Campus Notices
The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last TEN draws, the total pot has grown to more than $35,700, with half going to the winner of the draw.
Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets.
Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panther Recreation app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.
Below are upcoming training opportunities for the fall that may be of interest to faculty and students. Most sessions are online and free of charge.
REGISTER: https://www.ace-net.ca/training/
Introduction to High Performance Computing (HPC)
15 September, 1200-1330hrs Atlantic | 1230-1400hrs NL (online)
What is high performance computing (HPC) and what can it do for me? How can ACENET help? Used by researchers across many disciplines to tackle analyses too large or complex for a desktop, or to improve efficiency over a desktop, this session takes you through the preliminary stages of learning about HPC and computing clusters, and how to get started with this type of computing. It then reviews software packages available for applications, data analysis, software development and compiling code. Finally, you are introduced to the concept of parallel computing to achieve much faster results in analysis. This session is designed for those with no prior experience in HPC, and who are looking for an introduction and overview.
Introduction to the Linux Command Line
16 September, 1200-1330hrs Atlantic | 1230-1400hrs NL (online)
Linux is the terminal interface used to enable you to use the ACENET and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC) high performance computing (HPC) clusters from your desktop. It's the tool you need to get your data on the clusters, run your programs, and get your data back. In this session, learn how to get started with Linux, how to create and navigate directories for your data, load files, manage your storage, run programs on the computing clusters, and set file permissions. This workshop is designed for those with no prior experience in working with a terminal interface.
Introduction to Shell Scripting
17 September, 1200-1330hrs Atlantic | 1230-1400hrs NL (online)
Shell scripting helps you save time, automate file management tasks, and better use the power of Linux. In this session, you learn how to use the command line to carry out repetitive tasks, extract information from files quickly, combine commands in powerful ways, about job scripts, shell variables and looping commands, and how to capture a workflow so you can re-use it easily. Save time, reduce errors, and use Linux more effectively. This workshop is designed for either new high performance computing (HPC) users who are familiar with working in a Linux environment, or for experienced users seeking to get more out of shell scripting. Participants are strongly encouraged to have a Digital Research Alliance of Canada account.
Job Scheduling with Slurm
18 September, 1200-1330hrs Atlantic | 1230-1400hrs NL (online)
The national systems use a job scheduler called “Slurm”. In this session you learn how Slurm works and how it allocates jobs, helping you to: minimize wait time by framing reasonable requests; ask for only the resources you need to improve efficiency; increase throughput; run more jobs simultaneously; and, troubleshoot and address crashes. This workshop is designed for either new high performance computing (HPC) users familiar with Linux and Shell Scripting, but who have not had experience using Slurm, or, for experienced users transitioning to Slurm or seeking to improve efficiency with the scheduler. Participants should have a Digital Research Alliance of Canada account.
Introductory Programming: Unix Shell, Git and Python
29 September and 1, 6, 8 October, 1300-1600hrs Atlantic | 1330-1630hrs NL (online)
This is a beginner level series that is hands-on, covering the fundamentals of Unix Shell, Version Control with Git and Python. This includes data types, conditional statements, loops and functions, as well as program design, version control, data management, and task automation. Participants are encouraged to help one another and to apply what they have learned to their own research problems. The goal is to teach the practical knowledge needed to start programming, debugging and using Python in everyday tasks. You do not need to have previous knowledge of the tools that are presented, or previous programming experience, but intermediate level experience with a computer is highly recommended.
The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Allison Vandaele’s public dissertation defense presentation of Allison’s PsyD research titled: "Implementing Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) in an Acute Geriatric Psychiatry Unit"
Please join us in supporting Allison on this momentous occasion!
Date and Time: September 25, 2026 at 10:30 am
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 104
On Friday, September 18 at 7:30 pm, the UPEI Department of Music opens its 2026-2027 recital series with our second annual Prelude to Homecoming concert, a musical celebration of our Performing Arts donors, which will once again showcase the Department's new 9-foot Yamaha CFX concert grand piano in the refurbished Steel Recital Hall. This concert will feature Magdalena von Eccher as a soloist and in collaboration with full-time faculty Dale Sorensen (trombone) and Nicole Strum (saxophone), part-time faculty Natalie Williams Calhoun (cello) and guest pianist Glen Montgomery; an alumni SATB vocal ensemble led by Sung Ha Shin-Bouey and accompanied by von Eccher and Morgan Saulnier (piano); and a faculty/alumni jazz combo featuring Mark Parsons (trumpet), Ian Toms (guitar), Deryl Gallant (bass), and Shawn Doiron (drums). Tickets can be purchased online here. Please visit https://upei.ca/music for more information.
The Atlantic Veterinary College SAVMA Chapter is hosting their 4th annual TRAILS FOR TAILS- a 5K fun run/walk! Students and community members are invited to attend this all-ages event (10+ years for run registration) and all fitness levels are welcome. Dogs are welcomed and encouraged to attend! This 5 km run/walk follows a route on the UPEI campus and the Confederation Trail, starting and ending at the WA Murphy Student Centre.
Sanctioned by the PEI Roadrunners Club, the registration donations for this event will support local and national SAVMA leadership opportunities for students, as well as the Pegasus Helping Hands Fund through the AVC VTH.
Date: Sunday, September 27, 10:00 am
Location: W.A. Murphy Student Centre, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown
Registration: $25, *NEW* only $15 for UPEI students
There will be medals and great prizes- follow the link below to sign up and don’t miss our best run yet!
For any questions, email: avc.scavma@gmail.com
Are you a graduate student looking to strengthen your teaching practice, prepare for future academic roles, or build confidence as an instructor? Whether you're new to teaching or have completed the Certificate in University Teaching Quick Start, the University Teaching Domain Certificate: Learner Centredness offers an opportunity to explore evidence-informed approaches to teaching and learning.
Designed for graduate students, this program helps participants develop practical teaching skills for teaching assistantships and future instructional roles. Through self-paced learning, reflection, discussion, and application, you'll build a foundation in effective and inclusive teaching practices.
Dates and Times:
- September 23 – How People Learn, 12:00-1:00 pm
- October 21 – Presentation Prep, 12:00-1:00 pm
- November 18 – Universal Design for Learning (UDL), 12:00-1:00 pm
Bring your own lunch and join us for an engaging session
Location: Robertson Library Annex 230
Hosted by: The Teaching and Learning Centre
Faculty and staff are invited to share their feedback on Welcome Week 2026! Whether or not you participated in Welcome Week events or activities, your feedback will help the Office of Student Culture and Community Standards inform future planning and support the student experience at UPEI.
The Faculty and Staff Welcome Week Feedback Survey is anonymous and takes approximately 3–5 minutes to complete. Complete the survey by September 25, 2026, and you can enter for a chance to win one of two UPEI prize packs.
Please also encourage students to share their feedback! The Student Welcome Week Feedback Survey is anonymous and takes approximately 5–7 minutes to complete. Students who complete the survey by September 21, 2026, can enter for a chance to win one of ten $50 UPEI Bookstore gift cards.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Student Experience Coordinator Susie Zavala at szavala@upei.ca.
The UPEI Foods and Nutrition program will host an Open House on Tuesday, September 15, from 12:00–1:00 pm and a Career Day on Tuesday, September 22, from 11:30–12:45 pm. Both events will be held in the third-floor dining room of the Health Sciences Building (HSB room 301), UPEI.
All UPEI students are welcome and encouraged to attend the Open House to learn about the Foods and Nutrition program streams within the Faculty of Science and to connect with faculty and staff. Attendees will also hear about academic pathways, dietetic internship opportunities, and honours research experiences. Tours of the department and foods lab will be provided.
The Career Day event is an opportunity to explore how a degree in Foods and Nutrition can lead to diverse and rewarding career opportunities. It is designed to give students a clear picture of what the program has to offer and how it can support their academic and professional goals. It will also offer day-to-day insights from professionals. Representatives from Health PEI and the Department of Health will be present to share information about the career opportunities available to graduates of the UPEI Foods and Nutrition program.
The first UPEI Board of Governors meeting of the 2026-2027 academic year will take place on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 4:00 pm in Room 102, Alumni Hall. All board meetings 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.
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!) at the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship in 201 Robertson Library this fall! No pre-registration required! See the fall schedule below.
- Thursday, September 17, 3:00-5:00 pm
- Thursday, October 8, 3:00-5:00 pm
- Thursday, October 29, 3:00-5:00 pm
- Thursday, November 12, 3:00-5:00 pm
- Thursday, December 3, 3:00-5:00 pm
Note: If you would like to participate, please bring a phone or computer that can access wi-fi or cellular data.
Senate meetings for the 2025-2026 Calendar year are scheduled 3:00 to 5:00 pm on the following dates:
- Friday, September 25, 2026
- Friday, October 23, 2026
- Friday, November 27, 2026
- Friday, December 11, 2026
- Friday, January 22, 2027
- Friday, February 26, 2027
- Thursday, March 25, 2027
- Friday, April 23, 2027
- Friday, May 7, 2027
To view the 2026-2027 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here.
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.
On Friday, September 18 at 7:30 pm, the UPEI Department of Music opens its 2026-2027 recital series with our second annual Prelude to Homecoming concert, a musical celebration of our Performing Arts donors, which will once again showcase the Department's new 9-foot Yamaha CFX concert grand piano in the refurbished Steel Recital Hall. This concert will feature Magdalena von Eccher as a soloist and in collaboration with full-time faculty Dale Sorensen (trombone) and Nicole Strum (saxophone), part-time faculty Natalie Williams Calhoun (cello) and guest pianist Glen Montgomery; an alumni SATB vocal ensemble led by Sung Ha Shin-Bouey and accompanied by von Eccher and Morgan Saulnier (piano); and a faculty/alumni jazz combo featuring Mark Parsons (trumpet), Ian Toms (guitar), Deryl Gallant (bass), and Shawn Doiron (drums). Tickets can be purchased online here. Please visit https://upei.ca/music for more information.
The Atlantic Veterinary College SAVMA Chapter is hosting their 4th annual TRAILS FOR TAILS- a 5K fun run/walk! Students and community members are invited to attend this all-ages event (10+ years for run registration) and all fitness levels are welcome. Dogs are welcomed and encouraged to attend! This 5 km run/walk follows a route on the UPEI campus and the Confederation Trail, starting and ending at the WA Murphy Student Centre.
Sanctioned by the PEI Roadrunners Club, the registration donations for this event will support local and national SAVMA leadership opportunities for students, as well as the Pegasus Helping Hands Fund through the AVC VTH.
Date: Sunday, September 27, 10:00 am
Location: W.A. Murphy Student Centre, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown
Registration: $25, *NEW* only $15 for UPEI students
There will be medals and great prizes- follow the link below to sign up and don’t miss our best run yet!
For any questions, email: avc.scavma@gmail.com
Faculty and staff are invited to share their feedback on Welcome Week 2026! Whether or not you participated in Welcome Week events or activities, your feedback will help the Office of Student Culture and Community Standards inform future planning and support the student experience at UPEI.
The Faculty and Staff Welcome Week Feedback Survey is anonymous and takes approximately 3–5 minutes to complete. Complete the survey by September 25, 2026, and you can enter for a chance to win one of two UPEI prize packs.
Please also encourage students to share their feedback! The Student Welcome Week Feedback Survey is anonymous and takes approximately 5–7 minutes to complete. Students who complete the survey by September 21, 2026, can enter for a chance to win one of ten $50 UPEI Bookstore gift cards.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Student Experience Coordinator Susie Zavala at szavala@upei.ca.
The UPEI Foods and Nutrition program will host an Open House on Tuesday, September 15, from 12:00–1:00 pm and a Career Day on Tuesday, September 22, from 11:30–12:45 pm. Both events will be held in the third-floor dining room of the Health Sciences Building (HSB room 301), UPEI.
All UPEI students are welcome and encouraged to attend the Open House to learn about the Foods and Nutrition program streams within the Faculty of Science and to connect with faculty and staff. Attendees will also hear about academic pathways, dietetic internship opportunities, and honours research experiences. Tours of the department and foods lab will be provided.
The Career Day event is an opportunity to explore how a degree in Foods and Nutrition can lead to diverse and rewarding career opportunities. It is designed to give students a clear picture of what the program has to offer and how it can support their academic and professional goals. It will also offer day-to-day insights from professionals. Representatives from Health PEI and the Department of Health will be present to share information about the career opportunities available to graduates of the UPEI Foods and Nutrition program.
As a result of Canada’s research community's commitment to open science and international collaboration, Canada is a leader in innovation, research, and development. However, this commitment has the potential to be exploited, leading to loss of expertise and trade secrets, damage to the integrity of Canadian academic and research institutions, and the loss of publication and patent opportunities. These implications have national and economic security impacts – particularly if the knowledge is sensitive or has potential military applications.
The Government of Canada recognizes the immense short and long-term value of the research conducted in Canada and endeavours to keep it as open as possible while still ensuring security measures are in place. To raise awareness of research security issues and threats within Canada’s academic communities, Public Safety Canada’s Atlantic Regional Advisor will be speaking on September 23 at 2pm in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex room 228.
The primary objective of this event is to explain the potential for misuse of dual-use research, technology, and materials, including risk factors and research security considerations for disciplines outside of the STEM fields. This discussion will also include a conversation regarding risk indicators and mitigation tools to protect Canadian research assets.
Presented by: Public Safety Canada’s Atlantic Regional Advisor
Hybrid synchronous options available, no recording or slides will be provided
Open to Faculty, Research Scientists, Post-Docs, and Graduate Students
Register here: Research Security Training session – Fill out form
Dr. Brent MacLaine, Professor Emeritus of English and renowned poet, will be celebrated for his contributions to the PEI literary community on Thursday, September 17, at 7 pm, in the Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall. The evening, which will be co-hosted by UPEI Professor Emeritus Richard Lemm and PEI Poet Laureate Bren Simmers, will include readings of Dr. MacLaine’s poetry by other Island writers, colleagues, and friends. Hosted by the Bookmark, Charlottetown’s locally owned, independent bookstore, the event is free and open to everyone.
All faculty, staff, students, and researchers who work with biological materials are invited to attend the upcoming Basic Biosafety and Biosecurity Training session.
Basic Biosafety and Biosecurity Training is required for all personnel working in Containment Level 2 (CL2) laboratories on campus and is strongly recommended for those working in Containment Level 1 (CL1) laboratories.
This training consists of both online modules and an in-person session. Participants are encouraged to complete the required online coursework prior to attending the in-person training to maximize learning and participation.
Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 10:00 am- 12:00 pm
Location: To be determined
This training will provide an introduction to essential biosafety and biosecurity principles, including:
- Safe handling of biological materials
- Containment practices and procedures
- Incident reporting requirements
- Roles and responsibilities in maintaining a safe laboratory environment
- Biosecurity awareness and best practices
For additional information or to register, please contact biosafety@upei.ca.
Help us maintain a safe and secure research and learning environment by participating in this important training opportunity.
As we welcome students back to campus, ITSS is adjusting our in-person Employee Help Desk hours for the first two weeks of the semester.
From September 8 to September 18, the Employee Help Desk will be open to walk-ins from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
While these reduced counter hours may seem unusual, the change allows our team to be more flexible and responsive during the critical start and end of the academic day, when classrooms, labs, and teaching spaces experience the highest demand for support.
Rather than concentrating staff behind a single service desk, we are positioning our team across campus to provide the best possible experience for both students and faculty.
Enhanced Campus Coverage
During the first two weeks of the semester, ITSS staff will be deployed across multiple locations:
- Student Help Desk at Robertson Library
- Student Support Location at the Murphy Centre (Day Lounge – first week only)
- Employee Help Desk @ the AVC
- A dedicated floater who can be rapidly deployed where support is needed most
- Our AV Coordinator focused on classroom technology readiness and major teaching-space issues
- Our Deskside Support team provides additional on-site assistance across campus
This approach gives us significantly greater flexibility to respond to issues where and when they occur.
Live Critical Classroom Issues
If you are experiencing a live critical classroom issue, there is no need to walk to the Help Desk. Instead, call 902-566-0465 and select Option 2
This line is monitored for critical teaching and learning issues that require immediate attention. Calling allows us to dispatch support directly to your location and helps resolve issues faster. If your issue is not considered critical, you will be asked to open a ticket.
For Non-Critical Issues that require additional attention
If you are not receiving a timely response on your non-critical issue, you can always reach out to one of our ITSS managers listed at go.upei.ca/itssteam
Thank you for your patience and support as we implement this temporary start-of-semester service model. We look forward to assisting you throughout the academic year.
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Chris Andersen, Vice-Provost and Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Alberta, to UPEI on Friday, September 18.
During his visit, Dr. Andersen will engage with UPEI senior leaders and members of our campus community through a series of discussions and presentations. To learn more about Dr. Andersen, please visit his profile here.
UPEI Campus Community Presentation by Dr. Chris Andersen
Reframing Self-Indigenization in the Academy: Jurisdictional Politics at the Boundary of Uncertainty
September 18, 2026
1:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Performing Arts Centre, Amphitheatre 121S
Gathering with UPEI Indigenous Community and Allies
3:00 pm to 3:45 pm
Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall
Following the presentation, we invite members of the UPEI Indigenous community and allies to join us for an informal gathering with Dr. Andersen. This will be an opportunity to connect with Dr. Andersen, engage in conversation with colleagues, and continue discussions sparked by the afternoon presentation. Light refreshments will be provided.
To assist with event planning and logistics, we kindly ask that you register in advance using the link below:
