Microsoft Teams will be enabled for Moodle starting Wednesday August 19, 2026  at 9pm (ADT). Moodle will still be available during the update, however users attempting to login may experience disruptions during the changeover. These should resolve after a short time. Following the update the login for Moodle will use a button to sign on with Microsoft in place of the separate username and password. This update will allow instructors to use Microsoft Teams in their Moodle courses for synchronous meetings, online classes, and recording course videos.

Course instructors who have open Moodle courses (this includes any previous course that is still available on Moodle and open to students) will receive an email stating that your course has been linked to a Microsoft Team. This means that Microsoft Teams can be used with the course, it doesn’t mean that any Microsoft Teams elements needs to be used.

Training materials on using Microsoft Teams with Moodle will be circulated this month and introductory workshops will be available through the Teaching and Learning Centre. Dates for this training will be announced in Campus Notices. For support in using Microsoft Teams with Moodle you can also contact moodle@upei.ca

Welcome to the following new employees who joined the University of Prince Edward Island community in July 2026:

• Hannah Bertrand-Nobles, Office of the Associate Vice-President, Students
• Scott Brown, Faculty of Nursing
• Chantal Campbell, Office of the President
• Sarah Gauthier, Human Resources
• James Johnson, Department of English, Faculty of Arts
• Gregory McDougall, Office of the Vice-President Administration and Finance
• Hala Mreiwed, Faculty of Education
• Carly Quisenberry, Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies
• Doug Stringer, Office of the Associate Vice-President, Students
• Hadiqa Sulman, McDougall Faculty of Business
• Rachel Williamson, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts
• Denton Wong, Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies

We are excited to have you join the UPEI team!

Please join us for a MAIS Thesis Defence: Ahmad Reza Talaee Malmiri will defend his Master of Arts in Island Studies thesis entitled "Energy Justice Implications of Net metering on Prince Edward Island." Supervisor is Dr. Nick Mercer, with committee members Dr. Nino Antadze and Dr. Andrew Halliday. External examiner is Dr. Brennan Lowery,Business and Social Entrepreneurship program, St. Thomas University. 

August 19, 10:00 am, Memorial Hall, Room 104 and online

Please email brinklow@upei.ca for the Teams link.

Supervisors of campus student staff are invited to register their students for a half-day of in-person facilitated student training on Tuesday, September 1, from 9 am to 1 pm in MCDH 242. The training is designed to prepare student staff with common skills needed for on-campus roles; it will not replace the role-specific training conducted by supervisors. The goal is to equip student staff with the skills they will need to confidently and professionally represent your departments. 

This joint initiative was developed by the Office of Student Culture and Community Standards and representatives from various departments involved in a student training committee. Together, the committee developed and has secured facilitators for the following topics: 

• Representing UPEI as a Student Leader
• The Basics of a Trauma-Informed Approach
• Referral and Boundary Setting
• Interrupting Harm
• Conflict Resolution
• Professional Communication 

A supplementary information package will accompany these mini sessions. Students and supervisors will be invited to provide feedback on the training's relevance and to recommend future training opportunities. We hope that supervisors and students see this as an opportunity to better connect with campus peers and resources, and to inform future engagement opportunities. 

If interested, please register your student staff here. The registration deadline is Thursday, August 27. We ask that supervisors register all of the students they supervise who will be participating. This helps us ensure that students have approval to attend, track attendance, and ensure that we have enough space, materials, and refreshments for everyone. Questions can be directed to kewing@upei.ca. 

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: August 31, 2026
Time: 10:00 am
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.

We are launching the first of three pulse surveys that will take place over the coming months. Pulse surveys are short, focused surveys that help us gather timely feedback on specific topics. Our first pulse survey is focused on Sharing Information and Communications. The survey aims to better understand the effectiveness of UPEI's communication channels, how employees prefer to receive information, and where opportunities exist to improve communication across the University. The information gathered will help inform the campus-wide communication strategy, led by the Communications and University Relations unit in Marketing and Communications, and improve the ways we share news, updates, events, and important information.

Survey Details

• The survey takes approximately 5–7 minutes to complete.
• The survey can be completed on a computer, or by using a mobile device.
• The survey is completed via the TalentMap survey platform we used in the previous employee engagement survey.
• The survey can only be completed once and must be completed in one sitting.
• Responses are anonymous. No personal information is collected, and individual responses cannot be connected to any employee.
• The deadline to complete is Friday, August 21, 2026, by 4pm.

Survey Link

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. Your input helps us better understand the employee experience and supports our ongoing efforts to make meaningful improvements across UPEI.

The UPEI Back to School Fair, organized by the Office of Student Culture and Community Standards in partnership with the UPEISU, will take place on Tuesday, September 8, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the UPEI Gym A and B in the Chi Wan Young Sports Centre.

Staff and faculty student service groups can register here. Student clubs and societies must register separately with the UPEISU. 

• The setup time allotted for the event is from 10:30 to 11:00 am, with doors opening at 11:00 am for students.
• The teardown time allotted for the event is 1:45 - 2:00 pm, sharp!
• Each vendor will be assigned a table and 2 chairs.
• Please bring along the following items:
  • A tablecloth
  • Your banner bug or any identifiers for your office, unit or service
  • Pamphlets, brochures, handouts or any other promotional material for your office, unit or service
• A chart will be posted at the doors to identify your table assignments, and a small sign will be on your assigned table.
• Please have at least 1 staff member at your table; 2 staff members to rotate are highly recommended and encouraged.
• Please show off your UPEI Panther merchandise!
• Please expect it to be busy and noisy atmosphere. 

Questions outside of information on the registration form can be directed to Krissi Ewing kewing@upei.ca. 

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Honouring the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

McMillan Hall, W. A. Murphy Student Centre

Join us for a day of reflection, learning, and community as we mark the 11th anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)’s "Final Reports" along with "94 Calls to Action," which guide Canada’s path toward reconciliation. Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR). The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and the ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. 

To commemorate and honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, UPEI is expanding its annual Mawi’omi (the word for gathering in the Mi’kmaw language) and holding it on September 29. The TRC Mawi’omi is a gathering that will be open to the University and broader community, which will include several activities aimed at increasing awareness, fostering community relationships, and ensuring that the narratives of Indigenous peoples are honoured and understood.

The Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) is offering a one-hour onboarding session for new and newer sessional instructors.

This session is an opportunity to learn about the resources, services, and teaching supports available to you at UPEI, including

• Instructional design support and professional development opportunities offered through the TLC
• A brief introduction to Moodle, UPEI’s Learning Management System
• The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and their application in post-secondary teaching
• Key elements of an effective and learner-centred course syllabus

Whether you're new to teaching at UPEI or simply looking to reconnect with available supports, this session will provide helpful information and practical resources to support your teaching. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at TLC@upei.ca. We look forward to welcoming you.

RSVP here

Add this Session to your Outlook Calendar

Event Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 12:30 pm

Location: Atlantic Veterinary College

Room: Room 286A/287 (The McCain Foundation Learning Commons)

Looking for simple ways to increase student engagement without redesigning your course? Join the UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre for a practical Lunch and Learn on incorporating brief, evidence-informed active learning strategies into lectures. Explore techniques that help students think, discuss, retrieve, and apply what they are learning—all with minimal preparation. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can implement immediately in their own teaching.

Are you planning Fall or Winter courses with work-integrated learning components? Curious about how you could add engagement with a community or industry partner into an existing course? The Experiential Education department has two staff who can help! Shannon (smsnow@upei.ca) can help you with brainstorming, course planning, developing resources, and wraparound supports, while Jess (jecameron@upei.ca) can help with connecting with partners to suit your course objectives. Not sure what you want to do? Reach out, and we can have a chat!

The UPEI Faculty of Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research, and Applied Studies (IKERAS) invites you to attend Mawi - Lukutimk / Working Together, where we’ll be sharing Indigenous knowledge from L’nuey, the Mi’kmaq Confederacy, Curtis Michael, Dr. Judy Clark, and Thirley Levi.

Mark your calendars:
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Time: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
Meet and Greet: 12:00 to 12:30 pm and 2:30 to 3:00 pm
Location: Kelley Memorial Building (KMB) 211 and 237 (level two, upstairs on the main floor)

We hope to see you there!

The University of Prince Edward Island is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Founders. Founders are members of the campus community—most often retired faculty and staff—who have contributed to UPEI’s mission in an exceptional way. Recognizing our Founders is an opportunity to celebrate our rich heritage and traditions, honouring those who have worked diligently and passionately to build the University into the highly regarded institution of higher education it is today.

Established by President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan in 2000, the Founders award is presented to those who have played a direct role in

• supporting the vision, reputation, and continued success of the University, and/or
• creating a new era of educational, research, and/or service excellence at the University. 

If you wish to nominate someone as Founder, please fill out the online form or email your submission to communications@upei.ca. 

Completed nominations must be received by Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:59 pm AT.

If you are interested in learning more about this award and past award winners, please visit the UPEI Founders web page. 
 

The deadline for the Employee and Spouse/Dependent Tuition Waiver forms for the Fall 2026 semester is Friday, August 28, 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.

Title of the Thesis

“Synthesis and Characterization Of Anthocyanin-Derived Pigments”

Abstract

Anthocyanins are a class of naturally occurring plant pigments that are commonly used as natural-sourced food dyes. They are responsible for the red, blue, and purple colours in many fruits and vegetables. Pyranoanthocyanins are anthocyanin-derived pigments formed through reactions between anthocyanins and small organic compounds. Pyranoanthocyanins have a more stable chemical structure than simple anthocyanins, resulting in greater pH and thermal stability. The extended conjugation system of these compounds allows for a broader range of colours than anthocyanins, including yellow, orange, and magenta. The synthesis and characterization efforts to build a library of pyranoanthocyanins as potential food dyes with improved stability and colour range will be presented. The observed impact of the structural substituents on the NMR, UV-Vis, and colour profiles of these pigments will be discussed.

August 18, 2026,  9:00 am in Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 328

Everyone is Welcome

The Office of Student Culture and Community Standards invites staff and faculty to get involved in the upcoming Welcome Week celebrations, which run over the first two weeks of September. We are working hard behind the scenes to finalize event details. If interested, in volunteering, please use this sign-up form to place yourself on the list. 

We look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks. Please contact Krissi Ewing kewing@upei.ca with any questions about plans for Welcome Week events. 

Lifelong learning starts here!

The new UPEI Alumni Access program replaces the former Alumni Premiere program and gives UPEI graduates continued access to a rich collection of library resources and services to support professional development, research, continuing education, and personal enrichment.

Through the program, alumni can explore 94 licensed databases across a wide range of disciplines, with access to scholarly journals, articles, and research tools. They can also make use of a librarian-curated collection of open access resources, expanding their access to trusted information from around the world.

Whether you are building your career, pursuing a new interest, conducting independent research, or simply staying informed, the Alumni Access program helps you remain connected to the resources and expertise that support life-long learning.

Discover how the new Alumni Access program can help you continue learning, exploring, and growing long after graduation!

The Doctor of Psychology program invites all to attend the public presentation of Ashlee Morrell's dissertation defence titled "Community as Hope and Harm: Group-Level Coping, Inequity, and Physical Health After General and Identity-Based Childhood Adversity in 2SLGBTQ+ Adults."

When: August 18, 2026, 2:00 pm
Where: Memorial Hall, Room 104

Please join us in supporting Ashlee on this momentous occasion!

• Performing Arts Centre/New Residence (device testing only), June 15–19
• Blanchard Hall, June 15
• Steel Building, June 16
• Robertson Library, June 17
• Central Utility Building, June 18–19
• Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre (also known as NRC building), July 6
• Dalton Hall, July 8
• SDU Main Building, July 9
• Memorial Hall, July 9
• Cass Science Hall, July 10
• Health Sciences Building, July 13
• K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre, July 14
• Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering Building, July 15
• Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, July 16
• Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, July 17
• UPEI Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, July 20–24
• Atlantic Veterinary College (does not include Veterinary Teaching Hospital), August 17–21
• Performing Arts Centre/New Residence (bell ringing testing), August 31–September 2

The University of Prince Edward Island is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Founders. Founders are members of the campus community—most often retired faculty and staff—who have contributed to UPEI’s mission in an exceptional way. Recognizing our Founders is an opportunity to celebrate our rich heritage and traditions, honouring those who have worked diligently and passionately to build the University into the highly regarded institution of higher education it is today.

Established by President Emeritus Wade MacLauchlan in 2000, the Founders award is presented to those who have played a direct role in

• supporting the vision, reputation, and continued success of the University, and/or
• creating a new era of educational, research, and/or service excellence at the University. 

If you wish to nominate someone as Founder, please fill out the online form or email your submission to communications@upei.ca. 

Completed nominations must be received by Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 11:59 pm AT.

If you are interested in learning more about this award and past award winners, please visit the UPEI Founders web page.