UPEI releases highly critical independent report into allegations against former president, university culture

A damning report into the culture at the University of Prince Edward Island has been released.

The University of Prince Edward Island Review was commissioned shortly after the departure of former university president Alaa Abd-El-Aziz amid accusations of inappropriate conduct in 2021. He had been on administrative leave since then, collecting payment from the university under the terms of his contract.

“We are required to pay his administrative leave until we received this report and made the decision that the university and the president are no longer associated,” said Greg Keefe, UPEI interim president.

Abd-El-Aziz’s name is mentioned only three times in the partially redacted 96 page report done by Toronto-based law firm Rubin Thomlinson and released by the university Wednesday.

The authors say, “It does not, however, contain any findings regarding the allegations of misconduct against the former President.” The university says those were contained in a secondary component of report not released to the public.

“It’s to protect, predominately protect, the complainant and any witnesses that participated in the report,” said Pat Sinnott, chair of the UPEI Board of Governors.

According to the report, the former president was also the subject of two earlier complaints in 2013. However, those allegations were settled under non-disclosure agreements, and though the authors of the report say the complainants were willing to participate, they were unable to under the conditions of those NDAs.

Much of the document instead deals with the higher-level culture of the university, as the authors describe it:

“What we heard during our review was troubling. While the information we gathered about participants' experiences did have some positive elements, an overwhelming number of survey participants made comments to the effect that UPEI has a toxic and/or bullying environment. In addition, the environment was described as one in which there are frequent racist, sexist, ableist and heteronormative behaviours.”

“Reading the report is extremely disheartening and upsetting,” said Camille Mady, UPEI Students’ Union president. “There are many issues on this campus, and it is good that we internalize them and acknowledge them to work on them.”

The authors deliver four overarching recommendations: Accountability and Acknowledgement, Strengthen Leadership, Other Cultural Initiatives, and Improve Policies and Practices.

The university has promised action to fix its culture after the report, but faculty are hesitant to expect it.

“The culture of secrecy, of fear of retaliation, and of support of bad behaviour is real,” said Margot Rejskind, executive director of the UPEI Faculty Association. “It is continuous, and it is with us still.”

Rejskind said senior administration and the board of governors need to take responsibility allowing a toxic culture to carry on at the university.

In response to the report, the university is creating a new vice president position responsible for human resources, sexual violence, and diversity and inclusion. Keefe said an announcement on details is expected soon, as well as other measures to address the report.

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