ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Men's Soccer team will be awarded "SCORE! Team of the Year," Sport PEI announced this week. The provincial sport federation also announced that ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Men's Soccer player Jared Murphy is a finalist for "Intercollegiate Male Athlete of the Year". He will find out if he wins the award at the annual Sport PEI Amateur Sport Awards presentation on Wednesday, February 4 at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel.

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Men's Soccer team earned the nod based on its CIS bronze medal performance at last November's CIS Men's Soccer National Championship. The team made history as the first Panther soccer squad to win a national CIS competition medal, defeating the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins 2-1.

Murphy, a fifth-year business student from Charlottetown, PEI was one of two Panthers named to the tournament's all-star team in addition to be being named ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Athlete of the Week three times during the 2014 regular season.

For more information on the awards, read Sport PEI's and The Guardian .

Economic impact assessment highlights University's role in PEI's knowledge economy

ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's direct expenditures of $137.5 million boosted Prince Edward Island's gross domestic product by $150.1 million in 2013, representing nearly three per cent of the province's total GDP, according to a report released today.

'Most are already aware that ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú is a major contributor to the Island's economy,' said President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'But this report demonstrates how significant and far reaching its contributions are, and provides clear evidence that the University is a catalyst for PEI's knowledge economy. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with our community and government partners in order to pursue more opportunities to further expand this positive impact.'

The illustrates that ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú directly employed over 1,100 people and that there are 4,403 students enrolled in 2014, of which 1,636 were from outside the province. Its direct expenditures, including campus student spending, supply chain spending, and indirect impact effects supported more than 1,400 full time equivalent jobs across the Island. This economic activity produced $35.4 million in total tax revenue in 2013, including almost $20 million in provincial tax revenue.

The report was commissioned by ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú, with support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, to better understand the many ways in which the university impacts the provincial economy. It was prepared by David Campbell, President and principal consultant with Jupia Consultants Inc., based in Moncton, New Brunswick.

This study estimates the economic impact of ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú arising from its operations including direct, indirect, and induced effects. The report illustrates that ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú turns out skilled talent for the labour market, makes an important direct economic contribution, drives PEI's research and development activities, and supports PEI's efforts in attracting skilled immigrants by recruiting international students.

Highlights:

• In 2013, the direct GDP contribution of the university sector on PEI was the second highest among the 10 Canadian provinces as a percentage of total GDP.

• The University's economic footprint sustained 23 out of every 1,000 jobs on the Island in 2013. The employment supported by the university represents higher skilled and higher wage jobs. The average weekly wage for a worker associated with ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú is 46 per cent higher than for an average worker across Prince Edward Island.

• Businesses large and small across the Island benefit from having a large university located in Charlottetown. In the fiscal year 2014, the University did business with over 930 local suppliers (one out of every nine business establishments on the Island). In total, these firms generated $24.8 million worth of revenue from the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú.

• Beyond the direct supply chain, the economic activity generated by ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú led to an estimated $69 million worth of consumer spending on the Island including $9.9 million on food expenditures, $4.3 million on clothing and accessories and $15.7 million on transportation. An estimated $5.5 million was spent on recreation during 2013 as a result of ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's economic activity.

• The report also models the projected economic impact associated with the new School of Sustainable Design Engineering and Centre of Engineering Design and Industry Partnerships. The initial construction phase will boost provincial GDP by $17 million and support 251 FTE jobs. At full ramp up in 2021-22, the GDP impact rises to $20.6 million per year, 198 FTE jobs and $4.6 million worth of annual tax revenue to governments.

• A greater share of Prince Edward Island's overall research and development spending occurs in higher education sector compared to all but two other provinces in Canada. Based on Statistics Canada's input-output model, the university's direct spending on research lifted the province's research and development sector revenue by an estimated $29.5 million in 2013.

• ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú provides good value for the provincial taxpayers' investment. On Prince Edward Island, provincial government funding makes up only 34 per cent of total university and college revenue ranking the province's post-secondary education system third lowest among the 10 provinces for reliance on provincial funding.

• ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú is also a significant driver of export revenue for the province. The number of international students is up more than three fold over the past decade. In total, 37 per cent of all students are from outside the province. Statistics Canada tracks the value of interprovincial and international services revenue by selected industries. In 2011, the most recent year data is available, the education services sector on PEI generated $27.3 million worth of interprovincial and international export revenue. On a per capita basis, no other province in Canada generated more export revenue from education services than did Prince Edward Island.

• ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's primary role as a provider of skilled talent will be even more important in the years ahead. Most of the industries on PEI that are in growth mode-biosciences, IT, aerospace, and defence-require a higher percentage of post-secondary educated workers. These and other knowledge-intensive industries will need the talent ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú will supply.

A full copy of the economic impact assessment is available .

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of January 19-25 are Darcy Zinck, Women's Basketball, and Mason Wilgosh, Men's Hockey. ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Athletics and Recreation showcases talented athletes on a weekly basis to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Who: Darcy Zinck, Women's Basketball; and Mason Wilgosh, Men's Hockey

What: ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Panther Athletes of the Week

When: Week of January 19-25

Where: ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú

Why: Zinck, a fourth-year Bachelor of Arts student from Halifax, Nova Scotia, had a dominant game on Friday night in the Panthers 60-40 win over the previously unbeaten Saint Mary's Huskies. Zinck had 15 points, 3 rebounds and 4 steals. On Saturday night, the 5'8' guard recorded 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal during the Panthers 57-49 win over the UNB Reds.

Wilgosh, a third-year Bachelor of Arts student from Winnipeg, Manitoba, scored two goals, including the game winner, in a 3-1 Panther win over the Saint Mary's Huskies on Saturday night. Saturday's win was a character effort led by team captain Wilgosh especially after Friday's penalty-filled, 5-1 loss to St. FX that resulted in the suspension of ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú coach Forbes MacPherson.

About ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's Executive MBA program is pleased to announce that it will be offering a one-time special focus on public sector management targeted at provincial, federal and municipal public sector employees. This special focus offering will only be available for the upcoming program intake in September 2015.

Students who opt for the new public sector focus will take eight core courses in fundamental management topics and four specialization courses, including courses in Innovative Management in the Public Sector, Innovative Culture and Leadership, Public Policy, and Business and Government. In addition, each student will complete a signature project and be encouraged to pursue a topic in an area of public sector management.

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Executive MBA Program Office has been working with its counterparts in the provincial, federal, and municipal governments and has identified the need for new management education initiatives that are specifically targeted for the public sector. This new public sector focus has been tailored to address the changing needs of today's professional public servant.

'This new offering provides a fantastic opportunity for public sector managers looking for a public sector focus while simultaneously getting a full MBA experience,' said Dr. Don Wagner, director of ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's EMBA program.

'There are no existing options at the graduate level for public sector management on PEI, and we see this as a real opportunity to provide public servants with this focus,' said Dr. Susan Graham, coordinator of the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Public Administration program since 2007. 'Management in the public sector presents challenges that differ from the private sector, and I believe that the public service would benefit from a curriculum that has a specific focus on public sector environments.'

Information sessions will be held in the coming weeks for public servants at the provincial, federal, and municipal levels.
Launched in September 2008, the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Executive MBA program provides a unique opportunity for working professionals to advance their education while continuing to work. The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú EMBA program is a recognized pioneer in evidence-based management (EBMgt), teaching students how to use research findings to make more informed decisions.

For more information on the public sector management focus, or ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's executive MBA program, contact the Executive MBA Coordinator, Grace McCourt, at (902) 566-6474 or mba@upei.ca.

Not that long ago, novelist Craig Davidson, author of Cataract City, completed UNB's graduate program in creative writing and published his first book of stories, Rust and Bone (2005). Since then, this high-energy writer has been short-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize for fiction and seen the film version of a Rust and Bone story premier at the Cannes Film Festival. With imaginative drive similar to that of his admirer Stephen King, Davidson has published three literary novels and five novels in the horror genre under the pseudonyms Nick Cutter and Patrick Lestewka.

Davidson will read from his fiction on Thursday, February 12, at 7:30 p.m. in Confederation Centre Art Gallery. His reading is sponsored by the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú English Department with support from The Canada Council for the Arts. A book signing will follow.

While he rapidly became a favourite of horror fiction fans, Davidson's literary writing gained the public's attention with the success of the French film Rust and Bone (De Rouille et D'os) at Cannes in 2012. The Giller nomination for Cataract City raised his profile, but the novel's artistic excellence and strong narrative appeal for readers are primarily responsible for his emergence in the literary limelight.

Clive Barker, the popular fantasy and horror author and film director, writes 'There is a strikingly original tone to Mr. Davidson's stories. The prose is spare yet elegant, the insights are fresh and real, and best of all there is a boundless humanity...a love of life that is beautifully woven with an acute sense of its darkness.'

Davidson says on his website that he 'has written a few books... about boxing and dog fights and zombies and werewolves and lunatic prison inmates... and vampires and sex addicts.... Not all in the same book, mind you.'

Davidson will bring his potent blend - as Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club writes - of 'comedy and horror, cruelty and mercy' to the Island. 'Stay a spell,' writes Davidson on his website. You will be spellbound.

Research on Tap returns for its sixth season of public discussion, debate, and ideas presented by researchers from the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú. Join our next conversation on Monday, February 2 at 7:00 pm at the Haviland Club in Charlottetown. Dr. John McIntyre, an associate professor in the department of English, will lead a discussion entitled: Beyond Flanders Fields: Representing the Great War in Literature and Culture

The 2014-2015 season of Research on Tap is presented in cooperation with the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), Atlantic Chapter. The RSC is Canada's national academy and is the senior national body of distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists.

Research on Tap meets the first Monday of every month from October to April. The full schedule of speakers can be found at

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's Board of Governors recently accepted the recommendation of the search committee for the Dean of Science. Interim Dean Dr. Debbie MacLellan was successfully appointed.

'I look forward to continuing to work with Debbie on a number of initiatives that will enhance the overall student experience in the Faculty of Science,' said Vice-President Academic Christian Lacroix. 'Our University community as a whole will benefit from her experience as a faculty member, decorated professional, and researcher.'

In 2005, Dr. MacLellan received her PhD in Human Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan. She holds a MSc (Nutrition) from University of Alberta and her BSc (Home Economics) from ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú. She came back to ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú in 1990 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences before becoming Associate Professor in 1998, and Professor in 2007.

Dr. MacLellan is also Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie University and serves as Graduate Faculty, supervisory status for the Master of Science at ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú, and co-supervisory status for the Master of Education at ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú. She has been Interim Dean of Science since July 2012.

A Registered Dietitian, Dr. MacLellan has been extremely involved in her profession, chairing the Board of Directors and serving on a number of national committees for the Dietitians of Canada. Her research is extensive and includes a variety of topics but recently has focused on the dietetic practice and policy development for elementary school nutrition.

In 2014, Dr. MacLellan received the Centennial Alumni of Influence award from the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan and the Presidential Recognition Award of Merit for Teaching at ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú.

'On behalf of the University community, I congratulate Debbie on her appointment as Dean,' said President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'The Faculty of Science, under her leadership, is poised to further distinguish itself and excel at providing students with experiential learning, research, and service opportunities. I thank the Vice-President Academic and other members of the University community for their dedication in serving on the search committee for the Dean of Science.'

She will begin her new role for a six-year term effective March 1, 2015.

Congratulations, Dr. MacLellan!

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú's Board of Governors recently accepted the recommendation of the search committee for the Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College. Dr. Greg Keefe was successfully appointed.

'On behalf of the University, I congratulate Greg on his appointment as Dean,' says President and Vice-Chancellor Alaa Abd-El-Aziz. 'ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú will certainly benefit from his leadership ability and his longtime service to AVC and to the broader community. I thank the Vice-President Academic and other members for their serving on the Search Committee.'

'I look forward to working with Greg as the AVC embarks on a period of increased funding stability with the recent signing of a 10-year interprovincial funding agreement,' adds Vice-President Academic Christian Lacroix. 'There are a number of initiatives that, under Greg's leadership, will be advanced to enhance the College's teaching, research, and service excellence.'

Dr. Keefe holds a Master of Business Administration, specializing in Agriculture, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Guelph; and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú.

After contract positions at AVC and the Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Keefe returned to ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú as a tenure-track associate professor in 1996 and was awarded accelerated tenure in 2000, becoming a full professor in 2005.

Widely published, Dr. Keefe's areas of research expertise include milk quality and mastitis, dairy production medicine, infectious disease epidemiology and Johne's Disease. He is an Innovation PEI Industry Chair and as Director of Maritime Quality Milk (MQM), he has grown the research and service program into one of the leading dairy health centres in Canada. In addition to farm-focused research activity, MQM develops and evaluates new animal health technologies and offers productivity and disease surveillance services to the industry, improving raw milk quality at the farm gate and decreasing health costs.

The University is very grateful to Dr. Dan Hurnik for his leadership and commitment while serving as Interim Dean over the past year.

Dr. Keefe will begin his new role for a six-year term effective March 1, 2015.

Congratulations, Dr. Keefe.

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Women's Hockey Panthers have received commitments from two recruits for the 2015 season.

Coach Bruce Donaldson announced today that he has signed Ashtyn Bartlett and Andie Boeckman.

Bartlett is an honours student at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The Durham Bridge, New Brunswick native started her hockey career at age five with the Stanley Bulldogs organization and has lived for the game ever since. Team Captain of the Bobcats, Bartlett is having a very strong start to her season, scoring nine goals and earning nine assists to date. Her team is currently in first place in the Lakes Region Prep school division. Bartlett earned a coveted spot on the All Tournament Team at the New England prep school Cushing Tournament in Ashburnham, Mass in December.

Bartlett comments, 'I'm thrilled to be returning to Canada to attend a first rate university like ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú and play with a hockey team that will develop and become a top AUS contender'.

'Ashtyn will be a big addition to our program', says Coach Donaldson, 'She is gifted offensively and is presently playing in the US with Brewster Academy. Current Panther Jessie Howard played at Brewster as well. It's a strong program in a very competitive league. Ashtyn is a team leader who has great hands, see's the ice well, and is very creative in her playmaking skills'.

Bartlett is enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program and plans to earn her Bachelor of Education degree.

Coach Donaldson is excited to also add Andie Boeckman, a forward from The Edge Hockey Academy in Calgary. 'Andie will be great for our program-she brings a strong skill level and will add size, speed and offensive talent to our lineup.' The Edge program plays in Western Canada's Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL), one of the most competitive leagues in the country.

For Boeckman, a move to Cochrane, Alberta in 2007 gave her the opportunity to make the jump from male to female hockey. 'I then played on my local female team until getting the chance to play on a bantam AAA team out of High River-the Rocky Mountain Raiders, ' she says. 'After winning the Alberta provincials with them, I was given the chance to play with the Edge School in my grade 10 year.'

She added about her decision to play for ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú, 'All my life as a hockey player I have been working hard to see where hockey would take me, and I can't think of a better place to have ended up, it's the accomplishment of past goals, and the beginning of new ones. I cannot wait to start my life at the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú'. Boeckman is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program.

The Panthers are in the hunt for a playoff position with three games remaining in the AUS regular season schedule.

About ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Athletics and Recreation

• Nine varsity sports and six club team programs
• Proud member of the AUS and CIS
• Athletic facilities include: Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Alumni Canada Games Place
• Home of Panther Sports Medicine
• Other facilities available to students and the community at large include: fitness centre, squash and racquetball courts, competition and leisure pool with hot tub, and two ice arenas

The ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Music Department's "Dr. Frances Gray Music Performance Competition Finals" were recently held at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall. The six music students chosen from the preliminary round to perform in the finals were: Rebecca Apps, soprano; Jillian Clow, mezzo soprano; Leah Inman, piano; Lucas MacPhail, alto saxophone; Kailey Norris, clarinet; and Hannah Rollwage, mezzo soprano.

After an exciting evening of performances, the judges' decision was announced by Dr. Karem Simon, coordinator of the 2015 competition and Dr. Andrew Zinck, Department Chair. Soprano Rebecca Apps was named the winner, while pianist Leah Inman came in second place and saxophonist Lucas MacPhail in third.

Originally from St. Catharine's, Ontario, Rebecca Apps is currently in her final year of the Bachelor of Music program at ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú, majoring in voice under the tutelage of Professor Sung Ha Shin-Bouey. She holds a Diploma in Musical Theatre Performance from St. Lawrence College (2010).

Rebecca has been a featured soloist with the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Concert Choir, the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Chamber Ensemble, the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Jazz Ensemble, the Kirk of St. James Senior Choir, and the Charlottetown Jazz Ensemble. Rebecca's master-class experience has allowed her to work with some of Canada's top classical musicians. Her hard work and dedication to the craft have led her to numerous competitive opportunities, including the CFMTA National Voice Competition (2013), the Atlantic Young Artist Tour Competition (2014) and the ºÚÁÏÀÏ˾»ú Music Performance Competition.

Congratulations to all finalists and winners!