The Charlottetown Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, November 29, 2025, beginning on University Avenue at Enman Crescent at 5:00 pm. As a result, there will be traffic restrictions at UPEI’s University Avenue entrance, as the staging of the parade walking groups will take place on campus in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre parking lot.

To ensure the safety of parade participants and members of the campus community, the University Avenue entrance will be closed from 2:30 to 6:00 pm. The entrance on Belvedere Avenue will remain open, and the access road between the sports fields (Alumni Road) can also be used to enter and exit campus during the University Avenue closure.

Please be aware of increased traffic on campus.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to scramble your way through a presentation you have no control over? It’s more fun than you think, and you can experience it yourself (or just come to watch!) on Tuesday, December 2, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship in 201 Robertson Library! No pre-registration required!

Note: If you would like to participate, please bring a phone or computer that can access wi-fi or cellular data.

Girls Get WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Challenge Day on Saturday, December 6, will cover the topics of science, engineering, math, and technology for female-identifying and gender-diverse individuals in grades K-12 with age groupings of grades K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12.

The goal is to expose participants to hands-on science activities and careers so that they can make informed decisions about subject choices in future school years. They will participate in hands-on science, technology, and engineering activities in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, and Physics, led by female faculty and staff from UPEI and STEAM PEI. They will also meet mentors currently working in STEM fields.

The event is a collaboration between Girl Guides, STEAM PEI, and UPEI with financial support from the Fund for Gender Equity, Actua, and Engineers PEI.

Registration is open for grades 7-9 and 10-12.

There is no cost for this event, and lunch is provided. 

UPEI's website backup requires all site content to be posted before 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 26. 

This includes Campus Notices, UPEI Events, and requests to edit existing website content. 

Normal content posting and editing requests will resume Thursday, November 27 at 8:00 am.

Sorry for the inconvenience; please contact web@upei.ca if you have questions or concerns.

It is time again to offer support to our students during exams and final papers. The Chaplaincy Centre continues to host a free meal for students on December 9, with the generous help of many UPEI faculty and staff. There are three chances to volunteer: 

• set up on December 8 and 
• two (2) servings on December 9. 

Please use this link to sign up for a 30-minute shift to volunteer. Opportunities to set up, serve, and clean up are available as well as a chance to mingle with students in an informal conversation with good food. 

On Monday, December 8, from 9:00-9:30 am, we will set tables and chairs for the next day.  

On Tuesday December 9, we will offer two serving times:11:30 am-1:00 pm and 4:30-6:00 pm. If slots are full, please check back closer to the day as schedules change and time slots may open up. Contact Sister Sue at sukidd@upei.ca for further information.  

This event is a little different from Soup for the Soul as this time, staff at the Fox and Crow cook and volunteers set up, serve and clean up.

Sister Sue

Join us Friday, November 28 in FSDE 128A for our second Pizza Seminar of the semester where Dr. Dania Tamayo-Vera will be speaking on the topic of artificial intelligence. There will be FREE pizza and drinks to follow.

The Monopoly Man Never Had a Monocle: How Our Stories Become the Stories LLMs Learn 

Why are we so sure of things that are not true sometimes, and why do our language models inherit that same confidence? Many people recall the Monopoly man wearing a monocle or see a picture of Einstein with the phrase “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots” and repeat it, even though there is absolutely no evidence he ever said it. The truth is that humans create explanations that feel right but are not necessarily accurate. That quote sounds wise, it resonates with our feelings, and we have no doubt how smart he was. This talk begins with these familiar errors and follows them into the world of large language models (LLMs). We explore how LLMs pick up human patterns of explanation, why their responses shift under small changes in context, and how these shifts reveal the influence of the data that shaped them. Through accessible demonstrations, the talk connects human habits of interpretation with model behavior and considers what this means for trust, explanation, and everyday use of LLMs.

Title of the Thesis: “Mapping Potato Late Blight Risk using High-Resolution Weather Data”

Potato late blight (PLB), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most damaging potato diseases in the world, and growers rely on frequent fungicide sprays to protect crops. While this approach has been effective, it does not always reflect actual disease risk and can lead to unnecessary costs, environmental impacts, and resistance issues. Newfoundland and Labrador’s (NL) cool, humid climate is well-suited to the disease, and PLB is observed in most growing seasons, but growers do not have access to reliable tools to inform timing of fungicide applications to protect their crops. Forecasting models such as Blitecast and NegFry are designed to guide spray decisions using weather and crop data but because of the spatial distance between many farms and available weather stations, these tools lack reliable inputs in NL and other parts of Atlantic Canada. To address this data gap high-resolution gridded weather data from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) High-Resolution Deterministic Prediction System (HRDPS) were evaluated as model inputs. Disease risk maps were then created in ArcGIS Pro to visualize disease risk, and we undertook a two-year field trial that compared model-based and calendar-based spray programs. This work evaluated existing PLB forecasting models in NL and found that forecasting models could potentially provide a practical and sustainable alternative to traditional PLB management practices in the region.

December 1, 2025, 12:30 pm via Web Conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

All UPEI students, staff and faculty are invited to attend the annual fall Global Village celebration held this year on Saturday November 29. Doors open at 3 pm for the cultural booth display. There will be a brief change over at 5 pm before the fashion show, the performances and open dance begin. The evening festivities conclude at 9 pm. 

This is a student led event hosted by the UPEI International Relations Office. The students have been working very hard to prepare a very special event for you,and we can't wait to see you there!

Feel free to stop by with the kids before going to the parade. Please note that you must use the Belvedere Avenue entrance. 

The deadline for the employee and spouse/dependent tuition waiver forms for the Winter 2026 semester is January 9, 2026. We encourage you to have your tuition waivers submitted as soon as possible to assist in timely processing. Tuition waiver forms must be submitted electronically.

The online tuition waiver fillable forms can be found on the HR Portal of the myUPEI site, under Training and Development.

Please note that the employee or spouse/dependent must be registered in the course prior to applying for the tuition waiver.

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at (902) 566-0514 or hrgeneral@upei.ca.

UPEI will host another Research on Tap event at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Salvador Dali Café, 155 Kent Street, Charlottetown, PEI.

Dr. Malcolm Murray, professor of philosophy, will give a talk titled “Can Morality Accommodate Supererogation?” It will be followed by a Q&A discussion.

“A supererogatory (or super nice) act goes beyond moral duty, is morally approved, and carries no moral condemnation for failure to comply,” he said. “This demarcation raises the following puzzle: ‘How can we morally praise an action that is not morally required?’ Conversely, we may wonder how acting outside the set of morality is still moral.”

Here is an example of supererogation: During a heavy snowstorm, your neighbour is safe in their home, but their driveway becomes buried in snow. You have no obligation to help—your neighbour didn’t ask, and it isn’t your responsibility. But you decide to shovel their entire driveway for them.

Shovelling the driveway was a generous, above-and-beyond act—a classic example of supererogation: something morally good but not required.

Research on Tap is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend. 

SPECIAL PRICE: For the following end-of-term large ensemble concerts, attend all 3 for the price of 2 — this special package price and individual tickets are available in advance at upei.universitytickets.com or by cash at the door. Individual concert tickets are $20 for adults; FREE for all UPEI students with a valid ID card.

Thursday, November 27 – UPEI Wind Symphony

The UPEI Wind Symphony presents ‘Reflections’, a varied program of works that explore feelings of home, memories of people and places, portrayals of the natural environment, and even the characterization of a video game plot!

• 7:30 pm – Performing Arts Centre and Residence Amphitheatre, PAC121S

Tuesday, December 2 – UPEI Jazz Ensemble

The UPEI Jazz Ensemble will present an evening of big band jazz music. Numerous UPEI Music majors will showcase their ensemble and solo talents in this show, which will include charts in the style of mambo, samba, funk, swing, and ballads.

• 7:30 pm – SDU Stage at Steel Recital Hall

Friday, December 5 – UPEI Choral Concert

This choral spectacular will include heartwarming choral works, selections from Handel’s Messiah, and other seasonal gems, performed by the UPEI Concert Choir, UPEI Chamber Singers, soloists from the voice studios, alumni, and Le Ragazze Vocal Ensemble.

• 7:30 pm – SDU Stage at Steel Recital Hall

Join us this Giving Tuesday and make your gift count for UPEI students!

Every donation, big or small, directly supports scholarships, programs, and opportunities that empower the next generation of leaders. Help UPEI students thrive - make your gift count this Giving Tuesday.

You may choose to direct your gift to an area that resonates most with you, or you can make an unrestricted gift that will go toward the areas of greatest need, supporting students on their path to success. 

A gift to UPEI this Giving Tuesday is an investment in student success and wellbeing. Your generosity touches nearly every corner of campus life and ensures that students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their goals.

Let's come together, donate, and support UPEI students.

Visit UPEI Giving Tuesday and see how your donation can support today's students.

Your gift. Their future. Our UPEI.

Ways to participate:
Donate online
For employee payroll deductions, please contact Tammy Pigott, Gift Processor at tpigott@upei.ca
Call: 902-894-2888
In Person: 618 University Avenue, Charlottetown

Giving Tuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering that takes place each year after Black Friday. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, visit givingtuesday.ca.

Join us today at 10:30 for complimentary cake and coffee as we celebrate our annual staff and faculty appreciation week.

Staff and faculty save 30% this week on all UPEI and AVC hoodies, crews and zip-up sweaters, save your regular 20% on all other eligible items. 

All salaried employees can charge purchases up to $500 to their staff account and pay in 2026, ask us for more details. 

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications, including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments, is Friday, November 28, 2025. These applications will be reviewed at the December 18 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the UPEI researcher portal. Information about the researcher portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Research Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the researcher portal, or about the biosafety application, review, and approval process.

The Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development (OCEPD) at UPEI is offering an exciting lineup of Certificates and courses to help you build skills, advance your career, and make an impact in your workplace.

UPEI Staff, Faculty, and Alumni save 15% on tuition!

Winter 2026 Offerings:

• Certificate in Project Management – Starting January 12, 2026
• Certificate in Collaborative Leadership – Starting January 14, 2026
• Certificate in Case Management – Starting January 28, 2026
• Certificate in Professional Communications – Starting February 9, 2026
• Certificate in Motivational Interviewing – Starting February 10, 2026
• The Adult Learner – Course Design and Facilitation Workshop – Starting February 24, 2026

Learn more and register: upei.ca/professional-development 

Email: pdp@upei.ca

The Robertson Library’s Open Education Resource Development Program is accepting grant applications for the creation or adaptation of open educational resources (OERs). The grant types include: 

• Open Educational Resource or Textbook Grant: up to $7000 
  • the development of a new open textbook on a topic that is currently not covered by an existing open textbook, or major adaptations of existing textbooks; 
• Open Textbook Adaptation Grant: up to $4,500 
  • the adaptation of one or more open educational resources or open textbooks to create a new version or edition of a resource (i.e. a Canadian edition of an existing open textbook); 
• Supplementary Resources Grant: up to $2,500 
  • the creation of ancillary materials for existing open textbooks, including, but not limited to test banks, slide decks, recordings, or interactive media, etc. 

All applications will be reviewed and considered, however, applications that meet either/both of the following criteria will be prioritised: 

• Applications that support first-year courses (as they reach the greatest number of students); and/or 
• Applications with evidence of consultation with the TLC and/or a Librarian.  

Applications close January 7, 2026. 

For more information, or to apply, visit https://library.upei.ca/OERProgram/grants. 

Questions about the grants, OERs, Pressbooks, or any other related topics can go to Keri McCaffrey, One Health and Scholarly Communications Librarian at knmccaffrey@upei.ca or Charlene VanLeeuwen in the Teaching and Learning Centre at cvanleeuwen@upei.ca. 

The second UPEI Board of Governors meeting of the 2025-2026 academic year will take place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 102, Alumni Hall. All board meetings generally include sessions that are open to the public. Certain agenda items, including but not limited to human resources discussions, may require the board to go into a closed session. For logistical purposes, members of the public who wish to attend the open session of a meeting are asked to contact board@upei.ca one week prior to the meeting. Members of the public wishing to attend the public portion of a meeting must adhere to the UPEI Board of Governors' Meeting Observer Guidelines.

UPEI's website backup requires all site content to be posted before 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 26. 

This includes Campus Notices, UPEI Events, and requests to edit existing website content. 

Normal content posting and editing requests will resume Thursday, November 27 at 8:00 am.

Sorry for the inconvenience; please contact web@upei.ca if you have questions or concerns.

Join us this Giving Tuesday and make your gift count for UPEI students!

Every donation, big or small, directly supports scholarships, programs, and opportunities that empower the next generation of leaders. Help UPEI students thrive - make your gift count this Giving Tuesday.

You may choose to direct your gift to an area that resonates most with you, or you can make an unrestricted gift that will go toward the areas of greatest need, supporting students on their path to success. 

A gift to UPEI this Giving Tuesday is an investment in student success and wellbeing. Your generosity touches nearly every corner of campus life and ensures that students have access to the resources and opportunities they need to achieve their goals.

Let's come together, donate, and support UPEI students.

Visit UPEI Giving Tuesday and see how your donation can support today's students.

Your gift. Their future. Our UPEI.

Ways to participate:
Donate online
For employee payroll deductions, please contact Tammy Pigott, Gift Processor at tpigott@upei.ca
Call: 902-894-2888
In Person: 618 University Avenue, Charlottetown

Giving Tuesday is a global movement for giving and volunteering that takes place each year after Black Friday. To learn more about Giving Tuesday, visit givingtuesday.ca.

Join us Friday, November 28 in FSDE 128A for our second Pizza Seminar of the semester where Dr. Dania Tamayo-Vera will be speaking on the topic of artificial intelligence. There will be FREE pizza and drinks to follow.

The Monopoly Man Never Had a Monocle: How Our Stories Become the Stories LLMs Learn 

Why are we so sure of things that are not true sometimes, and why do our language models inherit that same confidence? Many people recall the Monopoly man wearing a monocle or see a picture of Einstein with the phrase “I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots” and repeat it, even though there is absolutely no evidence he ever said it. The truth is that humans create explanations that feel right but are not necessarily accurate. That quote sounds wise, it resonates with our feelings, and we have no doubt how smart he was. This talk begins with these familiar errors and follows them into the world of large language models (LLMs). We explore how LLMs pick up human patterns of explanation, why their responses shift under small changes in context, and how these shifts reveal the influence of the data that shaped them. Through accessible demonstrations, the talk connects human habits of interpretation with model behavior and considers what this means for trust, explanation, and everyday use of LLMs.