Mi'kmaq National Flag raised at UPEI

Approximately 100 people gathered on May 7 at 69传媒Alumni Canada Games Place for the historic raising of the Mi'kmaq National Flag.

With blue skies and a brisk wind perfect for the occasion, Elder Junior Peter Paul began the ceremony with a smudge and members of the Indigenous community joined him in performing the Mi鈥檏maq Honour Song.

Chief Brian Francis of the Abegweit First Nation, 69传媒student Dawne Knockwood, and Elder Junior Peter Paul joined President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz in raising the flag. 

Chief Francis said, 鈥淚t's certainly an honour. As we all know, flags are all proud symbols of who we are; in this case, the Mi'kmaq National Flag. And we're extremely proud to be flying it at the 69传媒.鈥

Just as Chief Francis began to speak, the Elder pointed out that there was a visitor, gesturing skyward to an eagle that appeared on cue, flying directly over the flags. The crowd erupted into applause as the eagle, which is revered in Mi鈥檏maq culture and represents everything positive, flew overhead.

鈥淭his is a truly a historic moment for UPEI,鈥 added President Abd-El-Aziz. 

The Mi鈥檏maq flag will also appear at 69传媒events and was alongside the Canada, Prince Edward Island, and 69传媒flags at the recent Convocation.
 

Matt Gamblin named head coach of 69传媒Women鈥檚 Basketball

Chris Huggan, UPEI鈥檚 director of Athletics and Recreation, is pleased to announce Matt Gamblin has signed on to be the next head coach of the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Basketball team. Gamblin has an impressive track record as both a coach and player, most recently leading the Mount Allison Mounties to win the 2017鈥2018 Atlantic Collegiate Athletics Association (ACAA) women鈥檚 basketball title.

鈥淚 am excited to welcome Matt, his wife April, and son Cohen to the 69传媒Panther family,鈥 said Huggan. 鈥淢att has been a head coach for seven years, and in that time, has led teams at both the high school and college level to championships. He is a very knowledgeable, passionate, and hard-working young man who builds champions both on and off the court. He is a proven winner and a great fit to lead our women's basketball team to many successes in the years to come.鈥

Before coaching the Mounties, Gamblin spent four years with the Amherst High School Vikings鈥 boys basketball program. After two years as assistant coach, he transitioned to head coach and led the team to a provincial championship. He has also worked as a coach for the Northumberland section of Basketball Nova Scotia鈥檚 Regional Training Centre program. Before coaching, he played for Team Nova Scotia on four different occasions. He played ACAA basketball at Kings College and Mount Saint Vincent University before a knee injury ended his playing career.

鈥淚 feel both privileged and excited to join the family at UPEI,鈥 said Gamblin, 鈥淚t has been abundantly clear through the process that there is a deep commitment to growth and excellence on and off the court here. I am joining a program which is in great shape, with a strong core, and I can't wait to get started working with the team.鈥

Gamblin has signed a three-year contract with the Panthers. He begins June 1.

Go Panthers Go!

69传媒Board of Governors approves $120M balanced operating budget

The 69传媒 Board of Governors approved a balanced operating budget of $120 million for the 2018鈥19 fiscal year at its May meeting last night.

鈥淭he annual operating budget outlines how operating expenditures of the University are funded,鈥 said 69传媒President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 鈥淥ur budget process helps us identify opportunities to invest in strategic initiatives that expand UPEI鈥檚 community impact and global reach while minimizing the burden of tuition costs on our students.鈥

One of UPEI鈥檚 principal revenue sources is the annual provincial operating grant. As was announced in provincial legislature last month, the Government of Prince Edward Island increased UPEI鈥檚 operating grant by two per cent for 2018鈥19. The Atlantic Veterinary College, which is supported by all four Atlantic Provinces, also saw an increase of one per cent to its operating budget from the PEI government as outlined in the ten-year interprovincial funding agreement.

鈥淭his is great news for our University and we are incredibly grateful for the Government鈥檚 investment,鈥 commented President Abd-El-Aziz. 鈥淭he University works very closely with the Government of Prince Edward Island on shared priorities鈥攊ncluding the attraction and retention of students from the Island, across Canada, and around the world. This support reflects the importance of postsecondary education to the future wellbeing of our province. It is especially rewarding to see that our collaborative efforts have also resulted in a multi-year funding agreement that will allow the University to better plan for the future.鈥

Tuition and fee revenues are an important part of UPEI鈥檚 plan to balance the operating budget, representing approximately one-third of the operating revenues each year. This year鈥檚 budget includes an overall tuition increase of two per cent; this is equivalent to a $12 increase per undergraduate course.

69传媒continues to offer one of the most affordable undergraduate tuition rates in the Maritime Provinces.

鈥淭he Student Union has, for the past few years, advocated for tuition hikes to remain below CPI, which is clearly reflected in this budget,鈥 said 69传媒Student Union President Will McGuigan. 鈥淚t is great to see the university administration paying attention to student concerns and recommendations.鈥

Revenues are used to cover core-operating costs for student and ancillary services, faculties and schools, academic support, administration, and property maintenance activities. The University carefully monitors the fiscal realities associated with increased labour costs, important infrastructure upgrades, increasing supply costs, and inflationary pressures.

鈥淲e continue to work diligently to grow revenues to help offset these costs and pressures,鈥 said President Abd-El-Aziz. 鈥淲e do this by expanding our unique offerings and delivering them in innovative ways. Our recruitment success has led to increased enrolments, allowing us to grow our budget and hire more faculty and staff to support new programming developments.鈥

In the past two years, 69传媒has grown by an unprecedented number of 108 faculty and staff to accommodate new program developments.

In this fiscal year, 69传媒will see the infrastructure upgrades to Dalton Hall completed. The Student Experience Hub will be a key component in serving prospective and current students, and in their successful completion of the enrolment process.

The operating budget does not include research funds, which are budgeted separately on a project-by-project basis, but it does include the budget of departments that provide support to research. Capital projects are also budgeted on a project-by-project basis and reported within the capital assets fund.

鈥69传媒is very proud of the continuing success of our students, faculty, and researchers,鈥 added President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 鈥淲e have embarked on an exciting journey that has enabled us to re-imagine the many possibilities of what it means to study, explore, create, discover, work, and belong at UPEI. We have ambitious goals and we are managing during challenging times. We are working together as we look ahead and think about what we can do to provide our students with outstanding education, conduct research, and contribute to our community and beyond in new and transformative ways.鈥
 

Bachelor of Integrated Studies to hold information sessions in Charlottetown and Summerside

69传媒is holding information sessions to learn about its Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree program. The Bachelor of Integrated Studies program is designed to accommodate the personal, educational, and career goals of adult students, most of whom already possess diverse learning and who study part-time.

Three sessions will be held in Charlottetown, at the 69传媒Department of Development and Alumni Engagement, located at 618 University Avenue, room 103. Join us Thursday, May 31 at 4:30 pm, Thursday, May 31 at 6:00 pm, or Wednesday, June 6 at 4:30 pm.

The Summmerside sessions will be held Monday, May 28 at 4:30 pm and Monday, June 4 at 6:00 pm in the Key Family room of the Summerside Rotary Library, located at The Inspire Learning Centre, 57 Central Street.

Attendees will learn about study options and the admission processes, and have an opportunity to ask questions of 69传媒staff and faculty.

All attendees will have the $50 application fee waived when they apply to UPEI. For more information, contact bis@upei.ca.

All are welcome!

Two preeminent Island folklorists receive prestigious Marius Barbeau Medal

From May 25鈥27, the Folklore Studies Association of Canada/L鈥橝ssociation canadienne d鈥檈thnologie et de folklore will be holding its annual meeting at the 69传媒 in collaboration with the Institute of Island Studies. This year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淐arried on the Waves: Contemporary Currents in Folklore and Ethnology / Port茅 par les Vagues: Courants Actuels d鈥橢thnologie et de Folklore,鈥 inspires researchers to explore the flow of expression among various groups over time and place.

Prince Edward Island has long served and continues to serve as an integral hub for multicultural contacts. As Marius Barbeau, widely acknowledged as the founder of Canadian folklore, observed in the Journal of American Folklore in 1918, 鈥淧rince Edward Island and some other parts of the Maritime Provinces are very conservative centers in which folklore still flourishes.鈥 To this day the Island鈥檚 resilient communities continue their long legacy of offering key insights into the expression and transmission of communally maintained knowledge. Whether it is farming and fishing communities redefining their relationships to the land and sea based on the present realities of climate change, the digital construction of narrative in videogame design attracting new Canadians forging their own pathways, or the composition of a fiddle tune for commercial production within the music industry, all of the Island鈥檚 groups contribute to our understanding the ebb and flow of human experience.

The executive of FSAC/ACEF are very pleased to announce that both Georges Arsenault and John Cousins, two of Prince Edward Island鈥檚 most esteemed folklorists, will receive the association鈥檚 Marius Barbeau Medal. The medal is given in recognition of remarkable individual contributions to folklore and ethnology through teaching, research, and communication鈥昦ctivities in which both Arsenault and Cousins have excelled. Previous recipients of the Barbeau Medal with fieldwork links to PEI include Dr. John Shaw and the late Dr. Edward 鈥淪andy鈥 Ives.

As Dr. Edward MacDonald, chair of UPEI鈥檚 Department of History notes, 鈥淚n the year when the Folklore Studies Association of Canada is meeting on PEI, it seems entirely appropriate to recognize two giants of Prince Edward Island folklore for their career contributions to the collection, study, dissemination, and popularization of folklore within this province and beyond: Georges Arsenault and John Cousins. Both Georges and John were born into the communities they have studied, giving them the unique perspective that comes from being at the same time both outsiders and insiders in their research. Both live a conviction that scholarship has a responsibility to speak to the general populace, a duty to help us all better understand the culture that forms our mental and physical landscapes.鈥

Both Arsenault and Cousins will be giving free lectures open to the general public as part of the conference. Arsenault will present a lecture in French on traditional songs with examples from his fieldwork in PEI鈥檚 Acadian communities, entitled 鈥Recueillir, conserver et partager la chanson traditionnelle acadienne de l鈥櫭巐e-du-Prince- 脡douard鈥 on Friday, 25 May, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge of UPEI鈥檚 SDU Main Building. Cousins will present a lecture from his fieldwork and historical research in West Prince communities and beyond in 鈥The Witch & the Song Maker as Law Givers in Island Farming & Fishing Communities鈥 on Saturday, May 26, from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Beaconsfield Carriage House, PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation, in downtown Charlottetown.

All are welcome!

The 69传媒 prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥69传媒has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 69传媒is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

69传媒to provide degree pathway for Holland College Environmental Applied Science Technology grads

The following is released by the 69传媒 and .

The 69传媒 and Holland College have formalized a degree pathway for graduates of the Holland College Environmental Applied Science Technology program. Students will study two years at Holland College and two years at UPEI, earning a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from UPEI.

鈥淭his is an exciting partnership between 69传媒and Holland College, and showcases just how important it is that these two institutions work together to create new opportunities,鈥 said Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, president and vice-chancellor of the 69传媒. 鈥淲ith a solid technical foundation from the Environmental Applied Science Technology program, 69传媒can help students build toward any number of futures.鈥

鈥淭his agreement represents another fine example of collaboration between our two institutions鈥, said Michael O鈥橤rady, vice president of innovation, enterprise and strategic development at Holland College. 鈥淚n the end, it is the students who benefit from an exciting educational opportunity that will enhance the contribution they will make to addressing today鈥檚 environmental challenges.鈥

UPEI鈥檚 Environmental Studies program will accept the Environmental Applied Science Technology diploma courses as transfer credits of up to 60 credit hours to enter the Bachelor of Environmental Studies program in the third year. Diploma graduates will be required to have a minimum average of 70 per cent to be admitted and must complete at least 20 courses (60 credit hours) at 69传媒to earn their degree.

鈥淪tudents who combine the practical technical skills with an integrated understanding of the environment will have diversified their portfolio of employable skills,鈥 said Dr. Carolyn Peach Brown, director of the Bachelor of Environmental Studies program at UPEI.

At UPEI, the Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree equips students to respond to the need for employees who are logical and analytical, as well as thoughtful and creative. Environmental issues typically do not respect traditional academic boundaries and require scientific, technical, human and social perspectives to address. With courses that integrate knowledge across faculties of Arts, Science and Business, Environmental Studies students learn to make connections across academic fields and to analyze environmental challenges we face today.

鈥淭he articulation agreement with the 69传媒Bachelor of Environmental Studies program is an exciting opportunity for graduates who wish to further their education and training after earning their diploma at Holland College鈥, said Brian O鈥橬eill, Learning Manager of Holland College鈥檚 Environmental Applied Science Technology program.  鈥淭he technical training and skills students develop in our program will complement the integrated approach to understanding environmental issues provided by UPEI, and will enhance the student鈥檚 careers in the environment industry.鈥

Holland College鈥檚 Environmental Applied Science Technology program delivers scientific theory and applied skills training in core sciences such as environmental chemistry and microbiology, and in applied sciences including soil science, hydrogeology, air quality, water and wastewater treatment, and environmental management and planning.  Students utilize their skills and knowledge in a number of key areas such as watershed management, operation and process control of water and wastewater treatment facilities, monitoring of surface and groundwater systems, and environmental health. The program also has an on the job training component, giving students real world experience in the environment industry in PEI and abroad. The Environmental Applied Science Technology Program is a nationally accredited program with the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB).

69传媒and Holland College have partnered on a number of transfer and articulation agreements to provide degree pathways to graduates of specific college programs. For more information, see the complete list at .

The 69传媒 prides itself on people, excellence, and impact and is committed to assisting students reach their full potential in both the classroom and community. With roots stemming from two founding institutions鈥擯rince of Wales College and Saint Dunstan鈥檚 University鈥69传媒has a reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and creating positive impacts locally, nationally, and internationally. 69传媒is the only degree granting institution in the province and is proud to be a key contributor to the growth and prosperity of Prince Edward Island.

69传媒saddened by the passing of Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Dr. Satadal Dasgupta

The entire 69传媒community is saddened by the death of Dr. Satadal Dasgupta, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, who passed away on May 27, 2018 in Halifax, NS. Flags on campus will be lowered to half-mast in his honour.

The depth and the enduring impact of Dr. Satadal Dasgupta's career at the 69传媒 are difficult to match.

鈥淒r. Dasgupta shaped the Sociology and Anthropology department,鈥 said Dean of Arts Neb Kujundzic. 鈥淒uring his accomplished and extremely influential presence in the Department and the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Dasgupta touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and friends. He has left a huge legacy and was a huge source of inspiration at UPEI.鈥

A past chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Dr. Dasgupta also was past president of the Association of Retired 69传媒Employees and past chair of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. While highly regarded as a teacher and mentor to his students, Dr. Dasgupta was equally respected as a researcher and collaborator with colleagues. His research interests included peasant and rural societies; community; kinship and social organization; South Asia; social and cultural change.

69传媒extends condolences to his wife Krishna; children Kaberi, Mohua, and Keya; and six grandsons. His life will be celebrated on Saturday, June 1 at 2 pm at JA Snow Funeral Home in Halifax, NS with a second memorial service to take place in Charlottetown in July.


 

Harry Baglole, founding director of the Institute of Island Studies, passes away

It is with great sadness that 69传媒announces that Mr. Harry Baglole, the "godfather" of Island Studies, passed away peacefully late Tuesday night in Charlottetown. Harry was the founding Director of the Institute of Island Studies and the visionary behind much of what has taken place in Island Studies at the 69传媒 since 1985. He served on the IIS executive committee up until his death. Harry also played a central role in many of PEI鈥檚 cultural institutions such as Ragweed Press, The Island Magazine, the Macphail Homestead, the Bonshaw Hall, and the Vinland Society. For his many contributions, Harry received the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013 and the Atlantic Book Awards Society鈥檚 inaugural Pioneer Award in 2014. 

The University sends condolences to Harry鈥檚 family, friends, and colleagues. Flags have been lowered to half-mast in his memory. Visiting hours to be held at Belvedere Funeral Home on Sunday, June 3, 2018 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm. A celebration of life filled with stories and music will be held at Spring Park United Church, Charlottetown, on Monday, June 4, 2018 at 7 pm with a reception to follow.

Dr. Michael Cockram contributes to knowledge about animal welfare

Dr. Michael Cockram, Chair in Animal Welfare at UPEI, is contributing his knowledge and expertise to three important textbooks about animal welfare. In a chapter in Animal Welfare, 3rd Edition, Dr. Cockram and co-author Barry Hughes discuss relationships between health and disease and animal welfare. Edited by Michael Appleby, Anna Olsson, and Franciso Galindo, and published by CABI, this best-selling book provides a broad introduction to key topics on the welfare of animals.

In Ensuring safety and quality in the production of beef, Vol. 2, Dr. Cockram wrote a chapter entitled 鈥淯nderstanding the effects of handling, transportation, lairage, and slaughter on cattle welfare and beef quality.鈥 Edited by Professor Emeritus Michael Dikerman, and published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, this book has received very positive reviews. Dr. Cockram鈥檚 chapter shows how an understanding of the welfare of cattle can contribute to the quality of beef production.

Dr. Cockram is also contributing to the forthcoming fifth edition of Livestock Handling and Transport, edited by world-renowned animal scientist Dr. Temple Grandin. He is updating his chapter on sheep transport, which was published in the third and fourth editions. An invaluable guide for professionals and students in animal behaviour, animal and veterinary sciences, and other related fields, this book covers scientific research on the handling and transport of cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, deer, and horses.

69传媒Women鈥檚 Rugby recruits Brinten Comeau

John LaBoyne, coach of the 69传媒Women鈥檚 Rugby team, is announcing a new recruit from Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. Brinten Comeau is a quality, all-around player who has committed to playing for the Panthers for the 2018-2019 season.

鈥淚 am pleased Brinten has chosen 69传媒for her education and to play rugby for the Panthers,鈥 said LaBoyne. 鈥淪he is a quality young woman who will enhance both the university and our rugby program. Both James Voye and I are looking forward to working with her. Brinten has had experience playing overseas on a recent rugby tour to Ireland. We feel that experience will serve her well on her next challenge of playing in the AUS with the 69传媒Panthers Women's Rugby Team.鈥

Comeau is already an accomplished player, having captained the Charles P. Allen High School team for two years and played on the Nova Scotia Keltics U17 national team, the U18 Ireland Tour Team, and the Nova Scotia Keltics High-Performance Academy.

鈥淚'm looking forward to attending 69传媒in the fall with its beautiful campus and small classes,鈥 said Comeau. 鈥淎t 69传媒I can focus on my academic and athletic goals. I look forward to playing with new people and being able to focus on furthering my rugby skills at such a high level of play.鈥

Comeau has been accepted to study sociology in UPEI鈥檚 Faculty of Arts.

Go Panthers Go!