Campus Notices
Did you know that you can use Moodle for online AND in-person quizzes? The offline quiz Moodle activity can be used to turn your existing online Moodle question bank into a scan-to-grade test. This can save you time grading and give you statistic insight into results, letting you review how students achieved on individual questions. This session will demo and cover how to use this tool in your courses. This lunch and learn will take place in the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre located in the Robertson Library Annex (RL 230) on October 30 at 12:00 pm.
Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/QZyN5uuYNG
Registration is not required, but you will receive an event invitation.
The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Tuesday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street. All are welcome.
During this gathering, we will discuss pages 22 (from 'Existence and Innocence') to 44 (to 'Nietzsche and Science') from Gilles Deleuze's book Nietzsche and Philosophy.
For more information about the group, read the article, UPEI Philosophy Reading Group underway for 2025–2026 academic year
If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca
The PEI Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture is inviting applications under the Oyster Disease Adaptation and Mitigation Program to support efforts to address the impacts of newly discovered oyster diseases (MSX and Dermo) affecting PEI’s oyster industry.
The program seeks projects that:
● Develop or test adaptation and mitigation strategies to reduce disease risks
● Support innovation, research, and development in oyster health and seed supply
● Strengthen crisis response, biosecurity, and hatchery/nursery capacity.
Researchers are encouraged to consider partnerships with industry and community stakeholders to ensure direct benefits to PEI’s oyster sector.
Funding available:
● Up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $50,000. Please note that the following costs are not eligible - indirect costs, and salaries and wages (including student salaries/stipends)
● Projects may combine other public funding, but total public support cannot exceed 90% of total costs
● Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and all claims must be submitted by March 31, 2026.
For more information:
Program guidelines and the application form can be found here:
To apply:
Internal UPEI approval is required prior to submission using the UPEI Romeo Researcher Portal.
You’re invited to the final session of a series of TLC Lunch and Learn sessions throughout the month of October; each focused on a Core Principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Grab your own lunch to join us online for engaging conversations and practical strategies to support inclusive teaching.
Session Lineup:
- Wednesday, October 22, 12 – 1 pm – Supporting Action and Expression
- Discover strategies for allowing learners to demonstrate what they know in diverse and meaningful ways. Register here.
Each session will include a brief presentation, followed by interactive discussion and idea-sharing with colleagues across departments. You’ll leave with practical insights and tools you can apply in your own teaching.
Join us and volunteer at UPEI's premier on-campus recruitment event, the Fall Open House, where prospective students, parents, and guardians have the opportunity to discover all the benefits of joining the Panther family and how their big futures start at UPEI. This year's Open House will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm across the UPEI Charlottetown Campus. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here. There are volunteer opportunities to help with prep on October 23 and 24 and many opportunities on the day of Open House, October 25, for staff, faculty, and current students.
If you have any questions about volunteering at Open House, please contact Student Engagement Officer Inara Bhalesha at binara@upei.ca.
ITSS is hosting an informal, in-person session to give you an overview of the services ITSS provides the campus — followed by an open Q&A.
- Got Wi-Fi questions?
- Need help with software?
- Want cybersecurity tips?
- Just curious?
No jargon. No presentations (Well, maybe just a quick overview of the services that ITSS provides for the campus). Just real answers from real people.
October 22, 2025
AVC 201N
12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Bring your questions — and let’s chat!
Join us on Friday, October 24 in FSDE 128A for our first SMCS Pizza Seminar of the semester! Our speaker will be Jeremy Heartz, Entrepreneurship Program Officer, from the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship. There will be pizza to follow.
Abstract:
The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship exists to provide students with the opportunity to learn, get support for, and collaborate with like-minded students who share a mutual interest in entrepreneurship. During this talk, you'll learn about the opportunities the Centre offers to empower students at whatever stage of entrepreneurship you're in. Whether that's exploring what entrepreneurship is for the first time, you're trying to launch your product, or you fall somewhere in between: there's something for everyone at the Catherine Callbeck Centre!
Based on feedback from the research community, the Release of Research Funds process has been updated. This updated mechanism allows researchers access to their full research funds before required compliance is approved, thereby reducing the restrictions at the start-up phase of research projects, including hiring of project team members.
Please note that, under this new process:
- When research funding is awarded, an account will be opened, and researchers will now receive immediate access to the full project funds. As always, these funds are NOT to be used for activities requiring compliance approval.
- Already awarded research funds that have been fully or partially withheld under the previous release of funds process restrictions will now be released in full.
- Either a compliance status update OR approval of all required compliance is required within three (3) months of the account opening/release of full funds. The compliance status update must be submitted in the UPEI Researcher Portal, using the 'Compliance Status Update’ event form.
If neither is completed, the corresponding account will be suspended until a status update or all compliance requirements are approved.
- All required compliance must be approved at least six (6) months ahead of the corresponding project end date.
Adherence to the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy, in conjunction with the Tri-Agency Framework: Responsible Conduct of Research, Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration, and all related institutional and Tri-Agency policies and procedures, is required at all phases of the research project. Not meeting any of the compliance requirements outlined above is Research Misconduct as defined by the UPEI Responsible Conduct of Research Policy.
For full details, please see section 5 of the “Sponsored Research and Research Contracts SOP”, available on the UPEI policy page.
Please contact Stephanie Palmer, Research Compliance Coordinator, scpalmer@upei.ca with any questions.
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
For this week’s Tea(ching) Break, we’re featuring a project on trauma-informed teaching for faculty. The article details a professional development workshop series designed to raise awareness and understanding of trauma-informed pedagogy, helping instructors create classroom environments that support students who have experienced trauma and fostering equitable learning opportunities. Developing a Trauma-Informed Pedagogy Workshop Series.
What an instructor communicates to students can be highly impactful, but it is constrained by the limits of time and subject matter. What if additional dimensions of topics were folded into classes in a way that only becomes apparent later? A student who realizes stealth teaching has happened can react by thinking "Ahh, I see what you did there." This is how stealth teaching can carry the benefits of learning beyond the classroom. Join Etienne Cote on October 29 at 12:30 pm in the TLC Robertson Library Annex Room 230 to discuss how and why you might want to incorporate elements of stealth teaching into your courses.
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 meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). View the 2025-2026 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting (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.
Every day, our colleagues go above and beyond to make our university a vibrant, supportive, and inspiring place to work and learn. “Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues” is your space to give a shout-out to those who embody our mission and values—whether they’re championing a new initiative, supporting student success, lending a hand to a teammate, or bringing positivity to the workplace. You can also use this program to congratulate a colleague on a new role or wish them well in retirement.
Let’s celebrate the big and small wins that make our campus shine! Submit your note of recognition, and let’s cheer on our amazing colleagues together.
How to submit:
Complete this short form: https://forms.office.com/r/766cg9JsT6
You’ll be asked to share:
- Who are you recognizing? (Name and department/faculty)
- Why are you recognizing them? (Briefly describe what they did or the impact they made)
- Your name
Submit your form(s) by the last Friday of each month. Human Resources will collect the submissions and work with Communications to feature them in the Campus Connector. Please note, we now have a dedicated page for this program on the Human Resources SharePoint: Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues.
Not a current subscriber to Campus Connector? Find out how to subscribe.
The deadline for our next issue is Friday, October 31, 2025
Please contact Human Resources at hrengage@upei.ca should you have any questions.
The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet on Tuesday, October 28, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the Lady Slipper Room, Charlottetown Library Learning Centre, 97 Queen Street. All are welcome.
During this gathering, we will discuss pages 22 (from 'Existence and Innocence') to 44 (to 'Nietzsche and Science') from Gilles Deleuze's book Nietzsche and Philosophy.
For more information about the group, read the article, UPEI Philosophy Reading Group underway for 2025–2026 academic year
If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca
You’re invited to the final session of a series of TLC Lunch and Learn sessions throughout the month of October; each focused on a Core Principle of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Grab your own lunch to join us online for engaging conversations and practical strategies to support inclusive teaching.
Session Lineup:
- Wednesday, October 22, 12 – 1 pm – Supporting Action and Expression
- Discover strategies for allowing learners to demonstrate what they know in diverse and meaningful ways. Register here.
Each session will include a brief presentation, followed by interactive discussion and idea-sharing with colleagues across departments. You’ll leave with practical insights and tools you can apply in your own teaching.
At UPEI, we encourage everyone to take proactive steps to stay healthy during the fall and winter months. These include
- staying up to date on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations;
- staying home if you are experiencing symptoms;
- practicing good hand hygiene;
- wearing a mask if you are feeling unwell or have been exposed to respiratory illness.
For more details, please visit the UPEI Guidance For Respiratory Illness.
To help protect our patients and staff, masking is strongly recommended at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre.
COVID-19 rapid test kits are available at both the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre and the UPEI Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) office.
Flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Schedule:
- Wednesday, October 22, 9:00 am–3:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
- Thursday, October 23, 12:00–7:00 pm, McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre
- Wednesday, October 29, 12:00–7:00 pm, The McCain Foundation Learning Commons Atrium, Atlantic Veterinary College
Important Details:
- Vaccines are administered on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary.
- This service is free of charge for everyone.
- Please bring a valid provincial health card or student ID for registration.
- You are required to wait 15 minutes in the post-vaccine waiting area after receiving your flu shot to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction. Please plan your time accordingly.
Please Note:
- We are unable to administer flu vaccines to children aged 2 and under.
- Flu Mist (nasal spray) is available only at the Public Health Nursing Community Vaccination Clinics for children 2 to 17 years of age.
- We are unable to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to children 12 and under. COVID-19 Immunization Clinics are located in communities across PEI.
Join us and volunteer at UPEI's premier on-campus recruitment event, the Fall Open House, where prospective students, parents, and guardians have the opportunity to discover all the benefits of joining the Panther family and how their big futures start at UPEI. This year's Open House will take place on Saturday, October 25 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm across the UPEI Charlottetown Campus. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here. There are volunteer opportunities to help with prep on October 23 and 24 and many opportunities on the day of Open House, October 25, for staff, faculty, and current students.
If you have any questions about volunteering at Open House, please contact Student Engagement Officer Inara Bhalesha at binara@upei.ca.
ITSS is hosting an informal, in-person session to give you an overview of the services ITSS provides the campus — followed by an open Q&A.
- Got Wi-Fi questions?
- Need help with software?
- Want cybersecurity tips?
- Just curious?
No jargon. No presentations (Well, maybe just a quick overview of the services that ITSS provides for the campus). Just real answers from real people.
October 22, 2025
AVC 201N
12:00 noon to 1:00 pm
Bring your questions — and let’s chat!
We are pleased to introduce UPEI’s new Exit Interview program, developed as part of the UPEI Action Plan:
- 3.1.6.1: Develop a process to offer exit interviews for departing employees, and
- 3.1.6.2: Develop a process to share aggregate information learned from exit interviews in confidential and appropriate ways.
An exit interview is a voluntary opportunity for employees who are leaving UPEI or moving to a new department to share feedback about their work experience. This helps us better understand the employee experience and identify opportunities to strengthen our workplace.
More information is available on the Human Resources SharePoint page, including:
- The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlining eligibility and reporting
- A sample questionnaire
If you have any questions about this process, please contact the Employee Experience & Development Team in Human Resources at hrengage@upei.ca
