Part I
Teaching culture and initiatives at UPEI
UPEI’s mission is “to encourage and assist people to acquire the skills, knowledge, and understanding necessary for critical and creative thinking, and thus prepare them to contribute to their own betterment and that of society through the development of their full potential.”
UPEI’s vision, moving forward, remains steadfast—UPEI will be a leader in providing outstanding programs and experiential learning opportunities that enable our students to develop to their full potential in both the classroom and the community. Our students will emerge from their studies ready to excel and contribute to the betterment of our world.
Education to promote understanding of Indigenous history and culture and issues around equity, diversity, and inclusion are two important areas of focus for UPEI.
Background from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada website
For over 150 years, residential schools operated in Canada. Over 150,000 children attended these schools. Many never returned. Often underfunded and overcrowded, these schools were used as a tool of assimilation by the Canadian state and churches. Thousands of students suffered physical and sexual abuse. All suffered from loneliness and a longing to be home with their families. The damages inflicted by these schools continue to this day. In 2009, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada began a multi-year process to listen to Survivors, communities and others affected by the Residential School system.
The report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was published in 2015 with a number of calls to action directed at higher education. The journey of truth and reconciliation is far from over. UPEI is committed to advancing reconciliation through higher education.
As a community, we have started a journey of growth to realize the role we must play in promoting an understanding of Indigenous history and culture, and supporting respectful relationships. UPEI recognizes that discussions in this era of truth and reconciliation will unveil difficult facts within our country’s history. However, in keeping with our institutional vision, we know that education is vital to understanding the history of colonialism and the forward-looking process of reconciliation. UPEI’s Elder in Residence, July Clark, is a Mi’kmaq woman from Epekwitk and a member of Abegweit Mi’kmaw Nation. She works closely with the Mawi’omi Indigenous Student Centre. Corinne Chappell is the Advisor to the Vice -President Academic and Research for Indigenous Affairs
A second important focus at UPEI is equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). The UPEI Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee was established in October 2019, with a mandate to review, and provide input into, the development and implementation of an institutional equity, diversity, and inclusion strategy. In addition, the steering committee provides input and advice regarding issues, practices, and opportunities to promote and implement equity, diversity, and inclusion measures, programs, or initiatives. Following broad consultations, the institutional EDI strategy was developed and shared shared with the campus community in winter 2021. The EDI strategy “provides our learning community with focus areas to build awareness, knowledge, and actions to enable continuous improvements in equity, diversity, and inclusion on our campus and within our larger communities”.
Working together, we must use knowledge as a catalyst for meaningful change on campus and in communities here in Prince Edward Island and around our world.
The five priorities of the UPEI Strategic Plan (2018–2023) include
Education for a Connected World
Inclusive Campus Culture
Scholarship, Research, and Discovery
Community Partnerships
Responsible Growth and Resource Management
You will find, therefore, that much of the conversation around teaching at UPEI is focused on how best to engage students. Understanding and responding to students’ current realities, needs, and long-term goals, focusing on learning-centred teaching, and fostering and celebrating innovation in education are all part of teaching practice at UPEI.
How can we engage students in large classes that are often lecture-based? How do we provide students with learning experiences outside the classroom setting so that learning is connected to the outside world and becomes relevant and meaningful? These are some questions that are being discussed within the teaching community at UPEI. Conversations with colleagues are good starting places for entering into dialogue about ways to make your teaching practice more engaging for students.
The University has launched a number of teaching and learning initiatives rooted in these priorities, the overarching institutional mission, and requests from students for flexibility and improved course access. Below you will find links to some of these initiatives.
The Teaching and Learning Centre fosters a culture of scholarship around teaching and learning by providing opportunities for faculty and instructional staff to reflect on and improve their pedagogical expertise. The Centre supports their professional development goals by coordinating opportunities and events that focus on teaching and learning. One-to-one consultations for faculty and instructional staff are also available.
The Senate Committee on the Enhancement of Teaching (SCENT) aims to promote excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, as well as initiatives that enhance the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). For more information about SCENT, your can contact the chair, Dr. Stacey MacKinnon.
Reviewing the Teaching and Learning Centre website, newsletters, Instructional Resources Hub and the blog will also give you a sense of the focus of conversation about teaching and learning at UPEI. In addition, these teaching resources can also inform and support your practice at UPEI:
Experiential Education and Work-Integrated Learning
At UPEI, the Experiential Education and Work-Integrated Learning office showcases and supports the University’s experiential programs and initiatives, while building capacity to help students navigate an increasingly complex work world. The office offers support for faculty who want to integrate experiential learning activities or work-integrated learning experiences into their curriculum. It has a number of workshops for students that faculty can incorporate into classes.
English Academic Preparation (EAP) program
The EAP program provides students, staff, and faculty with teaching and learning services that support them in the University’s multi-lingual and multicultural environment. The EAP program embraces a holistic and proactive approach to English language teaching and learning and academic literacy development. It also aims to conceptualize, deliver, and promote a comprehensive range of English as an Additional Language (EAL) support services across the University. For more information, visit the EAP webpage
Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion in Education Committee from the Faculties of Science and Arts and Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion reading group
As you begin to talk about course design and teaching practice with your colleagues and the Teaching and Learning Centre, you will likely hear reference to specific initiatives and requirements related to your teaching practice. Below are some links that will provide you with more detail on these requirements.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
Open Educational Resources and Practices
Student Opinion of Teaching Surveys (SOTS) (see section E1.3.1)
