The Public Service Commission is reaching out to recent UPEI alumni and current students by offering an information session on job opportunities within the Government of Canada. The presentation will be held on Thursday, December 11 from 11:00 am-12:30 pm in the Robertson Library Building, room 235. UPEI staff and faculty are asked to encourage current and past students to stop in to ask questions about the public service, to find out how to apply, to gain knowledge on the type of opportunities available and to gather tips on how to improve their application. For more information, please contact Kylah Hennessey at (902) 620-5088 or khennessey@upei.ca.

There will be at least 50 international students staying in Residence or off campus during the holiday break. Residence Life and the International Relations Office is organizing social activities to help mitigate any homesickness the students will undoubtedly experience. If you or anyone you know has time to include a couple students in your activities, please let us know. It could be an invite to a meal in your home, ice skating, crafting, looking at the lights, a choir recital, or anything else you typically do. Please contact Erica Stanley at estanley@upei.ca or (902) 566-0443.

Today is the last day that the Wave will be open for the semester. Stop by for one last Faculty/Staff Friday before the break. Look forward to seeing you there. Happy Holidays!

Mother Country by Deirdre Kessler, published by Oberon Press, will be launched on Saturday afternoon, December 6, from 2:30-3:30 pm, at the Confederation Centre Public Library, Charlottetown. UPEI staff member, Deirdre Kessler is a poet (Afternoon Horses, Subtracting by Seventeen, Rearranging the Sky), and author of sixteen books for young people, including recently published Born! A foal, five kittens, and Confederation (Comment Naquirent: un poulain, cinq chatons, et la Conféderation), and Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice Award-winning Lobster in My Pocket and Brupp Rides Again. As well, she has published a number of nonfiction and educational texts, including the P.E.I. grade six social studies text, Exploring the Island (L’île-du-Prince-Édouard: une histoire à découvrir). She teaches children’s literature, creative writing, and the course on L.M. Montgomery with the Department of English of the University of Prince Edward Island. She is recipient of UPEI’s 2010 Award for Teaching Excellence by a Sessional Lecturer. Currently she is working on an adult novel, Darwin’s Hornpipe, and a new collection of poetry.

The December 2014 Campus Directory is available for orders. Please contact Central Printing at 0558 or whenderson@upei.ca.

You're invited to submit stories, announcements, or departmental updates to UPEI's newsletter, the Campus Connector. The submission deadline for the next edition is Monday, December 8 by 5:00 pm. Submissions must follow these guidelines: -be emailed to Sheila Kerry at communications@upei.ca -sent in a Microsoft Word or plain text document -be no longer than 250 words -maximum one photo per story The editors reserve the right to edit content, will not consider incomplete submissions, and cannot guarantee that all submitted materials will be published. If you have any questions or comments, please contact communications@upei.ca. Not receiving the Campus Connector? To subscribe, please email communications@upei.ca to get your email address on the list!

Today is the last day that the Wave will be open for the semester. Stop by for one last Faculty/Staff Friday before the break. Look forward to seeing you there. Happy Holidays!

Mother Country by Deirdre Kessler, published by Oberon Press, will be launched on Saturday afternoon, December 6, from 2:30-3:30 pm, at the Confederation Centre Public Library, Charlottetown. UPEI staff member, Deirdre Kessler is a poet (Afternoon Horses, Subtracting by Seventeen, Rearranging the Sky), and author of sixteen books for young people, including recently published Born! A foal, five kittens, and Confederation (Comment Naquirent: un poulain, cinq chatons, et la Conféderation), and Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice Award-winning Lobster in My Pocket and Brupp Rides Again. As well, she has published a number of nonfiction and educational texts, including the P.E.I. grade six social studies text, Exploring the Island (L’île-du-Prince-Édouard: une histoire à découvrir). She teaches children’s literature, creative writing, and the course on L.M. Montgomery with the Department of English of the University of Prince Edward Island. She is recipient of UPEI’s 2010 Award for Teaching Excellence by a Sessional Lecturer. Currently she is working on an adult novel, Darwin’s Hornpipe, and a new collection of poetry.

The December 2014 Campus Directory is available for orders. Please contact Central Printing at 0558 or whenderson@upei.ca.

You're invited to submit stories, announcements, or departmental updates to UPEI's newsletter, the Campus Connector. The submission deadline for the next edition is Monday, December 8 by 5:00 pm. Submissions must follow these guidelines: -be emailed to Sheila Kerry at communications@upei.ca -sent in a Microsoft Word or plain text document -be no longer than 250 words -maximum one photo per story The editors reserve the right to edit content, will not consider incomplete submissions, and cannot guarantee that all submitted materials will be published. If you have any questions or comments, please contact communications@upei.ca. Not receiving the Campus Connector? To subscribe, please email communications@upei.ca to get your email address on the list!

Understanding Change and Transformation in Individuals and Organizations - January 8 (Charlottetown) & January 20 (Summerside); Keys to Workplace Team Success - January 20-22 (Charlottetown); Planning, Delegating and Managing Priorities - February 10 (Charlottetown) & February 19 (Summerside); Effective Presentation Skills - February 12 (Charlottetown) Administrative Professional's Development Program Next intake begins February 24, 2015 The Administrative Professional's Development Program is designed for those who have been working in the Administrative Professional field and have found gaps in their skills, need to update their skills as a result of a change in their job, or simply want to enhance their knowledge and skills. The program will allow participants the opportunity to update their skills and expand their professional relationships. Workshops in the following areas will be delivered: Understanding Change, Time Management and Organization, Writing, Conflict Resolution, and Communication Skills. For more information, please visit http://www.upei.ca/skillsdevelopmentandlearning/ or contact us at lifelong@upei.ca or (902) 566-0336.

Please see the following call out for awards available for application through the UPEI Scholarships and Awards Office; all application forms are available online, and detail the criteria and material required in order to apply. Please contact amontgomery@upei.ca or (902) 620-5187 with any questions. UPEI faculty and staff are asked to encourage their students to apply! Parkdale-Sherwood Lions' Club Scholarship – Deadline: December 10: Awarded to a deserving undergraduate student from Parkdale-Sherwood or surrounding area that is in their third year, in an Arts, Science, or Business program: http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarshipsandawards/246 UPEI Football Alumni Scholarship – EXTENDED DEADLINE! Deadline: December 10: Awarded to a full-time UPEI student in second, third year, or fourth year who has an academic average of at least 75% in their previous academic year, is a varsity-level athlete and playing on the community football team: http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarshipsandawards/767 UPEI Alumni Association Legacy Award – EXTENDED DEADLINE! Deadline: December 10: Awarded to a student entering their first year at UPEI (not necessarily their first year in university studies); AVC students and graduate students are also eligible if entering UPEI for the first time: http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarshipsandawards/864

The UPEI Bookstore is open from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm every Saturday in December until Christmas. Don't miss our Flash Sale Friday deals on Twitter and Facebook every Friday morning.

The UPEI community is invited to attend the 2014 President’s Holiday Social and Tree Lighting , TODAY, Thursday, December 4, 3:30-5:00 pm. The reception will take place in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, where the new "UPEI Commits to Care" campaign will also be launched, followed by a tree lighting ceremony at 4:45 pm, between Kelley Memorial Building and the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. UPEI student Bridgette Blanchard will provide music during the social and appetizers and light refreshments will be served. UPEI food bank items and/or monetary donations are graciously accepted. The Office of the President will match all donations. Hope to see you there!

Understanding Change and Transformation in Individuals and Organizations - January 8 (Charlottetown) & January 20 (Summerside); Keys to Workplace Team Success - January 20-22 (Charlottetown); Planning, Delegating and Managing Priorities - February 10 (Charlottetown) & February 19 (Summerside); Effective Presentation Skills - February 12 (Charlottetown) Administrative Professional's Development Program Next intake begins February 24, 2015 The Administrative Professional's Development Program is designed for those who have been working in the Administrative Professional field and have found gaps in their skills, need to update their skills as a result of a change in their job, or simply want to enhance their knowledge and skills. The program will allow participants the opportunity to update their skills and expand their professional relationships. Workshops in the following areas will be delivered: Understanding Change, Time Management and Organization, Writing, Conflict Resolution, and Communication Skills. For more information, please visit http://www.upei.ca/skillsdevelopmentandlearning/ or contact us at lifelong@upei.ca or (902) 566-0336.

Please see the following call out for awards available for application through the UPEI Scholarships and Awards Office; all application forms are available online, and detail the criteria and material required in order to apply. Please contact amontgomery@upei.ca or (902) 620-5187 with any questions. UPEI faculty and staff are asked to encourage their students to apply! Parkdale-Sherwood Lions' Club Scholarship – Deadline: December 10: Awarded to a deserving undergraduate student from Parkdale-Sherwood or surrounding area that is in their third year, in an Arts, Science, or Business program: http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarshipsandawards/246 UPEI Football Alumni Scholarship – EXTENDED DEADLINE! Deadline: December 10: Awarded to a full-time UPEI student in second, third year, or fourth year who has an academic average of at least 75% in their previous academic year, is a varsity-level athlete and playing on the community football team: http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarshipsandawards/767 UPEI Alumni Association Legacy Award – EXTENDED DEADLINE! Deadline: December 10: Awarded to a student entering their first year at UPEI (not necessarily their first year in university studies); AVC students and graduate students are also eligible if entering UPEI for the first time: http://www.upei.ca/studentlife/scholarshipsandawards/864

The UPEI Bookstore is open from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm every Saturday in December until Christmas. Don't miss our Flash Sale Friday deals on Twitter and Facebook every Friday morning.

The UPEI community is invited to attend the 2014 President’s Holiday Social and Tree Lighting , TODAY, Thursday, December 4, 3:30-5:00 pm. The reception will take place in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, where the new "UPEI Commits to Care" campaign will also be launched, followed by a tree lighting ceremony at 4:45 pm, between Kelley Memorial Building and the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. UPEI student Bridgette Blanchard will provide music during the social and appetizers and light refreshments will be served. UPEI food bank items and/or monetary donations are graciously accepted. The Office of the President will match all donations. Hope to see you there!

At the Chaplaincy Centre, thoughts are with the students during exam time, their success, and yes, of course, the chili dinner. On the first two days of exams - Wednesday and Thursday, December 3 & 4 -between 11:30 am–1:30 pm, a chili dinner is served at the Chaplaincy Centre, free for the students. About 300 students show up each day with smiles and conversation on this busy week. We are looking for faculty and staff to help out and provide encouragement for students on their exams. If you are able to volunteer some time, sign up here: https://docs.google.com/a/upei.ca/document/d/1cDmfQL-5YHXAlWCCEQTUANKyn…

Know a student coming home to PEI for the holidays? UPEI Athletics and Recreation is offering a "Home for the Holidays" one-month Sports Centre Membership to students from other post-secondary institutions for $50 + HST. Students will enjoy all membership benefits including our state-of-the-art Fitness Centre, Walking Track, Open Gym Times, and Squash and Racquetball Courts. Please call our Panther Central Desk at (902) 566-0368 for additional information.