ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ

May 18, 2010 (Charlottetown, P.E.I)- The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) has awarded ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and the Atlantic Veterinary College top marks in two categories through its annual PRIX D'EXCELLENCE awards program.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ won gold for Best Student Recruitment Viewbook in the highly competitive student recruitment category for its 2009-2010 edition. The award winning Viewbook is a 32 page full-colour print publication sent to prospective students outlining the advantages of pursuing a post-secondary education at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Written, designed and produced by the Department of Integrated Communications, the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Viewbook took first place out of fifteen entries from universities across the country.

Glenda Clements, Director of Integrated Communications said, 'Our design team, led by Lisa Stapleton, pours their heart and soul into the production of this document which is the key lure piece used by student recruiters.' She adds, 'It's an honour for the University to be recognized amongst its peers for such an important document.'

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Viewbook had several overall strengths including 'a strong colour palette, good use of whitespace, stunning visuals with an easy to read, clean appearance, placing the prospective student ‘in' the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ experience.'

And, for the second time in three years, the Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp was awarded the gold medal for Best Community Outreach Program. The camp, which is the only one of its kind in Canada, offers students, who are passionate about animals and science, the unique opportunity to enter the world of veterinary medicine for a week packed with adventure and learning.

'We are honoured to have the Dr. Tim Ogilvie AVC Vet Camp once again recognized for its excellence at a national level,' says Charlotte McCardle, director of the camp. 'We take great pride in our program and work hard to provide students with a truly hands-on and authentic veterinary-based learning experience that is unlike any other.'

Since its development in 1998, more than 1,200 junior high students from Canada, the United States and countries as far away as Australia, Saudi Arabia and Scotland have travelled to PEI to take part in the program. Due to its success, a new senior high camp will be added this summer.

The CCAE PRIX D'EXCELLENCE entries are assessed by a judging panel of post-secondary peers and external judges.

Julie Bull, a graduate of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, is one of this year's recipients of Canada's most prestigious scholarships for doctoral students - the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.

Vanier scholarship winners are selected for their demonstrated leadership skills and high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies. The scholarship program is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by offering them a significant financial award during their studies at Canadian universities. Students receive $50,000 annually for up to three years.

Julie received her Bachelor of Arts (honours) and Master of Applied Health Services Research degrees from ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. She is now working on her PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of New Brunswick. Her research is rooted in Aboriginal and rural health and education. She has won the Vanier award for her doctoral research on Ethics. Her study, in partnership with NunatuKavut (formerly called the Labrador Metis Nation), examines 'Grassroots voices: authenticity in relationships with academic researchers in the context of Aboriginal health research.'

'Julie Bull is a most deserving recipient of a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship,' says Dr. Richard Kurial, Dean of Arts. 'She is living proof of the quality of our academic programs at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Excellence is contagious and her academic success has made us all so proud both of her and of our university. I have no doubt she will continue to excel in her PhD program at UNB.'

'Julie's success is not surprising given her innovative research during her honours with us; she is a fine example of what can be achieved with inspired, constant, and sustained scholarship,' says Dr. Colleen MacQuarrie, her undergraduate academic supervisor . 'She is a bright, hard working woman who knows how to achieve her dreams; a fine alumna of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ who will continue to shine throughout her career.'

Julie received several graduate awards while attending ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research - Institute of Aboriginal Peoples Health Scientific Director's Award of Excellence. During the first year of her doctoral work, she received the Atlantic Aboriginal Health Research Program Doctoral Fellowship, the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Scholarship, and the Jens Peder Hart Hansen Fellow Award.

She has recently worked in support of aboriginal students at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and as the manager of the Mawiomi Aboriginal Student Centre.

Nine nurses from two PEI hospitals graduated today from the critical care and emergency nursing program at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. They were the second group of nurses to complete this specialized professional training at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Seven of their colleagues graduated last December.

The graduates are Trenna Adams, Colleen Murphy, Emily Walters, Kelley Doyle, and Angela Steele from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), and Ginette Gallant, Christa Bertram, Beverly Kennedy, and Lyndsey Spencer from the Prince County Hospital (PCH). All nine are employed in intensive care units or emergency departments. Their training included classroom study, lab simulation, and clinical placements.

'I have a better understanding of many disease processes, including congestive heart failure. Having this increased knowledge made me more confident in my decisions,' says Christa Bertram from the PCH. 'It was a great feeling to be able to anticipate the physician's orders and start preparing things before they were needed.'

Angela Steele from the QEH agrees: 'This was the second time that I looked after someone with a temporary pacing wire. The first time was prior to the course. I feel that this time I was much more at ease because I had the proper knowledge base and theory needed to properly care for the patient.'

The graduation marks the end of this phase of the program. It was one of ten pilot projects in a pan-Canadian initiative called Research to Action: Applied Workplace Solutions for Nurses, led by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions and funded by Health Canada. The projects were aimed at testing retention and recruitment strategies to address the nursing shortage. Also partnering with the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Nursing were the PEI Department of Health and the PEI Nurses Union.

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Nursing has surveyed its Bachelor of Nursing graduates from this year and determined that there is significant support for continuing this type of professional training in the future:

'They have expressed great interest; 84 per cent stated they would take this course, some saying they would leave the Island to get it if it is not available here,' says Judith Cotton, project manager. 'So it could well become an important retention strategy.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is examining various ways that it might continue the program to meet the needs of PEI nurses.

'Now that the pilot project has been completed, we are looking at sustainability for the future,' says Cotton. 'We would like to once again work collaboratively with government to provide the necessary education to support excellence in nursing in Prince Edward Island.'

The Kidney Foundation of Canada today announced $350,000 in research funding to Dr. Sunny Hartwig, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Science, at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Atlantic Veterinary College. Hartwig's funding includes the foundation's Krescent New Investigator Award, a competition in which she ranked first in the country.
Hartwig comes to AVC from Boston where she held a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Her research speciality is the genetic development of the kidneys, with an aim to help understand why some kidneys develop normally, and some are diseased.
'I believe we will see a cure for kidney disease within our lifetime,' says Hartwig. 'And not just a tool to prevent the disease from developing before birth, but regeneration. I believe we'll find a way to help diseased kidneys repair themselves. It's an exciting time to be involved in this research.'
At an announcement today, Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the AVC, said the college is actively engaged in a diverse research agenda that includes human and public health, as well as animal health.
'The Atlantic Veterinary College is driven by discovery,' said Reynolds. 'Our research is far reaching in scope and impact, and includes kidney disease, heart and stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. What we do has a real impact on people's lives.'
Mr. Leslie Hunter, President of the P.E.I. Chapter of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, presented Hartwig with her award at a ceremony today. He was joined by Mr. Tim Fox, Executive Director of the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
'I'm thrilled that we are able to provide this substantial support for the work of Dr. Sunny Hartwig,' said Fox. 'Dr. Hartwig's research is critical to reducing the burden of kidney disease, especially among children. It is this kind of research that brings hope to patients and their families for better treatment options and a better quality of life. To have such a talented researcher here in the Maritimes is very exciting for our Branch and for all of Atlantic Canada.'
Dr. Katherine Schultz, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Vice-President of Research & Development, said Hartwig's work furthers ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's commitment to research in human health.
'We've identified human health and development as one of our core areas of research focus,' said Schultz. 'And adding Dr. Hartwig's star to our already shining constellation of research in this area proves what we've known for years: ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and AVC research excellence touches not just Atlantic Canada, but reaches around the world.'
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The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and Holland College have developed a joint Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation program that is set to begin in September.

Students who have graduated from the two-year Wildlife Conservation Technology diploma program at Holland College are now eligible to apply for entry into the new degree program at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. They will be required to complete 20 courses through the department of biology in the Faculty of Science.

The Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation program combines the practical, theoretical, and analytical strengths of existing courses provided by Holland College and the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ for students interested in obtaining more rigorous training in wildlife conservation. Increased knowledge of the scientific and social issues involved in conservation management, combined with a more complete set of analytical skills, will provide graduating students with the tools necessary to address the complexity of problems in this increasingly important field.

'This new program is an excellent opportunity for our two provincial post-secondary institutions to offer a unique learning experience for students. We expect it to attract attention well beyond the shores of PEI,' says Dr. Christian Lacroix, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Dean of Science.

'Agreements such as this provide Holland College students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of their chosen field' says Ben Hoteling, Learning Manager for the Wildlife Conservation Technology program at Holland College. 'The Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation program will enable our graduates to enter the workforce fully equipped for the challenges ahead.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and Holland College have developed numerous educational partnerships for which both institutions are recognized nationally.

For more information about the Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation program, contact the office of the Dean of Science at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ at science@upei.ca or (902)566-0382. To find out more about Holland College's Wildlife Conservation program, visit , call 1-800-446-5265 or e-mail getready@hollandcollege.com.

Charlottetown, PE - Holland College and the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ have signed an agreement that will enable graduates of The Culinary Institute of Canada's Culinary Arts program to continue their studies at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ in a post-diploma degree program of Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality (BBTH). The BBTH degree option already exists for a number of Holland College tourism and hospitality programs and having students from the Culinary Institute is a natural fit.

Michael O'Grady, vice president responsible for articulation agreements at Holland College, said this latest agreement is particularly well-timed. Tourism PEI has designated 2010 as 'the year of culinary', and a culinary alliance has been established to facilitate the development of innovative and sustainable food industry partnerships, culinary experiences, and promotional programs.

'Students from all over the world study at The Culinary Institute of Canada, so we are particularly pleased to be able to offer our Culinary Arts students another opportunity to further their studies on the Island,' he noted.

Chef Austin Clement, Program Manager for Culinary and Hospitality programs at The Culinary Institute of Canada, sees the agreement as a good pathway for chefs looking to further their education.

'This degree provides our culinary graduates with another opportunity to further their skills and gain insight into the business side of the industry. The combination of the applied training our students receive at The Culinary Institute of Canada and the business skills they will acquire from ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ will provide them with a competitive edge in the marketplace,' he said.

'As Dean of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ School of Business, I am pleased to continue to develop our already numerous agreements and partnerships with Holland College,' said Dr. Roberta MacDonald. 'This agreement is a good example of how we are able to offer students opportunities to continue their education in different ways between our two institutions. This opportunity will add value to these students as well as to the Island community.'

The BBTH degree is available to students who have recently completed their Holland College diploma and wish to continue in business education by completing 20 designated courses at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Applicants must meet the approved University requirements as given in the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ calendar and on its website.

Holland College and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ offer numerous articulation agreements with post-secondary institutions across North America and around the world, providing graduates with educational opportunities to enhance their credentials and deepen their knowledge of their chosen field.

For more information about the BBTH degree, visit the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ website at upei.ca or the Holland College website at visit , call 1-800-446-5265 or e-mail getready@hollandcollege.com.

Preston Manning will deliver a public lecture on June 14th entitled, "Legitimating the Expression of Faith in the Public Square" as part the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Centre for Christianity and Culture's free public lecture series.

One of Canada's most recognizable political figures, Manning has championed the cause of democratic and political reform and in the process founded two political parties, the Reform Party of Canada and the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance.

Mr. Manning will share his experience with the current taboos restricting the expression of faith within the political arena, including the House of Commons and why practising politicians fear "letting religion out of its private box".

Since leaving public office in 2002, Mr. Manning has released a book ("Think Big"), has served as a Senior Fellow of the Canada West Foundation and a Distinguished Visitor at the University of Calgary and the University of Toronto, and is currently the President and CEO of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy.

Date: Monday June 14th

Place: Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, McDougall Hall, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ

Time: 7pm

Contact: Suzie Jay (jay@upei.ca; 566-0480)

The hosts a series of free public lectures, and an international conference, June 13-18, 2010, that turns an entire island into a case study for human impact on the land.

"Seeing Connections: Environmental History and Visual Culture"
Dr. Finis Dunaway, Trent University
Sunday, June 13, 7:30 p.m.
Studio One, Confederation Centre of the Arts, Charlottetown

"North Americans in an Age of Limits"
Dr. Donald Worster, University of Kansas
Eptek Centre, Summerside
Monday, June 14, 6:00 p.m.

"Time, Place and Trees: Forest Scenes and Incidents in Eastern North America"
Dr. Graeme Wynn, UBC
McDougall Hall, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
Tuesday, June 15, 7:30 p.m.

"Crisis and Opportunity: The History and Future of Global Fisheries"
Dr. Daniel Pauly, UBC
Souris Theatre, Souris
Wednesday, June 16, 7:00 p.m.

"Silent Partners: Animals in Human Environmental History"
Dr. Harriet Ritvo, MIT
McDougall Hall, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
Thursday, June 17, 7:30 p.m.

Chief Justice Thane A. Campbell Lectureship in Law (sponsored by ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and the Law Foundation of Prince Edward Island)
"Environmental Law: Are we making progress?"
Toby Elaine Vigod, LLB, Executive Vice-Chair, Environmental Review Tribunal, Environmental and Land Tribunals Ontario
McDougall Hall, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
Friday, June 18, 7:30 p.m.

, or visit the .

This conference is made possible by the , the, and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ.

As of July 1, 2010, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ will no longer accept credit card payments for tuition and residence fees, but now offers online banking as an alternative.

In the ongoing effort to cut costs while at the same time offer convenient payment options for students, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has been set up as an online banking payee with all major banks and credit unions.

A student (or parent) can now make payment directly to a student's account at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ by selecting 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Accounts' in the online banking payee list and inputting the student's ID number.

Phil Hooper, Executive Director of Finance and Comptroller says, 'This is an important cost-saving measure. We always need to carefully examine our expenditures, and while reviewing these, we noticed that the annual cost to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ for accepting credit card payments for major fees is in excess of $150,000 and growing.' He adds, 'The estimated saving for ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, and in turn students, by eliminating this one payment method is the equivalent of about a one per cent increase in tuition.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is not alone in adopting online banking as a payment method. Other major Canadian universities, including UNB, St. Thomas and Dalhousie, have also gone this route, and no longer accept credit cards.

'Every time you pay for something with a credit card, the vendor is charged a fee,' says Allan Hughes, Manager of Accounting. 'It varies by credit card company, but the fee averages close to two per cent of the total transaction. So if just one student uses a credit card to pay tuition, education fees, and residence fees, it costs the University $200. It doesn't take long to add up.'

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is not permitted by the credit card companies to pass these costs on to students, nor does it want to because they have no connection to academic quality. Instead, a variety of no- and low-cost payment options are available including online banking, telephone banking, payment by mail with cheque, money order or bank draft, payment in person by debit, cash, cheque and payment via Canada Student Loans.

For more information, go to .

Dr. Juergen Krause, Associate Professor at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's School of Business and Director for the Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research (CHBMR), has been selected to organize and promote the Innovation PEI Premier's Speaker Series.

The series, aimed at enhancing knowledge in bioscience and forging international relationships for Island companies, will feature presentations in the upcoming weeks by three experts with experience in the areas of intellectual property, licensing technology, and research and development.

CHBMR and Three Oaks Innovation Inc. has announced that it will bring Dr. Peter Smith of Millennium Pharmaceuticals to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ on June 18. On July 8, two more speakers will present - Dan Darnley, Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Officer for Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Jonathan O'Brien, Partner at the business law firm Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn (HMSC) LLP, Michigan.

'I am pleased to assist Dr. Krause in his efforts to move the Province's Innovation agenda forward,' said Hon. Allan Campbell, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning. 'The Premier's Speaker Series is a perfect example of how the Provincial government and our educational institutions can work together to assist the bioscience cluster.'

Minister Campbell adds, 'I hope to see a strong turnout by local companies so they can take advantage of the knowledge and skills of these individuals.'

For more information or to register, please visit the Centre for Health and Biotech Management Research website, .