Equity Ambassadors

At Queen’s University, we strive to create a campus community that allows our students to thrive, rather than simply survive. In order to do so, however, we know that university students need to find a community; a group of individuals with similar lived experiences who feel like home and cultivate a sense of belonging that allows you to grow into the person you want to become.

When you come to Queen’s, you are joining an incredibly large community of students, faculty, and staff who are there to support you. But the transition into an unfamiliar environment, while attempting to create new connections, can nevertheless be daunting and intimidating, particularly as an equity-deserving student. If you’re considering how to build your community and create culturally supportive connections that will last you a lifetime: you are not alone! We are here to support you.

There are many opportunities for students to build relationships and contribute to your community.

Orientation Week

A great way to support your transition to university and begin fostering meaningful connections is through attending your University and Faculty orientation for incoming first-year students. The activities facilitated through Orientation Week are designed to provide you with an opportunity to create memories and connect with other students who have similar interests and identities to yourself but are also new to Queen’s! For more information, visit the Queen's Orientation page.

Clubs and Extracurricular Opportunities: Social and Cultural Identity Groups.

Queen’s University has a wide selection of student run clubs and groups that we encourage you to get involved in during your time as an undergraduate student. These extracurricular opportunities that specialize in various interests allow you to connect with others who have skills that are similar to yours! Of particular note, are groups dedicated to welcoming students of various identities, heritage, and backgrounds. No matter where you may come from, you can be sure to find an environment to embrace your identity among peers. For more information, visit the Clubs Directory.

Intramural Sports

For athletes, both serious and not-so-serious, intramural sports are a fantastic way to meet other students who share your love for a game or sport! For a set of months during the semester, compete amongst your peers in a tight-knit group for a truly unique bonding experience!  

Social Media

Once you make the decision to come to Queen’s, join your yearly Facebook groups to bond with peers and virtually introduce yourselves before coming to campus!

Queen’s University is dedicated to supporting your academic and personal success. Often, it is quite easy for QTBIPOC and disabled students to feel othered and isolated on campus, often preventing them from accessing student support services. At Queen’s, however, we recognize this barrier and instead work to collaborate with campus and community partners to develop programming and services that enhance and nurture your growth. It is important to note that the list below is not exhaustive! For additional resources, please contact 1gen@queensu.ca

Transition Support

• Summer Orientation to Academics and Resources (SOAR): A summer orientation program for incoming first-year students, parents, and supporters. SOAR provides programming dedicated to assisting students in preparing for the expectations of the university experience.  
• Fall Orientation: Queen’s Orientation is designed to connect you with the students, faculty, staff, and campus resources available to prepare for the year ahead.
• QSuccess (First-Year Mentorship Program): Through ongoing mentoring in your first-year, QSuccess aims to support students as they develop the skills necessary succeed academically, personally, and socially, and make the most of their university experience. QSuccess mentors are holistically trained to meet the needs of our diverse campus community.

On-Campus Supports

• Student Academic Success Services: Student Academic Success Services (SASS) offers academic support to students who wish to develop their skills in critical thinking, reading, learning, studying, writing, and self-management.
• Queen’s Student Accessibility Services (QSAS): QSAS works with students with disabilities to develop comprehensive accommodation plans that help ensure full access to education.
• The Start-Up Transition Support Service: QSAS students are able to receive individualized support on any aspect of their transition to university.
• The Accessibility Hub: The Accessibility Hub is a central online resource for accessibility at Queen's and provides information on supports, training, and initiatives on campus.
• Student Wellness Services (SWS): SWS supports the personal, academic, and social development of students through the provision of services that are responsive to student needs. Students from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds are able to access the specialized services of experienced practitioners and counsellors who are dedicated to services students from racialized or marginalized communities.
• Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC): QUIC offers comprehensive support resources, activities, and advising services to international students, cultural training resources for the Queen’s community as well as generally working to promote a cross-culturally sensitive environment.
• The Yellow House: The Yellow House is a safe, comfortable, and accountable space for queer, racialized, marginalized students to create community, to feel empowered, to empower others, and to celebrate and to honor their histories.
• Four Directions: Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre is a home away from home for Indigenous students at Queen's. The centre offers culturally tailored transition and support services for Indigenous students.
• Human Rights and Equity Office: Queen's Human Rights and Equity Office plays a role in both informing the larger campus community in the area of equity and human rights, while also facilitating the development of policies and programs related to greater and equal participation of marginalized groups at Queen’s.
• Alma Mater Society (AMS): The AMS is a student-run organization representing the interests of students in internal and external affairs.

  • Social Issues Commission: The Social Issues Commission is a safe space for students to connect students with on-campus supports and to engage with social justice and human rights issues on campus.

  • Student Cultural Clubs: Queen’s has a variety of student run clubs that are dedicated to celebrating religious and cultural identities.

• Queen’s Equity Locator: The Equity Locator offers maps of the Queens University main, west and Isabel campuses with equity-related points of interest such as safety basics accessible elevators, washrooms and entrances, and to amenities.

• Faith and Spiritual Life: The Faith and Spiritual Life staff provide confidential spiritual counselling and ceremonial services for students, staff, and faculty from all faith communities.

• Sexual Health Resource Center: A confidential, non-judgmental, feminist, queer-positive, pro-choice, sex positive and non-heterosexist information and referral service.

All university students require mental toughness and perseverance to succeed, however, it is also no secret that racialized and marginalized students carry the additional burden of weathering marginalization in academic institutions. When help is needed, Queen’s University offers a variety of tailored services, programs, and resources to create the safe space necessary for you to feel supported.  

Student Wellness Services  

Students from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds are able to access the specialized services of experienced counsellors who are dedicated to services students from racialized or marginalized communities.  

Alma Mater Society (AMS)  

The AMS, a student-run organization representing the interests of students in internal and external affairs, also provides services and activities aimed at supporting students with diverse backgrounds, such as the Social Issues Commission, Peer Support Centre, and student clubs dedicated to celebrating cultural identities. 

Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinator 

The Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinator works with the Queen’s community to enhance student support programs that promote inclusion and the awareness of resources available for equity-deserving students. 

Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisor 

The Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisor is a key point of contact for members of the Queen’s community who wish to learn about anti-oppression and anti-racism initiatives and services.  

University Ombudsman 

The Office of the University Ombudsperson provides independent, impartial, and confidential advisory services for all Queen’s staff, faculty, and students, including those from underrepresented groups.  

Human Rights and Equity Office 

Amongst other services, the Human Rights staff can also provide confidential advisory services to students, staff, and faculty succeeding incidences of harassment or discrimination. 

Rector & Undergraduate Trustee 

The Rector and the Undergraduate Trustee are elected student leaders who represents all undergraduate in a variety of capacities, including acting as an advisor and advocate for students in grievance procedures, and serves as a confidential support resource. 

As an undergraduate student, there are various opportunities for you to advocate on behalf of your community and pursue initiatives related to ensuring that the voices and opinions of marginalized and racialized students are actively heard and pursued by the university administration. These include extracurricular activities and student-run clubs that are equity-based and focused, student government positions through the Alma Mater Society, internships and work experiences in various offices and departments at Queen’s, or simply speaking with purpose when you notice or experience discrimination on campus.  

There are a number of clubs that are primarily focused and targeted for people of colour! Some provide students with platforms to advocate for their community and pursue initiatives related to ensuring that the voices and opinions of marginalized and racialized students are actively heard and pursued by the university administration.   

Queens Black Fashion Association: A community dedicated to creating an inclusive, safe environment for like-minded students that share a passion for the fashion industry.  

Queens Black Academic Society: QBAS is eager to foster community among self-identified people of colour. These students were eager to engage in a dialogue surrounding the issues that face the Black diaspora and to discover their role in addressing these issues. Building upon these seeds, our mission is to advance Black academics as a whole through a focus on education, equity, wellness, and issues pertinent to the Black community.    

Smith Black Business Association: On the business side, SBBA provides a space for black students in the Commerce program that gives students a safe and welcoming environment where they can learn and grow.  

African Caribbean Student Association (ACSA): They Advance issues of importance to students of African and Caribbean descent and those who are not African or Caribbean descent but share a common interest. To accomplish its goals, the club plans various events ranging from educational, social, community outreach and sporting events to educate both the Queen’s and Kingston communities about the African and Caribbean cultural elements.  

All university students require mental toughness and perseverance to succeed. However, it is also no secret that racialized and marginalized students carry the additional burden of weathering marginalization in academic institutions. When help is needed, Queen’s University offers various tailored services, programs, and resources to create the safe space necessary for you to feel supported.    

Student Wellness Services    

Students from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds can access the specialized services of experienced counsellors dedicated to serving students from racialized or marginalized communities.    

Alma Mater Society (AMS)    

The AMS, a student-run organization representing students' interests in internal and external affairs, also provides services and activities to support students with diverse backgrounds, such as the Social Issues Commission, Peer Support Centre, and student clubs dedicated to celebrating cultural identities.   

Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinator   

The Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinator works with the Queen’s community to enhance student support programs that promote inclusion and the awareness of resources available for equity-deserving students.