Campus Notices
On Thursday, June 4, there will be a minor network change to user outbound Internet access from UPEI. Inbound access (e.g. VPN, RDP) will not be impacted. The change will occur between 6:00 am and 7:00 pm. The change may require a refresh of a browse page if you are surfing the web at that time.
Title of the Thesis: "A Review of Emergency Department Patient Flow in Prince Edward Island " by Owen Brown
June 8, 2026, 1:00pm, Health Sciences Building, Room 323
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
The Department of Pathology and Microbiology invites members of the campus community to attend the upcoming tenure-track faculty candidate seminar.
As part of the interview process, the candidate has been asked to present a 50-minute seminar consisting of two parts: a 30-minute research seminar and a 20-minute teaching seminar.
Candidate A - Research and Teaching Seminar
Monday, June 8, 2026, 11:00 am
AVC Lecture Theatre “B” - Room 205N
Research Title
“Human-Animal Interface: a playground for us all?”
Teaching Title
“Astroviruses”
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet in downtown Charlottetown on Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 pm to discuss pages 3–31 of Jacques Rancière’s The Politics of Aesthetics.
This group is an invitation to think with some of the most intriguing philosophers of our time—and with one another. No prior experience is required, only an open mind and a willingness to experiment with ideas.
If you would like to attend, please contact Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.
"Art is a work on the distribution of the sensible. Sometimes, but not very often, it rearranges the set of perception between what is visible, thinkable, and understandable, and what is not. This is the politics of art. I always try to question mainstream ideas on this subject, especially the assumption that artists’ work can have precise, intended effects. When practices of art affect the sensible, it is not simply as a result of artists’ intentions." — Rancière
Title of the Thesis: “Optimization of Chemical Chitin Extraction and Development of Chitosan/Chitin Nanocrystal Hydrogels”
Crustacean shells contain chitin, a polysaccharide with many potential applications. The shells of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) are considered to be a waste material but could instead be valorized for the chitin contained within, incorporating lobster shell waste into a circular bioeconomy. The first section of this presentation describes the development of a set of optimized conditions for the chemical extraction of chitin from lobster shells. The chitin is then converted into chitin nanocrystals, which are subsequently incorporated into hydrogels otherwise composed of chitosan, a chitin derivative with antimicrobial properties. The second section of this presentation compares the mechanical and drug release properties of chitosan hydrogels containing varying masses of chitin nanocrystals. The aim of this research is to identify a potential candidate for future work toward a biomaterial for the treatment of brain cancer.
June 4, 2026, 9:00 am via Web Conference
If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
We are pleased and excited to invite all to attend Nell Farion's PsyD Dissertation Defense presentation taking place June 9, 2026 at 10:00 am.
Please join us in supporting Nell on this momentous occasion!
Date and Time: June 9, 2026, 10:00 am
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 104
Our EFAP provider, Green Shield, is hosting orientation webinars for all employees, faculty members, and their dependents who would like to learn more about how their UPEI EFAP benefits work.
2026 dates offered: February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5 and December 3.
To register:
- Click this ZOOM link to register
- Please select the best date (note that the time zone is listed in EST).
- Complete the Webinar Registration.
- You will receive an email confirmation that has the log-in and call-in details.
This comprehensive, confidential, and accessible program offers a wide range of services to support your mental health and overall well-being, including:
5 hours of individual counselling (Green Shield will closely monitor usage and will provide additional hours to those who need further support, to ensure that no one is denied access to the program because of insufficient sponsored hours in any policy year) and 5 hours of couples therapy
Additional program highlights include:
- Flexible therapy options via phone, video, or in-person, with 30, 60, or 90-minute sessions
- Personalized therapist matching that considers DEI preferences
- Unlimited 15-minute consultations to help members find their ideal therapist
- Innovative, value-added services in areas such as children’s mental health, nutrition, and overall well-being
- Unlimited financial and legal consultations
- Self-guided digital CBT, well-being coaching, and personalized care navigation
- Digital pharmacy and nutrition services
Create your account to explore services, including Mental Health Support: Get convenient, personalized mental health support from a qualified therapist best suited to you, or explore our self-guided online therapy program at your own pace.
We hope you’ll enjoy this integrated and convenient health experience.
ACCOUNT AS AN EMPLOYEE
Create your account to access GreenShield+ services today.
Your Organization code is: UPEI
Sign Up
To access your EAP on GreenShield+:
- Make a note of your Organization Code "UPEI"
- Go to app.greenshieldplus.ca/en/sign-up
- Select Through an Employer or Organization
- Select I have an Organization Code
- Follow the steps to register
ACCOUNT AS A DEPENDENT
Before You Begin: You should only choose through a family member if you are a dependent (e.g. partner, spouse, child) of a person with a plan member ID or organization code.
For questions, contact Human Resources at employeeservices@upei.ca
The Department of Pathology and Microbiology invites members of the campus community to attend the upcoming tenure-track faculty candidate seminar.
As part of the interview process, the candidate has been asked to present a 50-minute seminar consisting of two parts: a 30-minute research seminar and a 20-minute teaching seminar.
Candidate A - Research and Teaching Seminar
Monday, June 8, 2026, 11:00 am
AVC Lecture Theatre “B” - Room 205N
Research Title
“Human-Animal Interface: a playground for us all?”
Teaching Title
“Astroviruses”
All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
This is a sunny reminder about the Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues program, our monthly feature in the Campus Connector! As the summer season brings fresh energy to campus, it’s the perfect time to spotlight the people who brighten our days.
Have you noticed a colleague who:
• Took time to support you or your team
• Went the extra mile to make someone’s day better
• Demonstrated our shared values through their actions
We want to hear about it!
For more details on the program, including links to past issues and information about the new submission form, please click here.
Let’s keep the momentum going as we celebrate the colleagues who make UPEI such a vibrant place to work and learn. The deadline for our next issue is Friday, June 26, 2026.
Thank you for helping to build a culture of appreciation and connection.
The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet in downtown Charlottetown on Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 pm to discuss pages 3–31 of Jacques Rancière’s The Politics of Aesthetics.
This group is an invitation to think with some of the most intriguing philosophers of our time—and with one another. No prior experience is required, only an open mind and a willingness to experiment with ideas.
If you would like to attend, please contact Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.
"Art is a work on the distribution of the sensible. Sometimes, but not very often, it rearranges the set of perception between what is visible, thinkable, and understandable, and what is not. This is the politics of art. I always try to question mainstream ideas on this subject, especially the assumption that artists’ work can have precise, intended effects. When practices of art affect the sensible, it is not simply as a result of artists’ intentions." — Rancière
Applications are now open for Falling Walls Lab Atlantic Canada 2026. Students and early-career professionals from all disciplines are invited to apply with innovative ideas that challenge barriers and create meaningful change.
The application deadline is July 17, 2026, at 11:59 pm ADT. Shortlisted applicants will present their ideas on September 14, 2026, in Halifax, pitching to a panel of distinguished judges, peers, and members of the public. Participants will showcase breakthrough research, business models, and initiatives aimed at addressing global challenges.
To learn more, visit https://falling-walls.com/falling-walls-lab-atlantic-canada. This year’s competition is presented by Research Nova Scotia and supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Title of the Thesis: “Optimization of Chemical Chitin Extraction and Development of Chitosan/Chitin Nanocrystal Hydrogels”
Crustacean shells contain chitin, a polysaccharide with many potential applications. The shells of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) are considered to be a waste material but could instead be valorized for the chitin contained within, incorporating lobster shell waste into a circular bioeconomy. The first section of this presentation describes the development of a set of optimized conditions for the chemical extraction of chitin from lobster shells. The chitin is then converted into chitin nanocrystals, which are subsequently incorporated into hydrogels otherwise composed of chitosan, a chitin derivative with antimicrobial properties. The second section of this presentation compares the mechanical and drug release properties of chitosan hydrogels containing varying masses of chitin nanocrystals. The aim of this research is to identify a potential candidate for future work toward a biomaterial for the treatment of brain cancer.
June 4, 2026, 9:00 am via Web Conference
If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
This three half-day workshop presented by the Teaching and Learning Centre will enable instructors to redesign an assessment so that it is aligned, authentic, inclusive, AI‑aware, and sustainable. We will pay particular attention to the ways assessment design constraints and choices, such as format, instructions, grading processes/criteria, may affect students and instructors. We will also focus on managing workload (of students, instructors, TAs), consistency, and transparency during the workshop.
For colleagues with larger classes, we’ll have a side session to discuss aspects of sustainability, scalability, and student engagement at scale.
Each participant will leave with:
- A student‑friendly explanation of their assessment
- A scalable assessment design
- A clear AI‑use statement
- A rubric/marking guide that is aligned with objectives and learning activities that is suitable for TA use
- A feedback strategy that works at scale
- A practical implementation plan
The workshop begins Tuesday, June 23, in the Teaching and Learning Centre (Robertson Library Annex, Room 230), with sessions running from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please RSVP by June 22, 2026 for in-person attendance.
Wellness activity for UPEI staff and faculty June 3!
Drop In Mandala Painting - Wednesday, June 3 anytime between 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Sports Centre classroom #212. Join us for a relaxing Mandala Painting session and explore the art of mindfulness. No prior experience needed - just bring your creativity. No need to register, just drop by.
UPEI has taken a significant step in its transition to Microsoft Teams as the University’s primary communication and collaboration platform with the deployment of Teams Telephony for faculty and staff. As part of Microsoft 365, Teams brings together calling, chat, meetings, and file sharing to support teaching, research, and administrative work in a more integrated and secure way.
Key highlights
- Teams is now the generally recommended platform for all internal and external voice communication
- Over 750 faculty and staff have already migrated; full transition expected by late May or early June 2026
- Users can make and receive calls directly in Microsoft Teams on desktop or mobile devices
- No need to remember phone numbers for internal calls—search by name and connect instantly
- Some phones (e.g., labs, shared spaces, meeting rooms) will remain as dedicated analog devices and are being updated to the new infrastructure as the next phase of the project
- Analog phone users must dial the full 10-digit number for internal calls; 4-digit dialing will no longer work reliably
Please note that support for Teams Telephony has been transitioned to the ITSS Help Desk. This means that all telephony-related requests (calling issues, voicemail, devices, configuration changes, troubleshooting) should be submitted through the ITSS Help Desk. The M365 team continues supporting complex cases and remaining exceptions.
Full details outlining the points above can be found https://upeica.sharepoint.com/sites/ITSS-Communication/SitePages/UPEI-Update--Migration-to-Microsoft-Teams-Telephony.aspx
The UPEI Philosophy Reading Group will meet in downtown Charlottetown on Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 pm to discuss pages 3–31 of Jacques Rancière’s The Politics of Aesthetics.
This group is an invitation to think with some of the most intriguing philosophers of our time—and with one another. No prior experience is required, only an open mind and a willingness to experiment with ideas.
If you would like to attend, please contact Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.
"Art is a work on the distribution of the sensible. Sometimes, but not very often, it rearranges the set of perception between what is visible, thinkable, and understandable, and what is not. This is the politics of art. I always try to question mainstream ideas on this subject, especially the assumption that artists’ work can have precise, intended effects. When practices of art affect the sensible, it is not simply as a result of artists’ intentions." — Rancière
The Tri-Agency CV is coming, and no one feels ready for it. Need some help? Join Research Services and High-Fidelity Science Communication and spend 2 hours building a system that saves time on every grant you write going forward.
In this workshop, you'll learn:
- Why narrative CVs are an opportunity, not a burden
- All the nitty gritty details on the Tri-Agency CV
- How to see the stories in your accomplishments
- How to build your Master Narrative CV using the CV Switchover Solution™ workbook
- How to quickly adapt it into strong, project-specific narrative CVs
Open to Faculty, Research Scientists, Post-Docs, and Graduate Students
Register here: https://pages.hifiscicomm.ca/jkux1o
Title of the Thesis: “Optimization of Chemical Chitin Extraction and Development of Chitosan/Chitin Nanocrystal Hydrogels”
Crustacean shells contain chitin, a polysaccharide with many potential applications. The shells of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) are considered to be a waste material but could instead be valorized for the chitin contained within, incorporating lobster shell waste into a circular bioeconomy. The first section of this presentation describes the development of a set of optimized conditions for the chemical extraction of chitin from lobster shells. The chitin is then converted into chitin nanocrystals, which are subsequently incorporated into hydrogels otherwise composed of chitosan, a chitin derivative with antimicrobial properties. The second section of this presentation compares the mechanical and drug release properties of chitosan hydrogels containing varying masses of chitin nanocrystals. The aim of this research is to identify a potential candidate for future work toward a biomaterial for the treatment of brain cancer.
June 4, 2026, 9:00 am via Web Conference
If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
Wellness activity for UPEI staff and faculty June 3!
Drop In Mandala Painting - Wednesday, June 3 anytime between 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at Sports Centre classroom #212. Join us for a relaxing Mandala Painting session and explore the art of mindfulness. No prior experience needed - just bring your creativity. No need to register, just drop by.
Following the completion of Year 2 of the implementation of the UPEI Action Plan, this President’s Town Hall will provide an update on progress to date, highlight key achievements, and outline priorities and next steps as we enter Year 3.
We encourage all members of the UPEI community to join the conversation, as we all continue to work together in building a culture of trust, safety, and inclusion.
UPEI Action Plan Update
Monday, June 1, 2026 – 10:30–11:30 am
Amphitheatre, Performing Arts Centre and Residence building (PAC121S)
If you are unable to participate in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams Town Hall link.
