Human Rights & Equity Office
With over 3,000 employees and 20,000 full and part-time students, Queen's University is a vital, diverse community. In order that this community remains healthy and positive, we are committed to equity in education and daily experiences. It is important to realize that education does not begin and end at the classroom door; instead, every person and experience in our Queen's and broader Kingston community offers an opportunity for learning.
The attitude and interactions of all members of the Queen's community can have the effect of either helping or disrupting the learning experience. Awareness and engagement with those around you and understanding that each person brings different life experiences is essential to ensuring that you have a positive experience. Not only does our home life shape who we become, but our environments, prior to Queen's, may also involve cultural, racial, or other social factors that have constructed us as individuals. Worldviews will also differ. A university experience offers an opportunity to learn from the academic programming, but more importantly, it also allows us a window into the different worldviews held by the members of our Queen's community. The Queen's environment offers each of us occasions to share difference and similarities of views. This will not always be a comfortable experience; however, what is important is how each person deals with difference and how their openness to diversity of ethnicity, culture, gender, disability, and sexuality translates into the Queen's environment. Fear or lack of awareness of difference can lead to an inappropriate response. Learning to engage in a dialogue of difference and diversity has the possibility of bringing deeper inquiry and growth to educational experiences.
Faculty and staff at Queen's University are governed by collective agreements and approved staff policies. Included in these policies and agreements are mechanisms to ensure an equitable workplace with a system of best practices for a workplace free of harassment and discrimination.
Queen's University has established a Student Code of Conduct that will help identify minimum expectations for our students. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to read and understand the full code of conduct and its implications, but some of the keys points are:
- This Code applies to all conduct by a student that has a real and substantial connection to the legitimate interests of the University and/or the members of the University community.
- Students shall abide by the published rules, regulations, and policies of the University or of any authorized rule-making body within the University. This includes, but is not limited to, the Queen's Harassment/Discrimination Policy and Procedure, those established by Residence administration, and this Student Code of Conduct.
- Students shall abide by the provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada while in Canada. Students shall also abide by all the other laws of the land, including but not limited to those regulating the possession, sale, or consumption of alcoholic beverages and contraband substances. While outside Canada, students are expected to abide by the laws of the host country. If a student violates those laws, the University may pursue disciplinary action, whether the conduct occurred on or off campus, if the conduct had a real and substantial connection to the legitimate interests of the University and/or the members of the University community.
- Students shall comply, and shall not interfere, with the directions of officials acting within the scope of their authority, including, but not limited to, the Kingston Police, Queen's Campus Security, Queen's Student Constables and Science Constables.
- Students shall not furnish false information to the University or any University official or judicial body authorized by the University, nor forge or possess any forged, altered, or falsified instrument of identification.
- Students shall not interfere, directly, indirectly, or by threat, with the communication or pursuit of a complaint under the Code.
- Students shall refrain from theft, knowingly possessing stolen property, trespassing, vandalism, and wilfully or negligently damaging private or University property.
- Student conduct shall respect the lawful rights of others to possess, use, or enjoy private or University property.
- Students shall respect the freedom of individuals to study, teach, work, engage in research and socialize. Students shall refrain from conduct that attempts to limit these freedoms or any other freedoms guaranteed by law. The following conduct is unacceptable and constitutes an offence within the University community: acts of discrimination or harassment based upon, but not limited to, race, religion, gender, ability, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation. Students shall comply with the terms of any disciplinary sanction imposed in accordance with the Code or other applicable University policy.
Violation of the aforementioned terms of conduct is an offence under the Code, subject to disciplinary sanction. The above terms apply with equal force to individual students and student groups or organizations. Being under the influence of alcohol and/or other substances does not diminish or excuse a violation of the Code.