The position of Interim Vice-President Academic and Research has been posted on the Human Resources web page on upei.ca. This one-year interim appointment will provide an opportunity to further develop and refine the academic and research portfolio, while also supporting planning for the recruitment of a permanent Vice-President Academic and Research.

As part of the recruitment process, the University is establishing a Selection Advisory Committee to support this important appointment. While two deans have already been selected, we are seeking expressions of interest from the following members of the University community to serve on the committee, including:

• Two faculty members
• One staff member from the Vice-President Academic and Research portfolio
• One student

The Committee will play an important advisory role in the review of candidates and will help ensure a fair, inclusive selection process. Those interested in serving on the Selection Advisory Committee are asked to complete the linked form by end of day, Monday, March 30, 2026.

Expression of Interest: Deadline March 30, 2026 – Fill out form

Thank you for your consideration and for your continued engagement in supporting UPEI’s academic leadership.

Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at the Fox and Crow in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Thursday, April 2 from 9:30-10:30 am.

These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.

Due to budget constraints, RefWorks access for UPEI users through Robertson Library will now end on April 30, 2026. This is one year earlier than our previously-announced transition date. We are adopting Zotero–a free, open-source, and user-friendly citation manager–as a replacement for RefWorks.

If you have used RefWorks, the most important thing to do before April 30 is to export your citation data and any attached files from RefWorks. We have a written and video tutorial to guide you through this process. 

If you want to continue using a citation manager, you can use Zotero for free. The Library website has instructions showing how to install Zotero and how to migrate your RefWorks data to Zotero. The Zotero Connector browser plug-in makes it easy to import your RefWorks data into Zotero.

If you are writing a document and adding citations with RefWorks in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you will need to finish adding citations by April 30 or re-insert your citations with Zotero. There is no automatic document conversion process.

If you do not currently plan to use Zotero or another citation manager, make sure you back up your RefWorks data somewhere that you will be able to find it in the future.

Your subject librarian can answer questions about setting up Zotero and exporting from RefWorks. If you are not sure who to contact, you can e-mail reference@upei.ca, use the Library’s online chat tool, or ask at the Library service desk. 

We have also scheduled several times when you can get support from librarians in person or via Teams. These times are open to all students, staff, faculty, and other UPEI-affiliated people.

Drop-In Times (individual or small group help available during these windows) All sessions are hybrid. Note that each date has a separate Teams link.

• Friday, March 27 - 9:30-11:30 am, RL 264 and Teams

• Wednesday, April 1 - 1:00-3:00 pm, RL 264 and Teams

• Thursday, April 16 - 9:30-11:30 am, RL 264 and Teams

• Monday, April 27 - 1:30-3:30 pm, RL 264 and Teams

• Thursday, April 30 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, RL 264 and Teams

Workshops (more structured guidance; please arrive at the start time)

• Tuesday, April 7 - 10:30-11:15 am, online–register here

• Wednesday, April 8 - 1:30-2:15 pm, RL 264

There will be some required maintenance of the UPEI network on Saturday March 28, 2026 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.  We expect at most minor interruptions in services across campus.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Final exams will be here before we know it, and Accessibility Services has begun to make arrangements for accommodated exams. Unfortunately, Accessibility Services emails that were sent to instructors via Accommodate have been filtered into receiver's spam folders. Please check your spam folder for instructions around final exam bookings and details.

If adjustments are needed, please email astesting@upei.ca. 

Members of the campus community and the general public are invited to attend a free public forum on music education on Saturday, March 28, from 1:00 to 4:15 pm, at the UPEI Performing Arts Centre.

The forum is being held to present the findings of Access to Music Education (AMusE), a multidisciplinary research project led by Dr. Annabel Cohen, professor of psychology at UPEI, with co-lead Dr. Linyuan Guo-Brennan, professor of education. There will be presentations from parents; teachers; UPEI faculty members and current or former students from Education, Business, Economics, Psychology, Music, and Mathematics; and other stakeholder representatives. Audience members will have the opportunity to provide feedback. There will also be musical performances.

The goal of the AMusE project, which began in 2021, was to determine whether the Canadian school system meets the need for musical education, to identify possible inequities and barriers, and to consider ways to reduce them. The investigators also sought to understand the musical experience of educational stakeholders.

Attendance at the event is free, but people are asked to register. To register and for further information, please go to https://musicog.discoveryspace.ca/amuse. 

Title of the Thesis “Modeling Groundwater Dynamics Under Anthropogenic and Climatic Changes for Prince Edward Island, Canada”

Abstract: This thesis investigates how groundwater in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is being affected by climate change and growing water demand. Because PEI relies almost entirely on groundwater for drinking water, understanding these pressures is essential for future water security. The research includes a review of groundwater monitoring, mapping, and modeling, examines the sustainability of Charlottetown’s municipal groundwater abstraction, evaluates saltwater intrusion in Summerside, and presents an island-wide groundwater flow model to assess groundwater and baseflow responses under changing conditions. Overall, this work identifies key risks and supports more informed and sustainable groundwater management in PEI.

April 1, 2026 @ 1:00 pm via Web Conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

We are pleased and excited to invite all to attend Alyssa MacDonald's PsyD dissertation defence presentation. Please join us in supporting Alyssa on this momentous occasion!

Date and time: March 30, 2026, at 3 pm
Location: Memorial Hall 104

Curious about how to access administrative health data for your research? Join us for a Lunch & Learn hosted by the Secure Island Data Repository (SIDR). This session will provide an overview of the types of data available through SIDR, the process for requesting access for research projects, and how researchers can access data for multi-regional studies through Health Data Research Network Canada (HDRN Canada). While faculty, students, and research staff are likely to find this session especially relevant, anyone interested in learning more about these data resources and how they can support research and policy work is welcome to attend. Come learn how this exciting new platform can support your work and ask questions about getting started.

When: March 30, 2026. 12:00 noon. Pizza will be served at noon!

Where: AVC, Room 286A

Please register with this link: SIDR Lunch & Learn Registration – Fill out form

Every day, members of our community go above and beyond in ways that make our workplace stronger, kinder, and more connected. The Recognizing Remarkable Colleagues program is one way we celebrate those moments—and we invite you to be part of it.

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.

What’s new?
As part of our continued efforts to grow and improve this program, we’ve introduced a new submission form. The colleague being recognized will automatically receive an email notification letting them know they’ve been recognized —and to watch for the next issue. A big thanks to Moshiur in ITSS for helping us set up this new work flow!

For more details on the program—including links to past issues and information about the new submission form—please click here. The deadline for our next issue is Friday, March 27, 2026.

Let’s keep the gratitude and recognition going by taking a moment to celebrate the remarkable people we work with every day.

Thank you for helping to build a culture of appreciation and connection.

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship is hosting an in-person workshop on pitching fundamentals on Friday, March 27, from 12:00-3:00 pm with world-renowned pitch coach Permjot Valia! Participants will learn tools, tips, and tricks around executing a business pitch effectively, efficiently, and engagingly! This event is part of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program, but anyone from the public is welcome to attend!

The session will take place in the Schurman Market Square (MCDH 248), Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Sign up today!

More about the Facilitator, Permjot Valia:Permjot Valia (he/him) is co-founder at Nava Develop Inc., a business development firm serving innovation focused corporates, startup organizations and academic institutions. A globally recognized mentor, facilitator and business coach, he has led strategic planning successes for organizations throughout Canada’s innovation ecosystem. He founded MentorCamp and was Lead Mentor of Cape Breton’s Navigate Startup House. He served as a Mentor-in-Residence at the University of Arkansas Sam Walton School of Business and has helped multiple researchers commercialise their research. This work continues through the 3 day Lab2Market program he delivers across Canada to researchers.

He is an expert pitch coach with companies he has coached winning over $10m in prize money.

Permjot serves on Boards of several startups, works with Dal Innovates, and lectures globally on business modelling, strategy and leadership. He is passionate about contributing to Canada’s economic development and cultural success. 

Permjot holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from University of Leeds and an MBA from Open University (UK). He is an MIT-trained mentor program manager.

The Faculty of Education would like to invite all to attend Erin Pilling's public presentation of her MEd research titled: "Children’s Mental Well-Being: Interwoven Experiences Through Community Learning Environments." 

Please join us in person on April 2 at 1:00 pm, Memorial Hall, Room 417 or on Teams: Erin Pelling - Thesis Dissertation Exam | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

You're invited to the Robertson Library Book Club! Throughout Winter Term 2026, we will read and discuss three books on the topic of indigeneity in the region of Turtle Island known as Canada. Book club meetings will be co-hosted by Morgan Varis, a sessional instructor from IKERAS (Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies). These meetings will take place on the last Monday of each month from January - March and will be held in the Robertson Library lobby at noon (12pm); light refreshments will be provided. 

Our next meeting is Monday, March 30, 12pm-1pm, discussing The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline (fiction)

"Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The Indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden - but what they don't know is that one of them holds the secret to defeating the marrow thieves." The Marrow Thieves won the Governor General's Literary Award for Young People's Literature (Text) in 2017. -Cormorant Books

Copies of all three books are available to borrow from the Robertson Library (courtesy of PEI Public Library/Service des bibliothèques publiques ÎPÉ and their book club kit program):

Birdie by Tracey Lindberg
Out of the Depths by Isabelle Knockwood
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Hope to see you there!

Join us at McMillan Hall in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre as we welcome the UPEI Class of 2026 to our alumni family! This event is open to all 2026 grads and UPEI/SDU/PWC alumni.

Friday, April 10, 2026
5:00–7:00 pm

Celebrate with free refreshments, live entertainment by Ryan Merry, fun door prizes to be won, and more!

• Every 2026 grad in attendance will get a complimentary grad gift!
• Alumni who RSVP and attend the event will be entered to win an alumni prize pack.
• All 2026 grads who attend will be entered to win additional door prizes.
• GRAND PRIZE DRAW: Two lucky grads will EACH win a $1000 CASH prize* sponsored by TD Insurance.

You can register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczCN7aqo2DIpA3vgS1-Q8aKECbK42opSkxuxj2KzHtShBaCw/viewform?usp=header

If you have any questions, please reach out to Faith Phillips at flphillips@upei.ca or 902-566-0687.

*Only 2026 grads are eligible to win and must be present at the time of draw.

The third UPEI Board of Governors meeting of the 2025-2026 academic year will take place on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. in Room 102, Alumni Hall. All board meetings generally 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.

The seventh meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on Friday, March 27, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). To view the 2025-2026 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here. (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. 

Due to budget constraints, RefWorks access for UPEI users through Robertson Library will now end on April 30, 2026. This is one year earlier than our previously-announced transition date. We are adopting Zotero–a free, open-source, and user-friendly citation manager–as a replacement for RefWorks.

If you have used RefWorks, the most important thing to do before April 30 is to export your citation data and any attached files from RefWorks. We have a written and video tutorial to guide you through this process. 

If you want to continue using a citation manager, you can use Zotero for free. The Library website has instructions showing how to install Zotero and how to migrate your RefWorks data to Zotero. The Zotero Connector browser plug-in makes it easy to import your RefWorks data into Zotero.

If you are writing a document and adding citations with RefWorks in Microsoft Word or Google Docs, you will need to finish adding citations by April 30 or re-insert your citations with Zotero. There is no automatic document conversion process.

If you do not currently plan to use Zotero or another citation manager, make sure you back up your RefWorks data somewhere that you will be able to find it in the future.

Your subject librarian can answer questions about setting up Zotero and exporting from RefWorks. If you are not sure who to contact, you can e-mail reference@upei.ca, use the Library’s online chat tool, or ask at the Library service desk. 

We have also scheduled several times when you can get support from librarians in person or via Teams. These times are open to all students, staff, faculty, and other UPEI-affiliated people.

Drop-In Times (individual or small group help available during these windows) All sessions are hybrid. Note that each date has a separate Teams link.

• Friday, March 27 - 9:30-11:30 am, RL 264 and Teams

• Wednesday, April 1 - 1:00-3:00 pm, RL 264 and Teams

• Thursday, April 16 - 9:30-11:30 am, RL 264 and Teams

• Monday, April 27 - 1:30-3:30 pm, RL 264 and Teams

• Thursday, April 30 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, RL 264 and Teams

Workshops (more structured guidance; please arrive at the start time)

• Tuesday, April 7 - 10:30-11:15 am, online–register here

• Wednesday, April 8 - 1:30-2:15 pm, RL 264

There will be some required maintenance of the UPEI network on Saturday March 28, 2026 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am.  We expect at most minor interruptions in services across campus.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Join us for to celebrate and say farewell to Dr. Rhoda Speare, UPEI Biosafety Officer, as she begins her retirement.

Thursday, March 26, 10-11am

AVC Learning Commons (AVC 285N)

All welcome!

Join the UPEI Student Union for an insightful and engaging panel discussion on March 31, 11:30 am in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre, featuring two distinguished physicians: Dr. Preston Smith, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Dr. Peter MacPherson. They will share their expertise, experiences, and perspectives on the medical field.

This event is open to all community members and students interested in healthcare and medicine. It’s a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with professionals and peers alike.

Dr. Preston Smith has dedicated his career to advancing medical education. With 25 years as a family physician in Moncton and serving as VP of Medicine in New Brunswick, he gained significant expertise in health system reform. As Senior Associate Dean of Education at Dalhousie University, he played a key role in launching the Dalhousie medical education program in Saint John and starting new family medicine residency programs in PEI, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Most recently, as Dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, he led a major restructuring of the college. Dr. Smith is eager to contribute to the development of a unique medical education program in Prince Edward Island in partnership with Memorial University. His passion for the evolution of medical education and research drives his interest in corporate governance. He has served on the boards of AFMC, VIDO, and the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

Dr. Peter MacPherson is Memorial University's Associate Dean for the PEI regional campus. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Alberta. He completed his pediatrics residency and a Master of Education degree at Memorial University. After residency, he worked as a clinician educator at Queen’s University and held several educational leadership roles related to undergraduate medical education there. He is also a consultant general pediatrician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.