University of Prince Edward Island
Encyclopedia
The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is a public
liberal arts
university in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
, Canada
, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University
and Prince of Wales College
, founded in 1855 and 1860. The two institutions were merged in 1969 by the government of Alex Campbell as part of a campaign to integrate the Island's Roman Catholic and Protestant communities, which had previously maintained the two separate institutions of higher learning. Holland College
was later created to fill the void left by the merger of Prince of Wales College into the university. The enabling legislation is the University Act, R.S.P.E.I 2000.
(PWC) founded in 1834, and St. Dunstan's University
(SDU) founded in 1855. Its predecessor institutions ceased to operate although St. Dunstan's still retains its charter and the lands that were home to Prince of Wales became the campus for Holland College. UPEI is located on the former St. Dunstan's campus.
Original SDU buildings in the central quadrangle have been renovated to retain integrity of their exterior aesthetic design while meeting modern standards. Main Building, built in 1854, and Dalton Hall, built between 1917 and 1919, are on the registry of Historic Places of Canada.
The War Memorial Hall (more generally known as Memorial Hall) is a landmark building on the campus of UPEI. Built as a men’s residence building in 1946, Memorial Hall honours alumni who had enlisted and died in the First World War, and in the Second World War.
Over the past three decades, UPEI has experienced significant growth with many new buildings integrated into the campus, including Central Utility Building (1973), Duffy Science Centre, Blanchard Hall (1973), Bernardine Hall, Robertson Library (1975), Atlantic Veterinary College
(1986), Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre (1990), Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall (1990), Food Technology Centre, K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre (1997), W.A. Murphy Student Centre (2002), MacLauchlan Arena (2004), Bill and Denise Andrew Hall residence facility (2006), expansions to the Atlantic Veterinary College (2007 and 2009), Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre (2007), a research and development laboratory which is home to the National Research Council of Canada
, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and other partners, and Don and Marion McDougall Hall (2008).
In October 2004, the UPEI administration undertook an official campus plan to improve the aesthetics
of modern buildings constructed since the amalgamation which do not enhance the original SDU design, and to take overall campus aesthetics into account for future developments on and adjacent to the campus.
programs, in many cases including "honours" options, are available in Arts
, Science
, Business Administration, Education
, and Nursing
. Co-op programs have been established in Business Administration, Computer Science
, Physics
, and Dietetics. One new faculty, Veterinary Medicine
, and two schools, Business Administration and Nursing, were added as the university expanded.
Master's
and Doctoral
degree programs were first introduced through the Atlantic Veterinary College
and, beginning in 1999, a Master of Science
degree was offered through the Faculty of Science. In that same year the first students were admitted to the university's new Master of Education
program. The university also now offers an MA in Island Studies. Recently the School of Business Administration began offering a Master of Business administration degree. Since 1998, The Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies has been offering courses leading to a Certificate in Conflict Resolution Studies. The Master of Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) program is coordinated by the Atlantic Research Training Centre (ARTC).
The Faculty of Education offers two-year post-degree bachelor degrees with specializations in international and Aboriginal education, French immersion and human resources development, as well as a Master of Education (MEd) in leadership in learning.
The Department of Family & Nutrition Sciences has an accredited dietitian program. The university is accredited by a professional organization such as the Dietitians of Canada
and the university's graduates may subsequently become registered dieticians. List of universities with accredited dietetic programs
(AUS) and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport
(CIS), including men's and women's ice hockey
, soccer, basketball
, as well as women's field hockey
and rugby union
and co-ed swimming
.
The UPEI campus provides its students with many athletics amenities typically found on university campuses. The [CARI Complex|http://www.caripei.ca] includes a 25-metre recreational pool, a 25-metre, eight-lane competitive pool and diving boards, and two NHL-sized ice surfaces, and is open to alhtml]. In 2009 UPEI inaugurated the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place which was built in part to host the 2009 Canada Games
. It consists of a Class 2 eight-lane 400-metre running track and rugby field, with spectator seating for 1,335.
and a living room. Bernardine Hall (known as "Bernie" to the students) offers suites with two double bedrooms. Although the hall is co-ed, one floor is female-only.
Examples include:
Learning: UPEI is committed to students and professors learning from each other — inside the classroom and out, on the Island and beyond. With opportunities such as co-operative education and internships, teaching practicums and nursing placements, international exchange agreements, faculty exchanges, and students doing real-world research alongside their professors — on campus and off — students are applying what they learn in the classroom to the world around them.
Community Service: UPEI prides itself on being an integral part of the Island community. The campus is well-known to Islanders of all ages, from children who take part in Panther day camps or come to varsity games, to adults who use the Robertson Library or take classes through Seniors College. The Atlantic Veterinary College’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Centres of Expertise have an international reputation for service. Students, faculty, and staff blanket Prince Edward Island through their community outreach and volunteer activities.
Research: UPEI’s size and sense of place are assets when it comes to research and scholarship. Small size allows the University to be an incubator for new ideas, and the people needed to bring these leading-edge ideas to fruition are just next-door or down the street. Research at home, and in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and elsewhere, addresses important issues of community, health, and environment. Professors work hand in hand with students, industry, governments, and NGOs — doing work that matters in the real world.
Public university
A public university is a university that is predominantly funded by public means through a national or subnational government, as opposed to private universities. A national university may or may not be considered a public university, depending on regions...
liberal arts
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
university in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University
Saint Dunstan's University
St. Dunstan's University is a former university which was located on the northern outskirts of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. SDU merged with Prince of Wales College in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island.St...
and Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
, founded in 1855 and 1860. The two institutions were merged in 1969 by the government of Alex Campbell as part of a campaign to integrate the Island's Roman Catholic and Protestant communities, which had previously maintained the two separate institutions of higher learning. Holland College
Holland College
Holland College is the provincial community college for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is named after British Army engineer and surveyor Captain Samuel Holland...
was later created to fill the void left by the merger of Prince of Wales College into the university. The enabling legislation is the University Act, R.S.P.E.I 2000.
History
The University of Prince Edward Island is a non-denominational university established in 1969 by the amalgamation of Prince of Wales CollegePrince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
(PWC) founded in 1834, and St. Dunstan's University
Saint Dunstan's University
St. Dunstan's University is a former university which was located on the northern outskirts of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. SDU merged with Prince of Wales College in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island.St...
(SDU) founded in 1855. Its predecessor institutions ceased to operate although St. Dunstan's still retains its charter and the lands that were home to Prince of Wales became the campus for Holland College. UPEI is located on the former St. Dunstan's campus.
Campus
UPEI's campus, located at the corner of Belvedere and University Avenues in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island's capital city, is built on 134 acres (54 hectares) of land. The Confederation Trail runs alongside its eastern edge.Original SDU buildings in the central quadrangle have been renovated to retain integrity of their exterior aesthetic design while meeting modern standards. Main Building, built in 1854, and Dalton Hall, built between 1917 and 1919, are on the registry of Historic Places of Canada.
The War Memorial Hall (more generally known as Memorial Hall) is a landmark building on the campus of UPEI. Built as a men’s residence building in 1946, Memorial Hall honours alumni who had enlisted and died in the First World War, and in the Second World War.
Over the past three decades, UPEI has experienced significant growth with many new buildings integrated into the campus, including Central Utility Building (1973), Duffy Science Centre, Blanchard Hall (1973), Bernardine Hall, Robertson Library (1975), Atlantic Veterinary College
Atlantic Veterinary College
The Atlantic Veterinary College is a well accredited and worldwide recognized veterinary school at University of Prince Edward Island, located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.- History :...
(1986), Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre (1990), Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall (1990), Food Technology Centre, K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre (1997), W.A. Murphy Student Centre (2002), MacLauchlan Arena (2004), Bill and Denise Andrew Hall residence facility (2006), expansions to the Atlantic Veterinary College (2007 and 2009), Regis and Joan Duffy Research Centre (2007), a research and development laboratory which is home to the National Research Council of Canada
National Research Council of Canada
The National Research Council is an agency of the Government of Canada which conducts scientific research and development.- History :...
, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and other partners, and Don and Marion McDougall Hall (2008).
In October 2004, the UPEI administration undertook an official campus plan to improve the aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
of modern buildings constructed since the amalgamation which do not enhance the original SDU design, and to take overall campus aesthetics into account for future developments on and adjacent to the campus.
Organization
The current President is Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, installed July 1, 2011. The current chancellor is William E. (Bill) Andrew.Academics
Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
programs, in many cases including "honours" options, are available in Arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
, Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, Business Administration, Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, and Nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
. Co-op programs have been established in Business Administration, Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, and Dietetics. One new faculty, Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary medicine
Veterinary Medicine is the branch of science that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, disorder and injury in non-human animals...
, and two schools, Business Administration and Nursing, were added as the university expanded.
Master's
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degree programs were first introduced through the Atlantic Veterinary College
Atlantic Veterinary College
The Atlantic Veterinary College is a well accredited and worldwide recognized veterinary school at University of Prince Edward Island, located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.- History :...
and, beginning in 1999, a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree was offered through the Faculty of Science. In that same year the first students were admitted to the university's new Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
program. The university also now offers an MA in Island Studies. Recently the School of Business Administration began offering a Master of Business administration degree. Since 1998, The Centre for Conflict Resolution Studies has been offering courses leading to a Certificate in Conflict Resolution Studies. The Master of Applied Health Services Research (MAHSR) program is coordinated by the Atlantic Research Training Centre (ARTC).
The Faculty of Education offers two-year post-degree bachelor degrees with specializations in international and Aboriginal education, French immersion and human resources development, as well as a Master of Education (MEd) in leadership in learning.
The Department of Family & Nutrition Sciences has an accredited dietitian program. The university is accredited by a professional organization such as the Dietitians of Canada
Dietitians of Canada
Dietitians of Canada is the professional organization and "nation-wide voice of dietitians in Canada". They claim to be the most trusted source of information on food and nutrition for Canadians. DC brings brings the knowledge and skills of its members together to informdecisions that affect...
and the university's graduates may subsequently become registered dieticians. List of universities with accredited dietetic programs
Rankings
In Macleans 21st Annual University Ranking(2011-2012), UPEI tied for 4th place among all Canadian universities for offering primarily undergraduate education..Athletics
The UPEI Panthers have nine teams playing in the Atlantic University SportAtlantic University Sport
Atlantic University Sport is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public and...
(AUS) and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association...
(CIS), including men's and women's ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, soccer, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, as well as women's field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and co-ed swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
.
The UPEI campus provides its students with many athletics amenities typically found on university campuses. The [CARI Complex|http://www.caripei.ca] includes a 25-metre recreational pool, a 25-metre, eight-lane competitive pool and diving boards, and two NHL-sized ice surfaces, and is open to alhtml]. In 2009 UPEI inaugurated the UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place which was built in part to host the 2009 Canada Games
2009 Canada Games
The 2009 Canada Summer Games were held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island from August 15 to 29.-Events:*Athletics*Baseball*Basketball*Canoe/Kayak*Cycling*Diving*Golf*Rowing*Rugby*Sailing*Soccer*Softball*Swimming*Tennis*Triathlon...
. It consists of a Class 2 eight-lane 400-metre running track and rugby field, with spectator seating for 1,335.
Residence
UPEI accommodates 434 students in three residences, Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, Blanchard Hall, and Bernardine Hall. Bill and Denise Andrew Hall has two-room suites with single bedrooms. In Blanchard Hall, each suite has two single bedrooms with a kitchenetteKitchenette
A kitchenette is a small cooking area.In motel and hotel rooms, small apartments, college dormitories, or office buildings a kitchenette usually consists of a small refrigerator, a microwave oven or hotplate, and, less frequently, a sink...
and a living room. Bernardine Hall (known as "Bernie" to the students) offers suites with two double bedrooms. Although the hall is co-ed, one floor is female-only.
University Island
In 2009, the University of Prince Edward Island developed the concept of “University Island” to describe the ways in which UPEI makes a difference “on the Island and around the world.” A website, universityisland.ca, was created to showcase the University’s outreach in the areas of learning, community service, and research. Using google-mapping technology, the database includes hundreds of examples of how UPEI is making an impact, providing opportunity and leadership, and generating successful outcomes, at home and around the world.Examples include:
Learning: UPEI is committed to students and professors learning from each other — inside the classroom and out, on the Island and beyond. With opportunities such as co-operative education and internships, teaching practicums and nursing placements, international exchange agreements, faculty exchanges, and students doing real-world research alongside their professors — on campus and off — students are applying what they learn in the classroom to the world around them.
Community Service: UPEI prides itself on being an integral part of the Island community. The campus is well-known to Islanders of all ages, from children who take part in Panther day camps or come to varsity games, to adults who use the Robertson Library or take classes through Seniors College. The Atlantic Veterinary College’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Centres of Expertise have an international reputation for service. Students, faculty, and staff blanket Prince Edward Island through their community outreach and volunteer activities.
Research: UPEI’s size and sense of place are assets when it comes to research and scholarship. Small size allows the University to be an incubator for new ideas, and the people needed to bring these leading-edge ideas to fruition are just next-door or down the street. Research at home, and in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and elsewhere, addresses important issues of community, health, and environment. Professors work hand in hand with students, industry, governments, and NGOs — doing work that matters in the real world.
Histories of the University
- Bruce, Marian. A Century of Excellence: Prince of Wales College, 1860-1969. Charlottetown: Prince of Wales Alumni Association/Island Studies Press, 2005.
- Bruce, Marian. Pets, Professors, and Politicians: The Founding and Early Years of the Atlantic Veterinary College. Charlottetown: Atlantic Veterinary College/Island Studies Press, 2004.
- MacEachern, Alan. Utopian U: The Founding of the University of Prince Edward Island, 1968-1970. Charlottetown: University of Prince Edward Island, 2005.
- Moase, Lorne Robert. "The Development of the University of Prince Edward Island, 1964-1972." M.Ed., University of New Brunswick, 1972.