On the day Ontarians cast their ballots, Senate turned its focus to the future of higher education and the University’s path ahead.
The Senate met in Robert Sutherland Hall at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 27, with an online option to . The meeting lasted just over an hour.
Principal Patrick Deane began the meeting with an acknowledgement of the recent ing of Benjamin Jack Martin, a third-year Arts and Sciences student who ed on Jan. 15. Martin was a Dean’s Scholar in his first two years with aspirations of becoming an urban planner. Deane invited the Senate to observe a moment of silence.
In his report, Deane emphasized the significance of the provincial elections happening the same day, highlighting their impact on the future of higher education. This election, Queen’s didn’t have any on-campus polling stations. He referenced issues taking place at York University where 18 programs were recently suspended, and also expressed concerns regarding the platforms of the Liberal and Conservative parties of Ontario.
Criticizing the Ontario Liberal and Conservative Party platforms, he noted the Liberals’ Feb. 11 proposal of a 10 per cent cap on international student enrollment for each Ontario college and university. Meanwhile, the Conservatives Feb. 24 platform release focused on worker protection but omitted universities from economic development and ignored tuition freeze concerns.
“Universities are not top of mind for government, nor do the parties vying for election believe they are top of mind in the electorate. So, this means, of course, that regardless of the outcome of today, the work that the universities face will continue lobbying will have to continue unabated,” Deane said.
Moving into an open question period following the Principal, Provost and Research Reports, Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS) President Emils Matiss asked a three-part question to Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans, on whether the Queen’s Graduate Award is currently still not under any review that would seek to change the award, whether it will remain in place for students in the coming 2025 school year, and if students who enter a two-year program in 2025 will still be guaranteed the funding for both years.
Provost Evans replied “yes,” in an answer to all three questions, later adding “I really don’t think this answer has changed in the last three Senates.”
Mary Olmstead, a professor in the Department of Psychology asked Deane for a summary of the new provisions on the Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response Policy, effective Jan. 31. Stephanie Simpson, vice-principal (culture, equity, and inclusion), said the policy was revised in response to the Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities’ anti-hate and anti-racism directive, adding a reference to racism and requiring annual statistics on racism.
Senate moved into a discussion period on the 2041 “Queen’s Bicentennial Vision” discussion paper where Petra Fachinger, a professor in the Department of English Literature and Creative Writing, asked Deane about his use of the word “integration” in his paper.
One example of Deane’s use of the concept of integration in the paper states, “Queen’s will commit to the comprehensive preparation of educators by integrating evidence-based pedagogical training and ongoing professional development into the academic career path.”
In response to Fachinger, Deane assured he isn’t looking at the “forced amalgamation” of various departments but rather trying to produce more holistically educated students.
The next Senate will reconvene on March 27.
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