult question of 'what's next?' upon graduation.

As a graduating student, James knew that he would be jumping into one of the most diverse and highly competitive labour markets in recent history. Being a young graduate, he would need a way to stand out from the pack and set himself apart from the competition, which is why he decided to join UPEI's co-op program.

James recalls, 'During my first interview [for a fall 2012 work term], I realized that I wasn't just alone in that seat; I was sitting there with the whole program and university behind me. Through the professional and positive attitudes showcased by Ernie Doiron, Julie Mussel, and the entire UPEI co-op team, my confidence was greatly increased during the interview process, which eventually led to a job offer from a very respectable and award winning company, Island Abbey Foods Ltd.'

'I recommend all students take part in the positive and rewarding experience co-op has to offer. It allows students the opportunity to reinstate academic learning with real on-the-job experience with the benefit of earning a salary,' added James.

The UPEI co-operative education program is encouraging students to join today to create a better path for futures tomorrow. Application forms for business and science co-op programs can be picked up at Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 230, or online at www.upei.ca/co-op. The application deadline for the winter semester is Friday, December 14.

For more information about the program, visit www.upei.ca/co-op, or contact the co-op office at (902) 628-4395 or co-op@upei.ca.