Welcome Day 2014 will be held tomorrow, Saturday, August 30 from 9:00 am–2:00 pm in Schurman Market Square of Don and Marion McDougall Hall, and will kick-off Orientation Week that will run until Saturday, September 6. This will also be move-in day for residence students. Welcome Day is an opportunity for incoming and returning students to find support, explore campus, and pay tuition and fees. UPEI faculty and staff will be available to provide support and advice to students on course selection, transitioning from high school, co-op opportunities, exchange programs, careers, and more! This year’s Welcome Day will include round-table parents sessions for parents of residence and non-residence students (facilitated jointly by Student Affairs and Transitions), a photo booth with Pride the Panther, and a BBQ from 12:00–1:30 pm. Faculty and staff who are not already providing services on Welcome Day are invited to drop by, greet incoming students, and enjoy the BBQ. See you there!

Dr. Debbie MacLellan is seeking volunteer 'clients' for a student assignment in Foods and Nutrition 483 (Professional Practice in Dietetics). This assignment involves three to four meetings with a student in the dietetics program at UPEI. The purpose of this assignment is to help students develop the skills needed to be effective nutrition counsellors. The student will assess your diet and work with you to develop some nutrition-related goals to help you improve your overall health. If you are interested and want to learn more about what you will be asked to do as a volunteer client, please contact Debbie at maclellan@upei.ca.

Dr. Doug Sobey, a research associate of the University’s Institute of Island Studies, and formerly at the University of Ulster, will give an illustrated public talk on the results of a study carried out by himself and William Glen (formerly of the Forestry Division), into the forest descriptions found on manuscript maps housed in the P.E.I. Public Archives dating from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Dr. Sobey will discuss what the descriptions on the maps reveal about the Island's forest-types before their destruction by clearance and fire. His research has been carried out with the support of both the Institute of Island Studies and the Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division of the P.E.I. Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the lecture will include the launch of a recently published research report on the subject. The presentation begins at 7:30 on September 11 in the Wanda Wyatt Lecture Theatre, KCI 104. This event is sponsored by the Institute of Island Studies. For information, contact Andrea Bird at abird@upei.ca

The UPEI Multicultural Choir and Song Circle will begin its fourth year on Wednesday, September 10. The choir encourages experienced singers and new singing enthusiasts to join in sharing world music and song from different countries and cultures. Rehearsals will take place on Wednesdays from 4:45-5:45 pm in the AIRS/CMTC Multimedia Room 104, basement of the Robertson Library. For more information and to join the email list, please contact Shannon Moore at smmoore@upei.ca

The UPEI Multicultural Choir and Song Circle will begin its fourth year on Wednesday, September 10. The choir encourages experienced singers and new singing enthusiasts to join in sharing world music and song from different countries and cultures. Rehearsals will take place on Wednesdays from 4:45-5:45 pm in the AIRS/CMTC Multimedia Room 104, basement of the Robertson Library. For more information and to join the email list, please contact Shannon Moore at smmoore@upei.ca

Kieran J. Hennessey will present his Master of Education thesis defence on Friday, August 29, at 1:00 pm in room AVC 286A N. Thesis title: College Students from the Margins: Journeys of Persistence and Early Leaving. All are welcome to attend.

Interested in understanding more about the growing trend towards workplace learning? Interested in effective communications and teaching with adult students and professionals? Beginning on Wednesday, September 10, from 6:00-9:00 pm, "An Introduction to Learning in the Workplace (ED 309)" will introduce participants to current issues and trends affecting workplace learning; key theories of learning, learning styles and motivation for learning in relation to the workplace; core competencies associated with workplace learning; the role of informal training programs and informal learning (communities of practice, mentoring etc.); and process models for workplace learning. The course will be offered once a week (Wednesday evenings) and will be taught by Ellen Lyle. The cost is $552. UPEI staff and faculty are encouraged to register. For more information, visit http://milestones.upeiblogs.ca/2014/08/25/workplace-learning-course-ope… or contact adultteaching@upei.ca by September 4 to register!

Beginning September 2, Panther Academy (part of UPEI Athletics and Recreation) will be offering PD Day Camps for children in preschool-grade 6. UPEI faculty, staff and Sports Centre members will receive discounted pricing for all PD Day camps (see rates below). Our experienced Panther Academy Counselors offer a variety of activities for campers with activities tailored to grades K-6. Just like our summer camps, regular programming runs 9:00 am-4:00 pm. We provide early drop off beginning at 7:30 am, and late pick up available until 5:30 pm. The first PD days are September 2 and 3, 2014 and we are offering special pricing for these two days. Cost: $30 per day or $50 for both days UPEI staff/member rate: $26.40 per day or $42.80 for both days Fall PD days (Sept 26, Oct 9, 10, Nov 7, 11 and Dec 5) Winter PD days (Jan 30, Feb 6, Mar 6, Apr 17, 24 and May 1) Daily Rate: $33/child UPEI staff/member daily rate: $26.40/child Sign up for all Fall or Winter PD days and save even more! Semester Cost: $158.40/child (6 PD days) UPEI staff/member semester cost: $145/child Registration forms can be picked up at the Panther Central Desk in Athletics. If you require additional information, or have questions, please call (902) 566-0636 or email pantheracademy@upei.ca.

The UPEI Music Department Recital Series brochure has now been distributed to various departments on campus (for posting). If you did not get a chance to pick one up, please don't hesitate to contact the music office (0507) or music@upei.ca to request one. Please note there is one change, as follows: the date of "The Piano Collective, 8 Hands" featuring Frances Gray, Stephanie Cole, Morgan Saulnier, and Jacqueline Sorensen Young has been changed from January 30, 7:30 pm to October 26, 2:30 pm.

Kieran J. Hennessey will present his Master of Education thesis defence on Friday, August 29, at 1:00 pm in room AVC 286A N. Thesis title: College Students from the Margins: Journeys of Persistence and Early Leaving. All are welcome to attend.

Interested in understanding more about the growing trend towards workplace learning? Interested in effective communications and teaching with adult students and professionals? Beginning on Wednesday, September 10, from 6:00-9:00 pm, "An Introduction to Learning in the Workplace (ED 309)" will introduce participants to current issues and trends affecting workplace learning; key theories of learning, learning styles and motivation for learning in relation to the workplace; core competencies associated with workplace learning; the role of informal training programs and informal learning (communities of practice, mentoring etc.); and process models for workplace learning. The course will be offered once a week (Wednesday evenings) and will be taught by Ellen Lyle. The cost is $552. UPEI staff and faculty are encouraged to register. For more information, visit http://milestones.upeiblogs.ca/2014/08/25/workplace-learning-course-ope… or contact adultteaching@upei.ca by September 4 to register!

Beginning September 2, Panther Academy (part of UPEI Athletics and Recreation) will be offering PD Day Camps for children in preschool-grade 6. UPEI faculty, staff and Sports Centre members will receive discounted pricing for all PD Day camps (see rates below). Our experienced Panther Academy Counselors offer a variety of activities for campers with activities tailored to grades K-6. Just like our summer camps, regular programming runs 9:00 am-4:00 pm. We provide early drop off beginning at 7:30 am, and late pick up available until 5:30 pm. The first PD days are September 2 and 3, 2014 and we are offering special pricing for these two days. Cost: $30 per day or $50 for both days UPEI staff/member rate: $26.40 per day or $42.80 for both days Fall PD days (Sept 26, Oct 9, 10, Nov 7, 11 and Dec 5) Winter PD days (Jan 30, Feb 6, Mar 6, Apr 17, 24 and May 1) Daily Rate: $33/child UPEI staff/member daily rate: $26.40/child Sign up for all Fall or Winter PD days and save even more! Semester Cost: $158.40/child (6 PD days) UPEI staff/member semester cost: $145/child Registration forms can be picked up at the Panther Central Desk in Athletics. If you require additional information, or have questions, please call (902) 566-0636 or email pantheracademy@upei.ca.

The UPEI Music Department Recital Series brochure has now been distributed to various departments on campus (for posting). If you did not get a chance to pick one up, please don't hesitate to contact the music office (0507) or music@upei.ca to request one. Please note there is one change, as follows: the date of "The Piano Collective, 8 Hands" featuring Frances Gray, Stephanie Cole, Morgan Saulnier, and Jacqueline Sorensen Young has been changed from January 30, 7:30 pm to October 26, 2:30 pm.

A "space swap" has recently occurred between two departments in an effort to place student-focused service areas together. Integrated Communications will now be housed on the first floor of Don and Marion McDougall Hall, while the Office of Skills Development and Learning will be located in the Robertson Library, Room 230 next to the International Relations Office. Phone numbers for staff members of each department will remain the same. During the transition, we ask for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Nicole Phillips Integrated Communications nphillips@upei.ca Pat MacAulay Office of Skills Development and Learning phmacaulay@upei.ca

On Tuesday, September 2 first-year students will be taking part in an Orientation Week event called "Find your first semester classes," from 11:00 am-12:00 pm. Staff and faculty are encouraged to help students in finding their way during this time, so that they will be prepared for their first day of classes! For a complete list of Orientation Week events, visit upei.ca/oweek.

A "space swap" has recently occurred between two departments in an effort to place student-focused service areas together. Integrated Communications will now be housed on the first floor of Don and Marion McDougall Hall, while the Office of Skills Development and Learning will be located in the Robertson Library, Room 230 next to the International Relations Office. Phone numbers for staff members of each department will remain the same. During the transition, we ask for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Nicole Phillips Integrated Communications nphillips@upei.ca Pat MacAulay Office of Skills Development and Learning phmacaulay@upei.ca

On Tuesday, September 2 first-year students will be taking part in an Orientation Week event called "Find your first semester classes," from 11:00 am-12:00 pm. Staff and faculty are encouraged to help students in finding their way during this time, so that they will be prepared for their first day of classes! For a complete list of Orientation Week events, visit upei.ca/oweek.

There a number of scholarships and awards available to students for the upcoming year, with a deadline of August 31. Please check out the application details at http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarships-and-awards and feel free to contact the Scholarships and Award Office at scholarships@upei.ca or call (902) 620-5187 with any questions or for further information. Complete application packages can be dropped off or mailed to the Scholarships and Awards Office, UPEI Registrar's Office, 550 University Avenue Charlottetown PE C1A 4P3. We ask that UPEI faculty and staff encourage students they know to apply!

Please join us on Wednesday, August 27 at 9:30 am in the AVC Learning Commons Room 280N. Sushant Gavhale will be giving a presentation on "Deletions in the highly polymorphic region (HPR) of infectious salmon anaemia virus HPR0 haemagglutinin–esterase enhance viral fusion and influence the interaction with the fusion protein (Fourier et al., 2014),” and Jocelyn Ginette Perez-Lazo will be giving a presentation on "Phylogenetic evidence of long distance dispersal and transmission of piscine reovirus (PRV) between farmed and wild Atlantic salmon (Garseth et al., 2013)" as part of their VPM 881/981 Directed Studies in Viral Pathogenesis. All are welcome to attend.

For those of you who could not attend the Fish Tales documentary launch, feel free to visit the following links to check it out: www.vimeo.com/conorleggott/fishtales 720p www.vimeo.com/conorleggott/fishtalespei 1080p Fish Tales is a short documentary film shot on PEI in the summer of 2013. The film explores how rivers and waterways on Prince Edward Island influence Islanders’ views on social and environmental issues. We look at current realities and challenges in our rivers, including the human impact of catastrophic events like fish kills. Through interviews and storytelling with experts from all sides of the spectrum, Fish Tales captures how Islanders interact with these areas, and their perspectives on the future of our watershed heritage.