The Faculty of Education would like to invite all to attend Nafiz Haider's public presentation of his MEd research titled: "Inquiry-based Learning: Perceptions and Impact on Learning"

Please join us on April 17, at 1:00 pm, in person at Memorial Hall, Room 417 or through the Zoom link below 

https://upei.zoom.us/j/61554724224?pwd=zxZRxzL6JAzrFXRcFsnwyAjKcMTs4U.1

Meeting ID

615 5472 4224

Passcode

500173

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Joy Nnadi's public dissertation defense presentation of her PsyD research titled: “Value Congruence, Identity, Adaptation and Well-being in Immigrants to Canada: An Exploratory Study on their Relationships”. 

Date and Time: April 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm 
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 104

CALLING UPEI EDUCATORS 

The Department of Diversity and Social Justice Studies, the Dean of Arts, and the Teaching and Learning Centre invite you to a half-day workshop on Friday, April 25 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (location TBA): Strengthening Interdisciplinary Culture Through Faculty Collaboration

The workshop invites UPEI instructors from across the university to help pilot a new model for enhancing interdisciplinary culture through collaborative curriculum design. The session is divided into two parts:

9:00–10:30 am | From DIRT to LUST: Lessons from a Decade of Interdisciplinary Innovation
Dr. Renée Valiquette (UPEI) and Dr. Sal Renshaw (Nipissing University) will share insights gleaned from a decade of delivering interdisciplinary concept courses. Their presentation will introduce a suite of strategies for crafting transformative interdisciplinary curricula. 

11:00 am–1:00 pm | Experiment in Co-Design
In the second segment, Renée and Sal will invite participants to help pilot an innovative model—adapted from their interdisciplinary undergraduate work—of collaborative curriculum design aimed at cultivating a deeper interdisciplinary culture among faculty. 

Everyone interested in building interdisciplinary cultures on campus in welcome to join! 

For more information and to register, please contact Renée Valiquette (DSJS) at rvaliquette@upei.ca. 

UPEI's fiscal year ends on April 30, 2025.

Preparation for fiscal year end on April 30, 2025.

All departments are required to look at their outstanding purchase order list to see if there are any purchase orders that need to be cancelled. This functionality can be accessed through the myUPEI Self-Service Menu under "Financial Information" and the “Receive Goods and Services” selection.

If the items have been backordered for some time you will need to check with the supplier to see if they are still on their records as back ordered. If they are not backordered, then please email procurement@upei.ca to cancel your purchase order.

If you are in receipt of vendor invoices, forward these to invoices@upei.ca ASAP. Please contact apadmin@upei.ca with questions or concerns regarding billing and invoicing.

Purchasing deadline for 2024-2025

Requisition/purchase order:

The last day to create a requisition/purchase order for the 2024-2025 fiscal year will be on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at noon with guaranteed delivery date on or before April 30, 2025. 

Requisitions/purchase orders created after April 17, 2025, will have the requisition date changed to May 1, 2025, and the goods and services must be delivered on or after May 1, 2025. If you are unable to change the requisitions date to May 1, 2025, please put a note in the comment section of requisition indicating it is a new year order.

Receiving Goods/Services Cut-Off: April 30, 2025

Goods and Services must be received on campus by April 30, 2025. Only the goods that have been physically received or completed services should be accepted at this time. This will ensure that these goods and services are paid in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.  Any items received in myUPEI after April 30, 2025, will be considered new fiscal year goods and services and will be deducted from your new fiscal year budget (2025-26).

Need assistance? 

Please look at the “Financial Tools Reference Guide” under the "Self-Service Help" tab on myUPEI. 

The UPEI Board of Governors recently approved two new policies outlining the appointment processes and term limits for acting and interim university presidents and senior administrators:

• Appointment of Acting and Interim University President Policy
• Appointment of Acting and Interim Senior Administrators Policy

In addition, the Board approved updates to the Appointment of Acting and Interim Senior Administrators Policy, renamed Appointment and Review of Academic Administrators Policy. These updates include the introduction of term limits for acting and interim academic administrator appointments.

These policies are available on the UPEI Policies webpage for reference.

The third international conference on Small Island States and Subnational Island Jurisdictions is coming to UPEI in June! This conference will explore the evolving discussion of climate change on islands, and will include speakers from UPEI and all around the world, as well as multiple workshops throughout the week and an artist showcase!

The last day for early bird registration is April 15, but tickets will remain available afterwards until June!  

For more information, visit the conference website here. 

Members of the UPEI campus community who are eligible to vote in the upcoming federal election may cast their vote by special ballot from April 13 to 16 in the Student Day Lounge, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.  

The Vote on Campus hours of operation at UPEI are 

• Sunday, April 13, 12:00 to 4:00 pm
• Monday, April 14, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Tuesday, April 15, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Wednesday, April 16, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Voters will need to bring ID in order to vote. Go to ID to vote for more information. Voters will vote for a candidate in the riding where their place of ordinary residence is located.

For more information about voting by special ballot, go to Find out what to expect when you vote by special ballot. 

MSc in Human Biology

Presenter:  Lauren Reid

Title of the Thesis:  “Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Evaluation of Mechanisms and Treatments”

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation and a breakdown of the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract. Its pathology is not fully known, but influencing factors include genetics, microbiome diversity, immune system alterations and environmental factors. An increase in the prevalence of IBD, especially in adolescents, is being observed. This project aimed to gather more information on a common IBD therapeutic, Remicade® (infliximab) as a treatment strategy for adolescents with IBD. An in vitro model was developed to further study this drug, and a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the optimal dosing strategy of Remicade® for adolescents living with IBD. Overall, findings from this thesis provide insight into potential disease models and treatments for IBD. It is an expansion to the already existing body of knowledge surrounding this disease.

April 17, 2025 9:00 am, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 329

Everyone is welcome. 

As part of our ongoing efforts to support students in need, the UPEI Campus Food Bank is seeking your generous donations of non-perishable food items. Every month, we provide essential items to students who may be struggling, and with your help, we can continue to make a positive impact!

We are especially in need of the following items:

• Canned Tuna
• Canned Sardines
• Canned Mushrooms
• Canned Corn (Niblett)
• Canned Baked Beans
• Canned Soup
• Canned Pasta
• Canned Pasta Sauces
• Canned Diced Tomatoes
• Snack Bars

These items are quick, nutritious, and can make a world of difference for a student who is facing a tough time. Your donations will go directly into helping someone in need!

How You Can Help:

1. Drop off your donations at W.A Murphy Student Centre on the second floor during office hours.
2. Organize a donation drive in your department or student group.
3. Spread the word and encourage your friends and classmates to contribute!

Every can counts, and together, we can help make sure no student goes hungry. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated.

Thank you for your ongoing support! If you have any larger donations to make, please email foodbank@upei.ca

The Faculty of Education would like to invite all to attend Nafiz Haider's public presentation of his MEd research titled: "Inquiry-based Learning: Perceptions and Impact on Learning"

Please join us on April 17, at 1:00 pm, in person at Memorial Hall, Room 417 or through the Zoom link below 

https://upei.zoom.us/j/61554724224?pwd=zxZRxzL6JAzrFXRcFsnwyAjKcMTs4U.1

Meeting ID

615 5472 4224

Passcode

500173

Economic and community development professional Audrey Keating will give a lecture titled “The Magdalen Islands: A Living Lab for Territorial Innovation” on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge, Room 201, SDU Main Building.

Part of the UPEI Institute of Island Studies’ 2025 Island Lecture Series, the lecture is free and open to everyone. 

Keating will talk about how the Magdalen Islands are leveraging its unique environment to foster economic development opportunities.

“Just a ferry ride away, the Magdalen Islands are emerging as a dynamic testing ground for innovation,” she said. “We will explore how the region attracts businesses and startups eager to validate their solutions—from ocean tech to age tech—in real-world conditions.”

Keating is currently Commissioner for Business Development and Partnerships at La Vague, an innovation and development corporation leading the Magdalen Islands’ investment attraction strategy. Previously at the Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation, she fostered partnerships across public, private, and civil sectors to support English-speaking communities in Québec. She holds an honours degree in international studies and a certificate in modern languages from Bishop's University. Passionate about collaboration, she engages with diverse organizations to drive economic growth and strengthen community well-being.

This 2-day workshop is designed to immerse participants in the world of AI. It is aimed at students and professionals interested in discovering and applying Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques. Day 1 dives into the fundamentals of ML. In Day 2, we explore advanced DL techniques. Understand the key concepts and algorithms of ML, participate in practical sessions to strengthen your skills, and obtain a globally recognized NVIDIA certification for Fundamentals of Deep Learning. Prerequisites: Basic computer skills, statistics, basic programming in Python.

This two-day virtual workshop will be held on April 23 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and April 24, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To register, go to https://www.acenet.training/courses

UPEI Procurement Services is currently taking bids on a used Steinway 6ft grand piano. 

Bids are being accepted in the University's e-tendering portal Bonfire until April 23, 2025, at 2:00 pm. This portal requires you to register by creating a username and password as your UPEI credentials are not connected to this system. When registering for the Bonfire portal, please put your name in the vendor name and contact name fields. You can access the information about this opportunity at https://upei.bonfirehub.ca/projects/91908/details

If you require assistance, please email tenders@upei.ca

Donations to the UPEI and AVC Annual Fund Campaigns help enhance student experiences inside and outside the classroom.

In recent years, contributions have been used for important investments in cutting edge technology, for the purchase of laboratory supplies, to refurbish study spaces, and to provide funding for experiential learning opportunities.

The postal strike last fall delayed both campaigns and as the end of fiscal year approaches, both remain slightly lower than previous years. Big thanks go out to all the faculty, staff and retirees who have already donated, your contributions represent a significant portion of funds raised to date. If you haven’t contributed yet, there is still time to help us reach our 2024-25 campaign goals.

Employees of UPEI can support the Annual Fund by giving through payroll deduction. To learn more, please visit: https://www.upei.ca/friends/employee-giving. 

What is with all of this casting of pods lately? From the edges of the blogosphere in the days before the ubiquity of YouTube, podcasting became a thing. Its shape and scope have changed, but it remains a complex tableau of digitally dynamic, microphone-centred, for-you-by-you content design. When explaining the phenomenon, we can apply “multi-,” “inter-,” and “trans-” to all of our descriptors. Podcasting is multicultural, interdisciplinary, and transmedial (and all of the other combinations). Podcasting embraces digital-age culture with a kind of technophobic charm. Podcasting is rigorously research-based and terrifyingly casual with the truth. Podcasting is elitist and thus committed to accessibility. Podcasting is carefully designed and completely spontaneous.

Podcasting is becoming an emergent, dynamic, and transformative part of scholarly life. Increasingly, employers, grad school recruiters, start-ups, and nonprofit managers are looking for students with podcasting experience.

Using a collaborative, student-centred, inquiry-based pedagogical approach—all important parts of podcasting culture—Brenton Dickieson taught the inaugural podcasting course in Applied Communications, Leadership, and Culture (ACLC) in Winter 2025. As an interdisciplinary applied arts program with a communications and cultural engagement focus, a workshop-styled course on podcasting makes a lot of sense. 

While Brenton is the host and co-producer of the MaudCast: The Podcast of the L.M. Montgomery Institute, and has some experience teaching, he is not an expert in podcasting. In this lunch and learn, Brenton reflects upon an intense, beautiful, and learning-filled semester guiding students through the 5 stages of podcast design—from concept to product launch.

April 16, 12:00 pm, Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230 

Members of the UPEI campus community who are eligible to vote in the upcoming federal election may cast their vote by special ballot from April 13 to 16 in the Student Day Lounge, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.  

The Vote on Campus hours of operation at UPEI are 

• Sunday, April 13, 12:00 to 4:00 pm
• Monday, April 14, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Tuesday, April 15, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
• Wednesday, April 16, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Voters will need to bring ID in order to vote. Go to ID to vote for more information. Voters will vote for a candidate in the riding where their place of ordinary residence is located.

For more information about voting by special ballot, go to Find out what to expect when you vote by special ballot. 

MSc in Human Biology

Presenter:  Lauren Reid

Title of the Thesis:  “Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Evaluation of Mechanisms and Treatments”

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation and a breakdown of the mucous membrane of the intestinal tract. Its pathology is not fully known, but influencing factors include genetics, microbiome diversity, immune system alterations and environmental factors. An increase in the prevalence of IBD, especially in adolescents, is being observed. This project aimed to gather more information on a common IBD therapeutic, Remicade® (infliximab) as a treatment strategy for adolescents with IBD. An in vitro model was developed to further study this drug, and a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the optimal dosing strategy of Remicade® for adolescents living with IBD. Overall, findings from this thesis provide insight into potential disease models and treatments for IBD. It is an expansion to the already existing body of knowledge surrounding this disease.

April 17, 2025 9:00 am, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 329

Everyone is welcome. 

Master of Arts in Island Studies student Mark Carr-Rollitt will defend his thesis entitled "The Pulse of the Islands: Deconstructing rhythm as expression and agency in Cuba, Jamaica, and Quisqueya" on Wednesday, April 16, at 7:00 pm in SDU Main Building, Room 211. Supervisor is Dr. Laurie Brinklow (Island Studies), with committee members Dr. James Moran (History) and Dr. Kate Bevan-Baker (McGill University). External Examiner is Dr. Waldo Girrado (Western Sydney University, Australia). Chairing the defence is Dr. Lisa Chilton (History). 

Everyone is invited! If you'd like to join online please email Laurie at brinklow@upei.ca for the link.

Classes are over; you just have to make it through exams. The library is here to help, and not just with books and research advice. April 10-22, in the Robertson Library Lobby, we've scheduled 10 surprises, featuring a treat, craft, or activity to give your brain a break. Follow @RobertsonLibrary on Instagram and Facebook so you never miss a Pop-Up Surprise. (Here's a freebie: we're co-hosting a coffee break with Dana Hospitality, Monday April 14 at 2:00 pm!)  

We have transformed the lobby lounge into the Stress-Free Zone for the duration of exams. Relax with colouring pages, yarn, origami, and so much more!   

Good luck on your finals! 

As part of our ongoing efforts to support students in need, the UPEI Campus Food Bank is seeking your generous donations of non-perishable food items. Every month, we provide essential items to students who may be struggling, and with your help, we can continue to make a positive impact!

We are especially in need of the following items:

• Canned Tuna
• Canned Sardines
• Canned Mushrooms
• Canned Corn (Niblett)
• Canned Baked Beans
• Canned Soup
• Canned Pasta
• Canned Pasta Sauces
• Canned Diced Tomatoes
• Snack Bars

These items are quick, nutritious, and can make a world of difference for a student who is facing a tough time. Your donations will go directly into helping someone in need!

How You Can Help:

1. Drop off your donations at W.A Murphy Student Centre on the second floor during office hours.
2. Organize a donation drive in your department or student group.
3. Spread the word and encourage your friends and classmates to contribute!

Every can counts, and together, we can help make sure no student goes hungry. Your kindness and generosity are truly appreciated.

Thank you for your ongoing support! If you have any larger donations to make, please email foodbank@upei.ca