乐发IV

On Monday, February 10, please join us at 12:00 pm (Atlantic time) in the 乐发IV Performing Arts Centre Amphitheatre (121S) for a conversation with a McCall MacBain Scholarships representative visiting from Montreal, along with 乐发IV applicants Brian MacDonald and Carter Wynne! You鈥檒l learn about the scholarship program and have the opportunity to ask questions. Register now to reserve your spot:

The McCall MacBain Scholarships applications will open in June 2025 for Summer/Fall 2026 admission. Up to 30 full scholarships and 100 one-time awards, ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each, will be offered for admission in 2026. Two-thirds of the scholarships are available for Canadian students, and one-third are for international students in Canada and abroad. To be eligible for our 2026 cohort, you will need to meet at least ONE of the following criteria:

• You are a current student on track to earn your first bachelor鈥檚 degree by August 2026.
• You earned your first bachelor鈥檚 degree in the last five years (January 2020 or later).
• You earned your first bachelor鈥檚 degree more than five years ago and were 30 years or younger on January 1st, 2025.

Don鈥檛 miss this chance to connect and explore your future possibilities. 

In accordance with the 乐发IV Action Plan: Building A Culture of Trust, Safety and Inclusion, the 乐发IV has committed to developing a new Harassment and Discrimination Policy and a revised Sexual Violence Policy. In an email message issued on January 21 to students, staff, and faculty, co-chairs Wendy Rodgers and Lucky Fusca announced that a Review Committee has been struck, and work is now underway to develop a recommendation for the two policies, following a university-wide consultative process. 

The Review Committee was selected by the University among individuals who responded to a call for expressions of interest to participate, with a view to ensure a broad representation across constituency groups in the 乐发IV community (with diverse experiences and backgrounds). The Committee held its initial meeting on December 18, 2024, and will continue to meet on a bi-weekly basis for the next three months, with a target completion date of March 31, 2025. 

All members of the 乐发IV community are, and will be, encouraged to provide feedback regarding their experiences with the current suite of policies and to offer other comments or suggestions they want to bring forward for the Committee's attention. If you wish to provide feedback, you may do so either through the online feedback form, , or by submitting comments by email to Bobby Cameron, Chief of Staff, Office of the President, at trcameron@upei.ca. Individuals are encouraged to provide feedback on or before February 7, 2025.

The 乐发IV Department of Chemistry will host the 2025 IUPAC Global Women's (and Allies') Breakfast on Tuesday, February 11, from 7:00-9:00 am at the Fox & Crow, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

The breakfast is an excellent opportunity to build stronger chemistry/science communities and networks, learn more about the exciting research taking place in the faculties of Science and Sustainable Design Engineering, and share stories of resilience. This year, participants can expect to engage with three to five female speakers on their science and experiences followed by a short panel discussion. We will also have a "tie-dye your (clean) lab coat" activity along with a hot breakfast. This event is free to attend.

Please register for the event by no later than 12:00 pm on February 9 at

For more information about this global event, please go to

乐发IV faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend a thought-provoking presentation and discussion titled "The State of Post-Secondary Education in Canada and Embedding a Culture of Hope at 乐发IV" by , celebrated professor and author of "Hope Circuits: Rewiring Universities and other Systems for Human Flourishing." This event will take place on February 10, at 10:30 am, in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Through a campus-wide discussion, Dr. Riddell will share her insights on the state of post-secondary in Canada鈥攁nd beyond鈥攁nd how university communities can navigate to more sustainable and hopeful institutions. Following her presentation, she will lead an interactive discussion on strategies for embedding a culture of hope and belonging within 乐发IV.

Members of the campus community who are unable to attend in person are welcome to join virtually at this鈥疶eams Town Hall.

Date: Thursday, February 13
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm Atlantic
Location: Virtual. Register for the link at
Audience: 乐发IV master's and doctoral Students

Virtual Workshop: Gen AI use as a grad student
As students, the draw of a time-saving tool is always of interest. When are the current Generative AI tools available truly useful, and when might they be distractions or time wasters? Join us for a review of relevant types of Gen AI tools, and discussion about potential uses and relevant concerns.

Facilitator: Keri McCaffrey, One Health & Scholarly Communications Librarian

Options: Attend the virtual workshop delivered live and/or receive access to the recording.

View the full schedule of upcoming monthly Lunch & Learns for Graduate Students in the self-enrolled 乐发IV Graduate Student Professional & Academic Development Resources Moodle:

Are you thinking about preparing your file for tenure/permanency and/or promotion? Get started by learning about the basics of teaching philosophy statements and teaching dossiers by checking out the resources in the  of the Academic Instructional Skills Program. Then bring your questions to our workshop, and learn what is needed to be included under our current collective agreement. Join us in the Teaching and Learning Centre, RL 230, on Monday, February 10, from 2:00 to 4:00. Virtual options to attend will be available by emailing TLC@upei.ca for the link.

This lunch and learn event is a 45-minute working session created in collaboration between the TLC, EDIHR, and Accessibility Services. Make an impact on student learning by rethinking your slides. 

What to bring: A set of slides and a device to work on

Schedule:  

• 10-minute presentation 
• 30 minutes to work individually on your own slides; the hosts are present for questions 
• 5 minutes to reflect on how it went and ask more questions 

Email Kristy at kmckinney@upei.ca to RSVP.

The 乐发IV Faculty of Arts ConneXions series presents the first two speakers for this semester: Drs Ren茅e Valiquette (DSJS) and Nick Mercer (Environmental Studies and MAIS), who will explore the broad topic of  "Environmental Justice - but for whom? And how?"

i) Dr. Ren茅e Valiquette, DSJS

Title: 鈥淏eyond purity and refusal: rethinking environmentalisms

I would say a knotty area of interest that motivates me these days is the expectation that "good" environmental ethics are defined by a commitment to austerity and lack. I am more compelled by thinkers/activists who offer something darker and messier than enduring environmentalisms of purity and refusal. How can we cultivate eco-ethics that resist naive hope without falling into melancholia? Are there ways of dwelling in/responding to our wild futures that don't evade the brutalities ahead but also feel full of potential and possibility?

ii) Dr. Nick Mercer, Environmental Studies and MAIS

Title: 鈥淚s eliminating fossil-fuel consumption 鈥榡ust鈥�?: Lessons learned from the diesel-powered North鈥� 

Guided by near scientific consensus, most nation-states globally have pledged ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, with the goal of maintaining planetary heating of less than 1.5 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial period. Central to this mission is the rapid electrification of societies and economies and a massive expansion of low-carbon generation sources. For instance, the influential Canadian Energy Regulator (2023) has suggested that national power output may double by mid-century, fuelled by new wind farms, hydroelectric facilities, and other sources of renewable energies. One critical question that must be considered in this seemingly benign pursuit: "Are renewable energy transitions 鈥榡ust鈥�?" Reflecting on a deep and ongoing research relationship with nine Indigenous diesel-dependent communities in southern Labrador, our research program has long sought to answer: "Who wins and who loses as a result of energy transitions? Who has power and influence in decision-making? And whether the worldviews and priorities of diverse peoples are honoured, centered, and upheld in 鈥榬enewable鈥� energy development." 

On January 27, Health PEI implemented a universal masking policy across its facilities to protect patients, staff, and the public from the spread of illness.

乐发IV recommends steps to help protect yourself during the winter months. These include staying up to date on vaccinations; staying home if symptomatic; practicing good hand hygiene; and wearing a mask to protect yourself and help prevent spread if you are feeling ill or have been exposed. Please visit the 乐发IV Guidance For Respiratory Illness for more information.

While the 乐发IV Health and Wellness Centre (HWC) is not implementing mandatory masking at this time, patients and staff are strongly encouraged to wear masks in the clinic. Masks are readily available at the HWC for anyone who needs one. Please note that care will not be denied to individuals who choose not to wear a mask.

COVID-19 test kits continue to be available at the HWC and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE).

Feel free to reach out to HSE at HSE@upei.ca or call 902-566-0901.

The second in this series of President's town halls will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025. For this event, which falls during a month sometimes known for 鈥渉earts and flowers鈥� as well as the short days of midwinter, there will be opportunities to share examples of success, what we are proud of at 乐发IV鈥攁nd to shine some light! Everyone is invited to give a shoutout to campus community members and to celebrate our Panther Pride. There also will be a surprise guest appearance!

Let鈥檚 Celebrate our Panther Pride 

• Thursday, February 6, 2025 
• 1:30鈥�2:30 pm 
• Amphitheatre, Performing Arts Centre and Residence building (PAC121S)  

If you are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this .

Read the full invitation from President Rodgers.

The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship is hosting a workshop focused on teaching the basics about creating a business plan on Thursday, February 11, from 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Participants will learn about the major components of a business plan and what sort of information should be included in the document. Attendees participating in the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program will also receive suggestions, tips, and tricks for how to make the most of their business plan for their written award submissions.
The event is open to the public, but those in attendance who are participating in the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program will have the event count towards their attendance boost for the written awards.

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The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship is pleased to present the Food Ecosystem Tour, in partnership with BioFoodTech, Food Island Partnership, and Canada's Smartest Kitchen. Twenty 乐发IV students will get the chance to attend a full day where they will tour the facilities of BioFoodTech and Canada's Smartest Kitchen and learn about the resources and support available to entrepreneurs in the food product development sector. 

The tour will take place on Thursday, February 20, from 8:45 am to 3:15 pm. Students will start with a tour of BioFoodTech, followed by a presentation from Food Island Partnership, before moving over to The Culinary Institute of Canada to have lunch at The March茅. Students will then hear from and tour the facilities of Canada's Smartest Kitchen, and end the day with a panel discussion and Q&A opportunity with food entrepreneurs who are current and past clients of the organizations that opened their doors to the group. 

Applications to attend the Food Ecosystem Tour will open on Friday, February 7, at 12:00 pm. Participation is only available to current full-time 乐发IV students, and invites will be given on a first-applied, first-offered basis. Students are required to be in attendance for the full itinerary.

, but will only go live on February 7 at 12:00 pm.

In honour of Apukna'jit and Indigenous Story Telling Month, we are hosting a "Sharing Our Stories and Apukna'jit Spirit Ceremony" event with local knowledge keepers, community members, and 乐发IV staff and students on Wednesday, February 5, from 1:00-3:00 pm in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, Room 142. Four local knowledge keepers will share stories in a sharing circle.

Apukna'jit is the spirit of the winter. In some ways, the tradition involves making offerings to Apukna'jit with the hope of a light winter and an early spring. We do so by making tobacco offerings and a plate of food to feed Apukna'jit.

We have 30 seats available;  others may stand outside the circle.

Wela'lin, hope to see you there.

乐发IV piano professor Magdalena von Eccher will present a solo piano recital on February 7, at 7:30 pm, featuring Robert Schumann's colourful Faschingschwank aus Wien, Op 26 (Viennese Carnival) alongside Bach's marvelous Toccata in C Minor, BWV 911, interwoven with other selections including Schoenberg's Op. 19 and Ravel's Sonatine. Magdalena will be joined by pianist Glen Montgomery for Debussy's charming piano duet, Petite Suite.

The recital will take place on the SDU Stage, Dr. Steel Recital Hall (SB 224). Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for students, payable by cash at the door.

Are you committed to advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, indigenization, and decolonization (EDIID) at post-secondary institutions and excited to help shape something new? We鈥檙e in the early stages of organizing an EDIID conference (name to be determined) at 乐发IV, dedicated to sharing, learning, discussing, and navigating EDIID in post-secondary spaces. While the date is yet to be determined, forming a planning committee is a key step in bringing this vision to life鈥攁nd we need your help!

What鈥檚 Involved?

Committee members will

• Collaborate to determine the conference theme, sessions, and potential activities.
• Plan a budget and logistics (e.g., space, catering, information package for attendees, organizing volunteers, honourariums).
• Assist with fundraising.
• Develop and maintain conference website.
• Review and evaluate abstract submissions from potential conference applicants, and contact successful applicants.
• Identify and reach out to potential keynote speakers and sponsors.
• Determine accommodation needs of attendees.
• Prepare for a potential launch on a date TBD by the committee

The committee will begin by meeting monthly once we have our committee, with specific roles assigned based on interests and availability. The remaining meeting schedule will be determined by the committee.

Who should apply?

We welcome applications from anyone at 乐发IV committed to EDI, indigenization, and decolonization and who is excited to contribute.

How to get involved:

To apply, please submit a short expression of interest by February 14 to equity@upei.ca. Let us know:

1. Your name and contact information
2. A little about yourself (e.g., background, interests)
3. Why you鈥檙e interested in helping plan this potential conference

Questions? Contact EDI and Human Rights at equity@upei.ca.

Are you looking for talented and motivated students or recent graduates to join your team? If so, don鈥檛 miss the chance to register as an employer for the 2025 乐发IV Summer Job and Career Fair!

The Summer Job and Career Fair is a great opportunity for 乐发IV departments to connect with potential employees or interns. You will be able to meet with hundreds of students and alumni from various disciplines and backgrounds and promote your department鈥檚 employment opportunities.

The fair will take place on March 12 (storm date: March 13, same time) from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

Space at the fair is limited and restricted to employers hiring for 2025 summer jobs or looking to hire May 2025 graduates or recent grads. Registration is FREE for all 乐发IV departments, but you need to register by February 21 at 4:00 pm to secure your spot.

To register, please fill out this 馃憠.

Registration includes a folding table, two chairs, electricity (upon request), and wireless internet.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Community and Industry Outreach Coordinator Jess Cameron at careerfair@upei.ca or (902) 894-2817.

We hope to see you at the fair!

A public forum titled 鈥淭he Future of Professional Journalism and Public Broadcasting鈥� will take place at the 乐发IV Performing Arts Centre Amphitheatre (121S) on Wednesday, February 5, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. 

The forum will be led by award-winning journalists Ian Petrie, former national and regional reporter for CBC; Paul MacNeill, publisher of "The Eastern Graphic" and a champion of local news media; Teresa Wright, freelance journalist covering politics and policy; Sally Pitt, journalist and instructor at Holland College; Rick MacLean, journalist and 乐发IV instructor; and Rafael Barliardo, journalist on culture and politics in Brazil.  

Participants will explore the following topics:

• Why are many professional journalism organizations losing audience, and in some cases, trust?
• What does this decline in audience and trust mean for democracy, and keeping those in power accountable? 
• What do younger generations think about the conventional news media?  
• What can be done to preserve the integrity, expand the reach, and ensure the economic viability of professional journalism into the future?  

This free event is sponsored by the 乐发IV journalism program, the 乐发IV Faculty of Arts, and the 乐发IV Office of the Vice-President Research and Academic. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

The forum will also be available to watch via Zoom for those who are unable to attend the event in person. Join the forum online here: .

Try the very popular sport of pickleball! This program will run from January 7-April 8.  We have paddles for you to use, but feel free to take your own if you have them. No experience is necessary. This is a great environment to try out the sport and connect with colleagues. The program is FREE for 乐发IV staff/faculty/retirees and provided by the Healthy Campus Committee.  

Pre-register by logging in at. Be sure to click on the 乐发IV LOGIN button to enter your upei email address and password. Please do not put your email address in the community email box and/or click on Community. Once logged in, go to the Wellness icon and then click on the class to register. Registration opens six days before each date. You must register weekly.

For assistance or questions, please contact Angela Marchbank, Coordinator, Fitness and Wellness, at amarchbank@upei.ca.

The sixth meeting of the 乐发IV Senate will take place on Friday, February 14, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 at Alumni Hall (618 University Avenue). To view the 2024-2025 calendar of Senate meetings or documents for the upcoming meeting, click here.

All鈥痬eetings鈥痑re 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 乐发IV community who wish to attend the open session of a 乐发IV 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. 

The campus community is invited to a kick-off for Black History Month hosted by the 乐发IV Student Union in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre, on February 4 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Celebrate African and Caribbean heritage through food, music, and culture! Enjoy a specially curated menu brought to you by the 乐发IVSU, Black History Month Advisory Committee, and the African Students Association, featuring the following:

• In-house from Fox & Crow: Jollof rice, rice and peas, and plantain
• Ordered from Naija Bites: Puff puffs and meat pies
• Ordered from Boonoonoos: Jerk chicken

Come share a meal, connect, and celebrate!