Convocation exercises are being held from May 12 to 15, at 10:00 am each day at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

May 12—Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Nursing
May 13—Faculty of Business and Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering
May 14—Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Graduate Studies
May 15—Faculty of Science

Each ceremony is preceded by a procession of graduates across campus. Faculty and staff are encouraged to line up along the Academic Procession route each day to cheer on and congratulate the Class of 2026. The Procession departs the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering between 9:35 and 9:45 am and travels in front of SDU Main Building on its way to the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre.

Each ceremony will also be available to watch via livestream at upei.ca/live.
 

Grab a cup of fresh coffee at the UPEI Bookstore for $2.50 plus tax. The Bookstore, which is located in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, is open from 9:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see all the new items arriving this month.

Notice from IT Systems and Services: IT Systems and Services (ITSS) would like to consult with the campus community regarding the renewal of our SAS software campus license, which comes up in June 2026. Our records indicate very low utilization of this software. We also have several alternative statistical and analytical software options available to the UPEI community, including Minitab, SPSS, and Maple. These tools continue to be supported and meet many common instructional and research needs.  

We are reaching out to the campus to verify usage of SAS before this year’s renewal. If you require this software, please fill out our Computer Lab Software Request Form by May 15.   Note that further information regarding currently available software is available on the ITSS website. 

Troy Life & Fire Safety will perform fire alarm inspections in selected campus buildings on the dates listed below. As part of the inspections, there will be the testing of alarms. There will be an audible notification stating “This is a test” at the beginning and the end of each test. Occupants are not required to evacuate during the testing period. The ringing of alarms is required to test their function and to ensure the speakers work throughout the building. This will be a small portion (up to two hours) of the total time they are in the building. 

Inspections will take place at the following locations:

• Campus Kids Child Care Centre, May 1
• Chaplaincy Centre, May 1
• Performing Arts Centre and New Residence, May 4–7
• Bernardine Hall, May 11
• Kelley Memorial Building, May 11
• Don and Marion McDougall Hall, May 11
• Duffy Science Centre, May 11
• W.A. Murphy Student Centre, May 11
• Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall, May 11

Fire alarm inspections for other buildings on campus will be announced at a later date.

Are you trying to find some dedicated time to finish a writing project that needs focused attention? Time to Write retreats offer concentrated time to support your writing efforts and can be instrumental in the initiation or completion of scholarly work such as an article, book or book chapter, grant proposal, curriculum or OER development, conference presentations, or other scholarly, creative projects.  

Time to work on writing projects away from home and campus for a few days can be incredibly productive. Participation in a writing retreat with colleagues at various stages of their career not only provides quiet, focused writing time away from teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities, but it also offers mentorship and networking opportunities with colleagues from a range of disciplines. The retreat provides an opportunity to develop a supportive writing group with colleagues from across campus and join group discussions on writing and publishing. Research on relational approaches to scholarly writing retreats like our Time to Write Retreats has demonstrated many benefits (Ahern-Dodson, 2025).  

A Time to Write retreat will be offered from Monday, June 15, to Thursday, June 18, at the North Rustico Cottages in North Rustico.   

Participants must have a project (e.g., grant application, research publication) at a stage where sustained writing time makes sense with background research and/or data collection and analysis completed to the point that they are ready to write. Participants must be prepared to commit to the full program, a total of 3 days focused on writing and contribute $300. The retreat is open to faculty (term and sessional faculty are encouraged to apply) and librarians in any academic unit at UPEI. Interested participants will email an expression of interest consisting of a summary of the project they plan to work on and their writing goals for the retreat to TLC@upei.ca by 12:00 noon on Friday, May 15, 2026. Up to six participants will be accepted for this Time to Write retreat. 

The University’s operating budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year was approved at the UPEI Board of Governors' last meeting. Read the UPEI news release 

Tim Walker, Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Dr. Wendy Rodgers, President and Vice-Chancellor, invite you to the

UPEI Budget 2026–2027 Information Session
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 
Amphitheatre, Performing Arts Centre and Residence building (PAC121S)  
3:00 pm

If you are unable to participate in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams Town Hall link. 

The 2026–2027 UPEI Operating Budget may be found on the publications page of the UPEI website. 

Due to the Confederation Bridge resurfacing project, Fedex has informed us that they will be changing our pickup time for outgoing packages.  From May 1 to June 30, they will be picking up at 1 pm instead of 2:15 pm.  We will need your outgoing packages no later than 11:30 am to ensure same day processing. Sorry for the inconvenience.  If you have any questions, please contact us at shipping@upei.ca. 

Please be advised that Student Services and Supports (including Counselling Services, Academic Support Services, Student Culture and Community Standards, Accessibility Services, Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship and Experiential Education), will be closed on Tuesday, May 5.

Any emergencies that day can be directed to Megan MacLean via Teams chat or phone. 

The Faculty of Education invites members of the campus community--students, faculty, and staff––to attend a public presentation by Michelle Sylliboy, candidate for a three-year position in Indigenous Education. The presentation takes place from 9:00 to 10:00 am on May 6 in Memorial Hall 417. A Teams link is available for those wishing to attend online (Meeting ID: 269 402 077 226 164 / Passcode: 4E52Cf2e)

For further information, contact Karen-Anne O’Halloran.
 

The Faculty of Education invites members of the campus community--students, faculty, and staff--to attend a public presentation by Tara-Lynn Rioux Germain, a candidate for a three-year position in Indigenous Education. The presentation takes place from 9:00 to 10:00 am on May 5 in Memorial Hall 417. A Teams link is available for those wishing to attend online (Meeting ID: 227 941 500 684 440 / Passcode: cF9rW7gM)

For further information, contact Karen-Anne O’Halloran.

The deadline for the Employee and Spouse/Dependent Tuition Waiver forms for the Summer 2026 semester is July 10, 2026.  We encourage you to have your tuition waivers submitted as soon as possible to assist in the 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, 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.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, June 5 for the June 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.

During library renovations, library services and the ITSS student help desk are available in RL 235. We will be open on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm

For more information about available services, consult https://library.upei.ca/renovations-2026

Red Dress Day is a National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Gender Diverse Peoples (MMIWG2S) that takes place on May 5. 

MMIWG2S is an ongoing human rights crisis of gender-based and racialized violence in Canada. Indigenous women’s groups estimate that more than 4,000 Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people have gone missing or been murdered in Canada since 1980. This violence is a result of past and ongoing systems of oppression and harm including colonization, racism, misogyny, transphobia, and anti-Indigeneity. 

In 2010, in response to this crisis, Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette created the REDress Project, an art installation featuring red dresses hung in public spaces to symbolize the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and gender diverse people across this territory. Her art installation was the inspiration for Red Dress Day in Canada.

The UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) encourages the campus community to join them in honouring Red Dress Day:  

• Display a red dress or a red dress flyer in your department or office until May 5 (You can access a Red Dress flyer here: https://tinyurl.com/33kz2r8k  If you do not have access to a colour printer, Kelly at SVPRO can send copies by interoffice mail: 902-620-5428 or sv-pro@upei.ca)
• Educate yourself on MMIWG2S (You can access the final report of the National Inquiry here: www.mmiwg-ffada.ca and Safe Passage here: www.safe-passage.ca)
• Wear red on May 5
• Take part in local vigils, walks, or events (watch for news from the Aboriginal Women’s Association of PEI, L’Nuey, Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, and the Native Council of PEI)
• Speak up about MMIWG2S on social media using hashtags #MMIWG2S, #RedDressDay, and #WhyWeWearRed 

There is 24-hour support available for Indigenous, Inuit, or Métis individuals impacted by this crisis at 1-844-413-6649. Any UPEI Campus Member impacted by sexual violence can access confidential, trauma-informed support at the UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO), Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:00pm: 902-620-5090 or sv-pro@upei.ca . SVPRO is located at the Kelley Memorial Building, Room 115-118. 

The OCEPD is proud to announce we will be launching our first microcredential this summer, in the area of artificial intelligence!

Artificial intelligence is reshaping how work gets done across every sector, especially higher education – streamlining tasks, improving analysis, and supporting better decision-making. 

The Microcredential in Applied Artificial Intelligence for the Workplace microcredential gives you a practical, hands-on introduction to AI tools you can apply immediately in your role – no coding required. 

By the end of the three-day program, you will:

• Understand what modern AI can and cannot do in real workplace contexts
• Build confidence using practical AI tools to improve workflows and efficiency
• Learn to evaluate AI outputs critically (quality, accuracy, limitations)
• Strengthen awareness of ethics, privacy, data quality, bias, and human oversight
• Leave with an individualized AI Readiness Plan to guide next steps for your team/unit 

Delivered by Atlantic Canada’s AI training leader – ACENET (https://ace-net.ca/)

Facilitated by ACENET – a regional, not-for-profit consortium recognized as Atlantic Canada’s leader in AI training, combining advanced computing infrastructure, expert support, and applied education. 

• Dates: July 13–15, 2026 (3 modules over 3 days; 19.5 hours)
• Time: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm each day
• Location: Room 102, UPEI Alumni Hall (in-person; laptop required)
• Cost:$995 (this is a discount for UPEI Staff/Faculty; regular price is $1,499)

Learn more and register: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates/microcredential-in-applied-artificial-intelligence-for-the-workplace

Dexterra is pleased to offer the following food and beverage offerings this spring and summer. 

Atlantic Veterinary College Café
Staff and Faculty, show your campus ID and enjoy 15% off your order. Open Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm (closed on holidays)

The café offers a fresh lineup of made-to-order breakfast and lunch options, a full-drip coffee program, grab-and-go meals, and freshly baked goods. 

Breakfast features include the Daily Rise (two eggs any style, bacon or sausage, toast, and jam, plus coffee or tea), bagel bar, and the Chef’s Morning Plate—a rotating daily special. For lunch, choose from hot pizza, soup, daily specials, and sandwiches.

What’s Brewing?  Made-to-order breakfast and lunch; fresh drip coffee program; grab-and-go snacks and meals; and delicious baked goods.

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre Bodega
Open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm (closed on holidays)

Offerings include:

• Breakfast Sandwiches
• Fresh baked goods
• Hot fresh pizza
• Daily soups made from scratch
• House made sandwiches, salads, and sushi
• Full coffee program that includes cappuccinos and lattes

Tim Hortons, Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall, Samuel’s Café, and the Micro-Market will be closed for the season, reopening in September 2026. 

Grab a cup of fresh coffee at the UPEI Bookstore for $2.50 plus tax. The Bookstore, which is located in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, is open from 9:00 am-4:00 pm, Monday to Friday. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see all the new items arriving this month.

Troy Life & Fire Safety will perform fire alarm inspections in selected campus buildings on the dates listed below. As part of the inspections, there will be the testing of alarms. There will be an audible notification stating “This is a test” at the beginning and the end of each test. Occupants are not required to evacuate during the testing period. The ringing of alarms is required to test their function and to ensure the speakers work throughout the building. This will be a small portion (up to two hours) of the total time they are in the building. 

Inspections will take place at the following locations:

• Campus Kids Child Care Centre, May 1
• Chaplaincy Centre, May 1
• Performing Arts Centre and New Residence, May 4–7
• Bernardine Hall, May 11
• Kelley Memorial Building, May 11
• Don and Marion McDougall Hall, May 11
• Duffy Science Centre, May 11
• W.A. Murphy Student Centre, May 11
• Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall, May 11

Fire alarm inspections for other buildings on campus will be announced at a later date.

Are you trying to find some dedicated time to finish a writing project that needs focused attention? Time to Write retreats offer concentrated time to support your writing efforts and can be instrumental in the initiation or completion of scholarly work such as an article, book or book chapter, grant proposal, curriculum or OER development, conference presentations, or other scholarly, creative projects.  

Time to work on writing projects away from home and campus for a few days can be incredibly productive. Participation in a writing retreat with colleagues at various stages of their career not only provides quiet, focused writing time away from teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities, but it also offers mentorship and networking opportunities with colleagues from a range of disciplines. The retreat provides an opportunity to develop a supportive writing group with colleagues from across campus and join group discussions on writing and publishing. Research on relational approaches to scholarly writing retreats like our Time to Write Retreats has demonstrated many benefits (Ahern-Dodson, 2025).  

A Time to Write retreat will be offered from Monday, June 15, to Thursday, June 18, at the North Rustico Cottages in North Rustico.   

Participants must have a project (e.g., grant application, research publication) at a stage where sustained writing time makes sense with background research and/or data collection and analysis completed to the point that they are ready to write. Participants must be prepared to commit to the full program, a total of 3 days focused on writing and contribute $300. The retreat is open to faculty (term and sessional faculty are encouraged to apply) and librarians in any academic unit at UPEI. Interested participants will email an expression of interest consisting of a summary of the project they plan to work on and their writing goals for the retreat to TLC@upei.ca by 12:00 noon on Friday, May 15, 2026. Up to six participants will be accepted for this Time to Write retreat. 

The University’s operating budget for the 2026–2027 fiscal year was approved at the UPEI Board of Governors' last meeting. Read the UPEI news release 

Tim Walker, Vice-President, Finance and Administration, and Dr. Wendy Rodgers, President and Vice-Chancellor, invite you to the

UPEI Budget 2026–2027 Information Session
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 
Amphitheatre, Performing Arts Centre and Residence building (PAC121S)  
3:00 pm

If you are unable to participate in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams Town Hall link. 

The 2026–2027 UPEI Operating Budget may be found on the publications page of the UPEI website.