The University of Prince Edward Island honours its rich heritage and traditions by acknowledging members of the campus community who have contributed to its mission in an exceptional way by naming them “Founders,” an initiative established by President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan in 2000.

The award is presented to members of the campus community—often retired faculty and staff—who have played a direct role in 

• supporting the vision, reputation, and continued success of the University, and/or
• creating a new era of educational, research, and/or service excellence at the University. 

To submit a nomination, please complete the online form, or email your submission to communications@upei.ca by Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 12:00 pm AT (noon). 

Recipients will be honoured at a Recognition of Founders Ceremony, date to be confirmed.

For more details on nominations visit Call for Nominations: 2025 UPEI Founders

Who’s it for?
All UPEI staff, faculty, and students who want direct, plain‑language answers from IT Systems and Services (ITSS). Bring your questions about services, support, projects, security, and how to work effectively with ITSS.

What is an AMA?
An AMA is a live Q&A where you ask anything related to ITSS—no slide deck, no long presentations. Managers from across ITSS are on hand to answer and point you to the right next step.

Who will be there?

• Information Security & Information Management: Dave Kubert
• Operations: Douglas Burton, Deryl Gallant
• Enterprise Applications: Cory MacDougall
• Solution Development & Deployment: Leigh McIsaac
• Network & Infrastructure: Graham Nixon
• HEF Technology & Solutions: Kelly Dawson, Tyler Dickieson

Why attend?

• Direct answers. Ask about services, priorities, timelines, and how to get things done.
• Clarity on support. Learn how tickets are triaged and escalated, when the phone line is for critical issues, and how to get after‑hours help in true emergencies.
• Actionable takeaways. Leave with links and steps you can use the same day.

What we covered last time (highlights):

• Help Desk access & the phone line
• Support hours
• Ticket priorities & escalation
• Responsible AI & Copilot
• “Speaking IT” resources
• Asset inventory

How to ask questions (before or during):

• Live: Ask in the session on January 20 from 11:45-1:15—no need to submit in advance.
• In advance or if you can’t attend: Send your question via email to itss-admin@upei.ca

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, February 6 for the February meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

The Healthy Campus Committee coordinates a variety of wellness opportunities for UPEI staff, faculty, and retirees. Below are several excellent programs and facility access options available free of charge to eligible UPEI staff, faculty, and retirees.

Indoor Track Access
To gain access, please register. If you have registered within the past year, you do not need to register again. Access is valid until October 2, 2026.

Indoor Pickleball
Tuesdays, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
January 13 – April 7
Weekly registration is required. If you do not have a pickleball paddle, paddles are available to sign out at the Panther Central Desk.

Mindful Flow and Stillness Yoga
Thursdays, 12:10 pm – 12:55 pm
January 15 – April 30
Weekly registration is required.

More details and registration for each opportunity can be found at recreation.upei.ca. Click on the Wellness icon to view available programs. To log in, select UPEI Login and use your UPEI email address and password.

For questions or assistance with registration, programs, or access, please contact Angela Marchbank, Coordinator, Fitness and Wellness, amarchbank@upei.ca.

The TLC is offering a series of workshops to support colleagues getting started on their file for tenure/permanency and/or promotion.  Refresh your understanding with our online resources for teaching philosophy statements and teaching dossiers and then bring your questions to the workshops.  

• Teaching Dossiers for Tenure/Permanecy or Promotion with Kathy Gottschall-Pass. Learn what needs to be included in your dossier under our current collective agreement. The session will look at the requirements and the options for documenting your teaching practice. Join us on Thursday January 15 (snow date Jan. 20) from 1:30 to 3:30.
• Writing YOUR Statement of Teaching Philosophy with Shannon Murray. A statement of teaching philosophy (STP) is an essential opening for most teaching dossiers, and it signals the central beliefs and practices to be found in your teaching dossier. This workshop will take participants through a variety of strategies for crafting an effective statement, looking at examples from across disciplines. Participants will leave with a sound basic structure for their STP.  Join us on Friday January 23 (snow date Jan. 30) from 2:00 to 4:00.
• Developing a clinical service dossier. This workshop is still in development but we plan to schedule a date soon.  
• Putting it all together with Sharon Myers, Bill Whelan and John VanLeeuwen. This panel of colleagues experienced in working with Tenure/Permanency and Promotion files will share advice about what to do and what to avoid. DATE TBD.  

Workshops will take place in Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library, Roo 230. Virtual options to attend will be available by emailing TLC@upei.ca for the link. 

Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at the Fox and Crow in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Thursday, January 15 from 8:00-9:00 am.

These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.

The UPEI Health Research Network is inviting full-time and part-time undergraduate students to join the Connections Program. This is a research program focused on health and well-being for undergraduate students on campus. The program will begin last week of January OR the first week of February 2026 (will be confirmed soon).

Are you interested in meeting new people in a friendly, inclusive, and non-judgmental environment? In this program, you will learn about food, health, stress, coping strategies, and physical activity.

The Health Research Network is offering this free, eight-week program to help students learn about health and well-being while connecting with the student community. Participants must be able to complete the pre and post-screening assessments (completed before the program begins and also once more after the program finishes) and be able to attend all eight sessions.

The program includes:

• Eight weekly group sessions (2 hours each):
  • 1 hour with a Registered Dietitian and Health Educator
  • 1 hour of physical activity led by a Kinesiologist
• Optional open gym times
• All sessions take place in the lower level of the Steel Building
• Snacks are also provided at each session!

The sessions are student-centered, and all levels of experience and ability are welcome.

If you are interested, please email Anja and Laurie at connections@upei.ca to get more information or to book the required pre-program screening assessment.

The University of Prince Edward Island honours its rich heritage and traditions by acknowledging members of the campus community who have contributed to its mission in an exceptional way by naming them “Founders,” an initiative established by President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan in 2000.

The award is presented to members of the campus community—often retired faculty and staff—who have played a direct role in 

• supporting the vision, reputation, and continued success of the University, and/or
• creating a new era of educational, research, and/or service excellence at the University. 

To submit a nomination, please complete the online form, or email your submission to communications@upei.ca by Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 12:00 pm AT (noon). 

Recipients will be honoured at a Recognition of Founders Ceremony, date to be confirmed.

For more details on nominations visit Call for Nominations: 2025 UPEI Founders

The Robertson Library is hosting library tours from January 19 to February 5, and we would love for you to join us.  The tour is an excellent opportunity to explore the library spaces and learn more about what the library has to offer.

Use this link to book your tour.  

We can't wait to welcome you and show you around!

The Bookstore will be open until 6:00pm on Monday Jan. 12, Tuesday Jan. 13 and Wednesday Jan. 14 for the start of winter term classes. Shop online any time at upei.ca/bookstore. 

The new UPEI Laboratory Safety Manual, 3^rd Edition, has been uploaded to the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) SharePoint site! You may use the HSE SharePoint search engine or click the ‘Laboratories’ button to access.

All laboratory workers - a person employed in a workplace; or a person in a workplace for any reason in connection there with are responsible for following all applicable safety rules and practices as outlined in the Laboratory Safety Manual.

For questions regarding the Laboratory Safety Manual, please reach out to HSE@upei.ca.  

Need help registering for courses or making a course plan? The Academic Support Services team is offering drop-in academic advising for returning undergraduate students! 

Drop-in appointments are first come, first served and will be offered Monday to Friday on the following weeks:

• January 5-9
• January 12-16
• January 19-23 

Come to the fifth floor of Dalton Hall and check in at the front desk to meet with an advisor!

**These are short, drop-in sessions so please do as much planning as possible before you attend.

For questions, please contact us at: studentserv@upei.ca or 902-566-0488.

The Island Lecture Series presents a talk by Jeff Collins, “Power Plays: Newfoundland's Fight Over Churchill Falls,” on January 20, 2026, at 7 pm, in the Faculty Lounge, Main Building Room 201, University of Prince Edward Island. 

"No more giveaways" is a longstanding idea built into Newfoundland nationalism. Controlling resources and achieving as many benefits as possible for the local population even predates Confederation with Canada in 1949. However, it is the sense of betrayal and lost opportunity associated with a 1969 agreement with Quebec to develop the Churchill Falls hydro-electric dam that stands alone as the symbol of this sentiment. 

Now, as the people of Newfoundland and Labrador near the closing decade-and-a-half of that original contract, they are presented with a new deal, a “memorandum-of-understanding” between the two provinces that would extend the partnership and potentially develop even more hydro-resources in the province. The deal's proponents, chiefly the provincial Liberal party, which lost this year's election, say it will bring billions in new revenue to a province teetering on financial calamity. For detractors, chiefly the new provincial Progressive Conservative government, it is a deal that, at a minimum, is worthy of review given the legacy of 1969. 

This talk will situate the current debate within this historical context and show that for the government in St. John's, and the province as a whole, there are no nuanced answers when nationalist sentiment shadows public policy.

Jeffrey F. Collins is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Prince Edward Island. A native of Placentia, Newfoundland, he has written numerous articles and essays on Newfoundland political history and public policy challenges. 

The lecture is free, and all are welcome. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, February 6 for the February meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month. The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

As the winter semester gets started, here's a link to an article by James Lang, author of several widely read books on teaching in higher education, called How to Teach a Good First Day of Class: Advice Guide. You find some useful reminders to help set the tone for your semester of learning together with your new students.  

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development at the University of Prince Edward Island (OCEPD) is pleased to announce a new professional development opportunity for UPEI staff and faculty. Effective January 5, 2026, eligible UPEI employees may enroll in OCEPD Certificate programs, priced at $1,000 or more, for a reduced rate of $995.

This initiative reflects the OCEPD’s pledge to support UPEI’s ongoing commitment to supporting continuous learning, leadership development, and skills advancement across the University community. 

The following OCEPD Certificate programs are included in this initiative and are available to UPEI staff and faculty at the reduced rate of $995:

• Certificate in Case Management
• Certificate in Case Management – Specialization in Health Care
• Certificate in Case Management – Advanced Collaboration in Care
• Certificate in Collaborative Leadership
• Certificate in Introductory Data Analytics – Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
• Certificate in Marketing and Branding
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing
• Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
• Certificate in Professional Communications
• Certificate in Professional Office Administration
• Certificate in Project Management
• New Managers Certificate
• Certificate in Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being

These programs are designed for working professionals and focus on practical, evidence-informed skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace. Delivery formats vary by program and may include in-person, blended, or online components (please note the 15% UPEI staff and alumni discount does not apply to these reduced-rate Certificate programs).

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development, an Office of the University of Prince Edward Island, is Atlantic Canada’s premier provider of professional development programming. The OCEPD delivers high-impact Certificate programs, workshops, and customized training for individuals, organizations, and communities across the region.

UPEI staff and faculty are encouraged to explore program details, delivery formats, and upcoming intakes by visiting: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development

During the week of January 5, 2026, the Library team will be working remotely; the Library building will remain closed until Monday, January 12 to allow for the completion of essential repair/remediation work. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause: further information about our online services during this period is available here. Please contact interim University Librarian Simon Lloyd (university-librarian@upei.ca | 902-394-1301) with any questions or concerns. 

The Bookstore will be open until 6:00pm on Monday Jan. 12, Tuesday Jan. 13 and Wednesday Jan. 14 for the start of winter term classes. Shop online any time at upei.ca/bookstore. 

The fifth meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on Friday, January 30, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). To view the 2025-2026 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here. (Posted one week before the meeting)

All meetings are open to members of the University community, although certain in-camera items (e.g., granting of degrees) may require the Senate to go into a closed session. Only members of Senate are permitted to address the Senate unless otherwise recognized by the chair. 

For logistical purposes, members of the UPEI community who wish to attend the open session of a UPEI Senate meeting are asked to contact senate@upei.ca one week prior to the meeting. While Senate is an in-person meeting, members of the University community may request a virtual connection when they are unable to attend in person. 

Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at the Fox and Crow in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Thursday, January 15 from 8:00-9:00 am.

These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.