ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Men's Hockey Head Coach Forbes MacPherson is pleased to welcome Mark Carragher to the Panther coaching staff.

Carragher was most recently the head coach of the Kensington Monaghan Farms Wild major midget team in 2013-14 (of the NB-PEI Major Midget League), and also coached its predecessor, the Cornwall Thunder, in 2012-13. Both teams won the provincial major midget championship during the years he coached, with the Thunder also winning the silver medal at the Atlantic Major Midget Championship. Carragher is also an assistant coach with PEI's 2015 Canada Games men's hockey team and is in the process of completing the Hockey Canada Advanced Level 1 Coaching Program.

Carragher played university hockey at the University of Southern Maine from 2003-07 and finished as the career-scoring leader. After university, Carragher played professional hockey with the Texas Brahmas and the Amarillo Gorillas in the Central Hockey League from 2007-09.

'I am very excited to join Forbes on the coaching staff for the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panthers. I look forward to working with this group of dedicated young men to help bring a championship back to ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ,' said Carragher.

'Mark is a tremendous addition to the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Men's Hockey coaching staff. He will bring a very high hockey IQ, a strong work ethic, and a competitiveness to our program that we look for from our coaches and players alike. I have had the opportunity to work with Mark in minor pro, and I am excited to reunite with him,' said MacPherson.

For more information, or to purchase season tickets, visit Panther Central (Sports Centre), (902) 566-0368, panthercentral@upei.ca, .

For information:
Ron Annear
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

Kent Stetson, a distinguished Island author, will offer a two-tiered, sixteen-hour workshop at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ for writers of drama and prose fiction at various stages of their practice. Stetson is a Member of the Order of Canada, Governor General's Award laureate, and this year's recipient of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumni Award.

Stetson's workshop, entitled 'The Character Driven Story in Drama and Prose Fiction,' will begin on August 22, and continue on August 23 and 24. The two-tiered structure will include 10-12 participating writers and up to 15 auditing writers. The workshop is co-sponsored by the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Association, the Dean of Arts, the Department of English, and the PEI Writers' Guild. The workshop will be held in the Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 242.

For more information, and to register, email Kent.Stetson@sympatico.ca before August 5.

For information:
Dr. Richard Lemm
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ English Department
(902) 566-0592, rlemm@upei.ca

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ community honoured three graduates yesterday with the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award and the Inspiring Young Alumni Awards. Since 1990, the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Association has been awarding the Distinguished Alumni Award to recognize graduates who have made an outstanding contribution to knowledge, the arts, the community, the University, or have made a special contribution to an area of service to humanity. In 2011, the Association gave out the first Inspiring Young Alumni Award, which was a way to recognize the contributions of our more recent graduates, and use their success as a catalyst to inspire current ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ students.

'I would like to congratulate our award recipients, Mr. Stetson, Dr. Singh, and Mr. Cousins,' said Alicia Bremner, president of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Association. 'Thank you for all that you have done and for what I'm sure you will continue to do. I want you to know how proud of you we are and how excited we are to have you join this exclusive group of alumni.'

This year's recipients are:

Distinguished Alumni Award

E. Kent Stetson, CM (BA'70)
Mr. Stetson is a celebrated Canadian playwright, author, teacher, director, and mentor. He is the winner of multiple awards, including the Governor General's Literary Award for English Drama, the Canadian Author's Association Carol Bolt Award for Excellence in Drama, and the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation's inaugural Wendell Boyle Award. In 2007, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. Mr. Stetson was the Inaugural Artist-in-Residence at The Institute for the Public Life of Arts and Ideas at McGill University in 2013.

Inspiring Young Alumni Award

Trent Cousins (BA'09)
Mr. Cousins is a true entrepreneur. Starting at a young age in the lawn care business, he has blossomed into a community-minded leader with multiple business partnerships and has a passion for growing the local and regional economy. His hard work was recently recognized when he was named one of 21 Inc.'s Top Emerging Leaders in Atlantic Canada under 35.

Ameet Singh (DVM'06)
Dr. Singh an Assistant Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. His area of specialty and research is focused on minimally invasive surgery techniques and the prevention of infection at surgical sites. He was recently named one of the 'Top 40 Under 40' by the Guelph Mercury newspaper.

'We continue to strive to be the best for our students and to celebrate our accomplishments as a University,' said President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is actively pursuing its vision to enable our students to reach their full potential in both the classroom and the community, and develop leaders who emerge from their studies ready to excel and contribute to the betterment of our local and global communities. Kent, Ameet, and Trent: you exemplify all of these attributes.'

The ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Alumni Association is a network of over 23,000 PWC (Prince Of Wales College), SDU (Saint Dunstan's University), and ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ graduates that span 50 countries and eight decades. Each year new graduates join this impressive network, strengthening our Panther Pride. Alumni are encouraged to get involved with activities, stay connected, and take advantage of alumni benefits.

(L to R): ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Student Diversity Office Co-Coordinators Emily King and Nabila Acra; Tyler Murnaghan, Co-Chair of ARCPEI; ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Rainbow Alliance co-chair Zak Court; and Treena Smith, Manager of Student Affairs raise the pride flag in recognition and support of the LGBTQQ2T community. Approximately 40 guests attended a special ceremony held at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ on Monday, July 28 to kick off PEI's Pride Week, July 28-August 2.

John R. Gillis, Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University, returns to Prince Edward Island to deliver a free public lecture on 'Islands as Wetlands' on Friday, August 1 at 7:00 pm in ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 243.

Gillis' lecture has been organized as part of two environmental history workshops being hosted later this week at the University-'the Dominion of Nature,' which looks at Canada's environment during the age of Confederation; and the third annual forum of the Northeast and Atlantic Canada Environmental History Network. Both are sponsored by NiCHE, the Network in Canadian History and Environment.

More about Professor Gillis: A distinguished environmental historian, Professor Gillis is the author of 'The Human Shore: Seacoasts in History,' a provocative re-interpretation of the role of seacoasts in the development of human society. During his research for the book, Professor Gillis spent time on Prince Edward Island as a guest of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Institute of Island Studies. Coastal zones, Gillis argues, have always been a diverse and vital ecotone, a place where sea and land overlap, providing an abundance of resources as well as key transportation corridors. But the last century has witnessed an unprecedented migration of peoples back to the edge of the ocean. As global warming continues to raise sea levels, our increased proximity to the water challenges humans to live with the coast, not just on it. The challenge is particularly relevant to islanders, and Gillis will examine the subject from the concept of islands as wetlands.

For information:
Edward MacDonald
Associate Professor, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Faculty of Arts
(902) 894-2805, gemacdonald@upei.ca

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz has released and fully endorsed the recommendations from the independent fact-finding review about the Department of Athletics and Recreation, prepared by Dave MacNeill.

'I have always said my priority would be to spend time with faculty, staff, students, and members of the PEI community to realize key issues of importance from their perspectives. And very clearly, a successful Athletics program at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ matters greatly to the community we serve,' commented President Abd-El-Aziz.

The President noted that through this review process and the events that led to it, senior administration at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ now, not only fully understands the issues the Department has faced, but also more fully appreciates the important role Athletics can contribute to a positive university-community connection.

The University appreciates and respects the report's recommendations and has developed an implementation time line for each recommendation that is based upon University policies and procedures as well as its financial situation. The recommendations are:

• Establish an Athletics Advisory Board
• Establish a fundraising sub-committee of the Board of Governors
• Appoint a dedicated Development Officer to the Department
• Secure long-term stable leadership and staffing within the Department
• Develop an Athletic Financial Aid stability model
• Implement transparent, accountable financial policies
• Review and adjust coaching salaries

In a clear demonstration of the University's commitment to change, the Athletics Advisory Board will be chaired by President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. The fundraising sub-committee will be chaired by Bruce Donaldson, the current ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ women's hockey coach, who was recently named the Associate Director of Development for the University, starting in October. Donaldson is the long-time and current Branch Manager for TD Canada Trust in Charlottetown.

As the University acts on these recommendations, the Department will be directed by a transition team co-led by the Vice-President, Administration and Finance Jackie Podger, and the Manager, Campus and Community Recreation Stephanie Knickle.

The transition team has been put in place as Bill Schurman, the current Department director, recently informed the University that he will not be available to continue in the position. The University thanks Schurman for his tremendous contribution while ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ navigated through difficult financial times across all departments.

'Billy was asked to come into a department under tough financial circumstances and effect change. He balanced the budget for the Department and his contributions will live on and serve the Department well into the future. We wish him well,' said Podger.

A comprehensive search for a new Director of Athletics and Recreation will take place.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Backgrounder

Summary of Recommendations: Department of Athletics and Recreation Review

1. Establish an Athletics Advisory Board

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ establish an Athletic Advisory Board consisting of people from the community who are recognized as leaders with knowledge of the university and community sport delivery system. The purpose of the Board would be to act as a liaison between ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and the greater Island sport community which could act as a resource for planning or implementing services or programs, serve as a mechanism to exchange ideas and also as a communication vehicle between athletics and the greater community.
Implementation Date: September 15, 2014

2. Establish a Fundraising Sub-Committee of the Board

This committee would be populated by 2-3 individuals from the community with marketing and fundraising experience who would work with the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Department of Development and Alumni Engagement to spearhead the raising of dollars for Athletics.
Implementation Date: October 31, 2014

3. Appoint a dedicated Development Officer

The development officer would work with the Department of Development and Alumni Engagement to raise funds for athletics, incorporating a planned, professional approach that would ensure growth and sustainability for the Athletics department.
Implementation Date: Will be determined by sub-committee

4. Secure long-term stable leadership and staffing within the Department

A review of the organizational structure to determine job functions and skill sets is required to ensure consistency and efficiency within the department. Appropriate staffing levels need to be determined and recruitment of individuals possessing the required skills and abilities will continue to enable athletics to move forward.
Implementation Date: Will be determined by transition team and advisory board

5. Develop an Athletic Financial Aid stability model

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ fund as part of the operational budget 'AFA Scholarship Amounts' using the following formula: market driven sports (basketball and hockey) be funded at 60% of the CIS cap; high performance sport (soccer) be funded at 35% of the CIS cap. These two formulas would be in place for the next three years. Currently the CIS limit is close to $500k, while this amount may be a noble goal for student-athlete support, it is not realistic given the financial realities of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. The formula creates a framework around the amount that ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ could contribute for three years. The funding of the Athletic Financial Aid stability model will be dependent upon the success of the fundraising sub-committee outlined in Recommendation #2 and must be considered in the context of all of the University's high priority needs as a part of the University budget process that begins in October. Implementation Date: Process starts in October 2014

6. Implement transparent, accountable financial policies

The University must put an accounting specialist in the department who can interpret and align the numbers with the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ accounting office. This person must be able to move the expenditure and revenue items from the department quickly to accounting to ensure that numbers are relevant. They must also be able to easily translate the revenue and expenditure information in a timely manner to coaches and booster groups.
Implementation Date: September 2014

7. Review and adjust coaching salaries

It is time to review the present level of coaching salaries and develop a plan to move through a fair and reasonable salary scale over a period of time. The plan should not create issues with the departmental operating budget.
Implementation Date: ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Human Resources will review salaries in the region and report to the transition team by September 30, 2014.

Media contact:
Nicole Phillips
Manager, Marketing and Communications
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
Tel: (902) 566-0947
Cell: (902) 388-1832
Email: nphillips@upei.ca

Over the past number of years, the University has been exploring the implementation of a new administrative enterprise resource planning system (ERP).

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is calling this endeavour 'transformational' as it will bring the University's human resources, student information, and financial systems to an advanced level that will improve the student experience and set the stage for long-term sustainability.

The University has been using a mix of disparate information systems to meet departmental needs. However, the fragmented approach often gets in the way of making services and resources easily accessible to students. The intent of the ERP is to provide students, staff, and faculty with modern tools, user-friendly interfaces, and a seamless environment to access the resources they need to succeed.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ has appointed Dana Sanderson as Chief Information Officer (CIO) to lead the process for the selection of an ERP vendor and to implement the system that will integrate all aspects of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's information technology. He will also oversee the University's IT strategy-including governance and risk analysis-ensuring it fully supports ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's academic mission.

Mr. Sanderson, a ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ alumnus (BBA'84) who also holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa, has family roots in Prince Edward Island. Experienced in IT leadership and, in particular ERP selection and technology implementation, he has developed and introduced business and IT solutions for JD Irving, Limited for over 20 years. Most recently, he was Director of the Business Solutions Group and prior to that Director, Strategic Planning, Enterprise Architecture and Project Management Office. He begins in September.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Men's Basketball Head Coach Tim Kendrick is pleased to announce the addition of California Junior College (JUCO) basketball standout Michael Karimu.

In his sophomore year at College of the Desert, Karimu finished in ninth place (15.2 points per game) in overall league scoring and sixth place (6.1 rebounds per game) in league rebounding. He received all-star awards at the Frank Garcia Classic and the Grossmont College Invitational, and also received an honourable mention in the 2013 JUCO Summer Showcase. Karimu was named as one of the top 100 JUCO players in the state of California. Karimu, team captain at the College of the Desert, possesses a 38' vertical jump, and is a versatile six-foot-two guard that shot 46.3 per cent from the floor last season. The Panthers are thrilled that Karimu will be suiting up for the green and white this season.

Karimu is just as excited to be joining the Panthers. 'It is a great pleasure to become a ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Panther. What drew me to PEI was the people I have spoken to; they all seem so generous and helpful, and want to make sure my stay on PEI is a time to remember,' said Karimu. 'I have heard nothing but great things about Coach Kendrick and his programs, and cannot wait to get started. I definitely believe that this is the right home for me to excel in, not only in the classroom, but on the court as well. I want to thank Coach Kendrick and his staff, as well as the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ athletic department and the University for this great blessing.'

Coach Kendrick is looking forward to having the newest Panther on board. 'Aside from his obvious basketball credentials, Michael's attitude and character is what impressed me the most. He is very team oriented, and seems to have a solid understanding of what it takes to be a successful student athlete,' said Kendrick. 'He has said to me many times, that all he wants to do is help the team win... whether that be defensively, through rebounding, or scoring. He is a hard worker, and plays with passion and intensity. He can play and defend multiple spots, runs the court well, and finishes well around the rim. He clearly understands that we are looking for players that will bring their best attitude and effort forward, on and off the court, and we are very pleased to have him with us for the next three years.'

Karimu will be enrolling in the Bachelor of Arts program at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ.

For information:
Ron Annear
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991, annear@upei.ca

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Climate Research Lab needs your help to boost one of its projects to the next round in an MIT-sponsored competition about communicating climate risks and coastal vulnerabilities. CLIVE, the coastal erosion visualization tool created by the Climate Research Lab and the Spatial Interface Lab at Simon Fraser University, has reached the semi-finals in MIT's CoLab Communication Coastal Risk and Resilience contest.

A description of CLIVE, from the team's submission to the contest:

'Using 3D game engine technology adapted to serious scientific communication, CLIVE enables citizens to interactively fly around and view the province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) at all scales, while manipulating historical data and projected models through time. By allowing citizens to view scientific data and explore climate change projections at any scale in their own neighbourhood, we help them understand these often abstract phenomena at local, human scales. We believe this is a way to connect all stakeholders to this mutual problem, enhancing awareness, education, dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving at all scales of society and government.'

To register and help vote CLIVE into the top spot, or to learn more about the competition, click

For information:
Dave Atkinson, Research Communications Officer, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
(902) 620-5117, datkinson@upei.ca

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ welcomes all new students and their families to campus for the third annual Welcome Day on Saturday, August 30, 9:00 am-2:00 pm in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Welcome Day is a chance for new students to tour campus, pick up their ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ student ID card, shop at the Bookstore, pay for tuition and other services, meet staff, faculty, Student Union executives, and new friends, and kick-off O-Week-all before classes start up in September!

This year's Welcome Day will also include parent sessions for parents of residence and non-residence students, a photo booth featuring Panther mascot, Pride, and a barbeque for all from 12:00-1:30 pm. Representatives from Residence Services, Accounting, the Registrar's Office, Student Affairs, and Webster Academic Services will be available to provide academic and administrative support throughout the day.

For information:
Rebecca Gass
Events and Protocol Officer, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ
(902) 566-0949, rjgass@upei.ca