SCENT’s winter 2017 theme extends the fall theme of “what” is university for, but now asks whom it is for, and what are the consequences of how that question is answered.

Are universities for faculty primarily? If so, which faculty? Are they primarily a place for tenured and tenure-stream scholars to conduct their research and be supported in those endeavours? Are they also for the low-paid contingent faculty who now do nearly 50% of the teaching?

Are universities primarily for students, and hence a place to focus on teaching and learning outside as well as inside of faculty specializations? If the latter, what do we mean by “students”: future workers, producers, professionals? Future citizens, participants in civil society? Humans who value knowledge, discovery, creativity, vision?

To what extent and in what ways do universities exist to serve off-campus communities – local, regional, national, international – and who decides? Indeed, who decides whom universities serve?

This semester’s theme aims to provoke more thinking about this question, and about the implications of universities’ focus(es). At a time of a rapidly changing context for universities generally, as well as massive changes in the student body—with increased calls to make universities "relevant” in a number of ways to those students – how can we (at UPEI, and more generally) respond? How do we want to respond? This semester’s blog picks up these issues and others.

Please click here to read and comment on our provocative first article of the term: “In Defense of the ‘White’ Curriculum.”

From November 1 until April 30, winter restrictions on overnight campus parking will be enforced. Parking Lot "A" is the only lot where overnight parking is permitted for the winter season. Residents of Andrew Hall and Bernardine Hall may park overnight in the Andrew Hall Lot provided that their vehicles are moved to Lot "A" during storm conditions and until the lots have been plowed after a storm.

If vehicles are left in any parking lot other than Lot "A" during snow storms or before snow removal is complete, the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense. Facilities Management appreciates your co-operation to ensure parking lots are cleared safely. If you have any questions or concerns regarding winter parking please contact Mark Pharand, mpharand@upei.ca.

Please be advised that the Government of Canada is once again sponsoring the Canada Summer Jobs program designed to help employers create summer job opportunities for students. Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in Fall 2017.

Public and private-sector employers are eligible for a wage subsidy of up to 50% of the provincial/territorial adult minimum hourly wage – in PEI the minimum wage will be $11. For additional information and application information for this program please click here.

To apply for this Program you will need to contact Monique Geurts, Human Resources, 566-0515. The closing date for applications is January 20, 2017.

The Department of Physics invites the campus community and members of the public to its first astronomy workshop on Thursday, January 19, from 7:00-9:00 pm. If you have a telescope that you're not quite sure how to use or if you're just interested in learning about the basics of telescope use — then this workshop is for you!

For more information and to register, please click here.

The UPEI Multicultural Choir and Song Circle will be meeting for the first time this semester on Wednesday, January 11th from 4:30 to 5:30pm in the basement of the Robertson Library, Rm. 103. This area is also accessible by an elevator, if needed (call Hailey – see below).

The multicultural choir is in its 6th year, and is a non-audition, open, free and fun activity which brings people from campus and the community together, sharing songs from cultures all around the world!

if you have any questions or comments, please contact Hailey at 902-566-6023, or airs@upei.ca.

Please note that the day has moved from Tuesdays to Wednesdays for the Winter 2017 semester.

Student Affairs is beginning to organize UPEI’s Mental Health Week 2017 and is calling for interested students, staff and faculty to join the planning committee.

As in past years, we hope to have a variety of people on the committee in order to reach the many areas of the UPEI community. Committee work will entail meetings every three weeks with the main event scheduled for March (Dates still being set). The week with be shortened to three days this year, but then followed by a student led conference for students being organized by another committee.

The planning committee will be responsible for brainstorming ideas to showcase the theme of "Relationships Matter", setting the schedule and making the necessary contacts and bookings. If you are interested, please contact Anne Bartlett, ambartlett@upei.ca, or 902-894-2835, by Thursday, January 12, as we plan to have our first meeting the week of January 16th.

Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys was the first public school teacher in New France and had an understanding of interculturality well before its time. She taught First Nations and European children together and she supported all young families. She died Jan 12, 1700 and was declared a saint by Pope John Paul II on Oct 31, 1982. Her spirit lives on in the community she founded, The Congregation of Notre Dame.

A Mass for her feast day will be held Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 12:05 in the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre.

The Department of Human Resources wishes to advise the campus community that the Holiday Notice for 2017 has been issued. The memo is posted on the HR Faculty and Staff Resources web page, please click here to view.

The 2017 Campus Directory can be ordered at CENTRAL PRINTING.

Please use UIS if available, if not, please contact Wendy at whenderson@upei.ca or call 902-566-0558.

Last semester we hosted our first Industry Engagement day and had the great privilege of welcoming well over 100 people to the School of Sustainable Design Engineering. Building on that success, we wish to start the New Year off with good momentum and hold our next Industry Engagement day on January 20, 2017. This day will have a specific focus on Bio-Resources and Precision Agriculture.

The goal is to gather Industry, Government, and Academia and look for collaboration to advance Bio-Resources and Precision Agriculture.

Key Note Speakers:
First speaker: Dr.John K. Schueller from the University of Florida
Second speaker: Dr.Animesh Dutta from the University of Guelph

Please RSVP with Lisa Sanderson at lmsanderson@upei.ca

Logan MacIntyre, Department of Biomedical Sciences will give a seminar entitled "Tools for the analysis of metabolomics data" on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 3:00 pm in AVC Lecture Theatre "A".  All are welcome!

Call for applications from potential graduate students for the 2017 Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Graduate Scholarship. The scholarship will support the training of researchers at the masters or doctoral level to pursue animal welfare research at the UPEI. Both applied or more fundamental approaches to research pertaining to animal welfare are welcome. Students may take up their award at any time of the year but must do so within 12 months of the date of the letter of offer. Applications for 2017 will be accepted until 12 noon AST on Friday, February 17.

For more information please click here.

The UPEI Music Department Recital Series 2016-2017 is pleased to present The Ulysses Quartet. Featuring Christina Bouey and Rhiannon Banerdt on violin, Colin Brookes on viola, and Grace Ho on cello, with special guest appearance by soprano Sung Ha Shin-Bouey, performing works by Luzzi, Vavilov, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and Debussy. 

The concert will take place in Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI Campus, at 7:30 PM on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Tickets available at the door, adults and seniors $20 // students $15.

Dr. Jane P. Preston and Anhui (Ann) Wang are conducting research about the academic and personal experiences of international Masters of Education graduate students studying in the Faculty of Education. If you are/were an MEd student in the Global Perspectives cohort from September 2014 to September 2016, and you are interested in participating in a one-hour individual interview.

Please contact Dr. Preston at jpreston@upei for more information.

Friday, January 6
7:00 pm (M) Hockey vs DAL

Saturday, January 7
3:00 pm (W) Hockey vs DAL
6:00 pm (W) Basketball vs DAL
7:00 pm (M) Hockey vs StfX (@ Eastlink Centre)
8:00 pm (M) Basketball vs DAL

Sunday, January 8
2:00 pm (W) Hockey vs StFX

* All Games webcast on AUStv
* Saturday's Basketball Games broadcast on Bell TV1

Dr. Jane P. Preston and Anhui (Ann) Wang are conducting research about the academic and personal experiences of international Masters of Education graduate students studying in the Faculty of Education. If you are/were an MEd student in the Global Perspectives cohort from September 2014 to September 2016, and you are interested in participating in a one-hour individual interview. 

Please contact Dr. Preston at jpreston@upei for more information.

The Department of Physics invites the campus community and members of the public to its first astronomy workshop on Thursday, January 19, from 7:00-9:00 pm. If you have a telescope that you're not quite sure how to use or if you're just interested in learning about the basics of telescope use — then this workshop is for you!

For more information and to register, click here.

Join the UPEI School of Nursing and Graduate Studies Coordinator, Dr. Janet Bryanton, for a Master of Nursing Open House on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 from 6:30-8:00 pm, Rm. 106, Health Sciences Building, UPEI.

Talk with current Master of Nursing students to hear about their journey in the program, tour the building and have your admissions questions answered! Refreshments will be served. All current Nurses in PEI are welcomed to attend.
 

There are a number of ways for UPEI students, staff and faculty to have a healthy and active 2017:

1. UPEI Employees Personal Training Subsidy Program - Current UPEI Faculty and Staff only.

A $75 grant can be used towards any of our small group training programs or for three specialty fitness programs. Limited number of grants on a first-come-first-serve basis, please click here for the form.

2. UPEI Healthy Activity Challenge - Current UPEI students, staff and faculty only.

The Healthy Activity Challenge at UPEI is an opportunity for you and a group of coworkers to participate in a fun eight week physical activity challenge. The challenge involves a team of 6 individuals. Benefits include free access to the indoor track at Sports Centre and to the membership fitness classes from January 23 – March 19, 2017, a blood pressure clinic, lunch n' learn sessions and prizes. Registration deadline January 19, 2017, please click here for more details.

3. Fitness Classes - NEW schedules are posted for Sports Centre members classes, specialty fitness classes and cycle fitness classes. For more details, schedules and fees, please click here.

4. Small Group Training - Small group training offers training sessions with a focus on individual progression and skill development.

Sessions are two times per week, and will include a small group of six to seven clients who will work together with a certified personal trainer. Join a group or create your own! Our personal trainers can train at all levels and will guide/push you to achieve positive results! For more details please click here.

5. Noontime Yoga - Tuesdays weekly, Beginning January 10
Yoga class will continue to be held every Tuesday from 12:10 pm – 12:55 pm at the UPEI Chaplaincy Centre. Please bring your own mat and/or towel and water. Fee: Fee for each class is a donation to the UPEI food bank - $5 or food donation.

6. Intramural programming - Programs begin the week of January 8 in basketball, badminton, dodgeball, indoor field hockey, squash, volleyball, soccer and ultimate frisbee. Intramurals are FREE for full time UPEI students and Sports Centre members. For non-members the cost is $25/person/sport/semester. Please click here for more details.

For more information or questions about fitness, wellness and recreation programming, please contact Angela Marchbank, Fitness & Wellness Coordinator at amarchbank@upei.ca or 902-566-0606.