As part of its work to help ensure that equity-deserving students can find and build community and access networks and resources on campus, Queen’s has launched an online EDII student events calendar. Students from across the university can find out about upcoming events and initiatives that address themes related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and Indigeneity.

“Work on this calendar started after the 2021 Student Experiences Survey – now called the Shift Survey –   revealed many students are unfamiliar with the resources, initiatives, and events happening at Queen’s,” says Taryn McKenna, Student Inclusion and Engagement Coordinator, Student Experience Office. “By creating this centralized hub, we’re aiming to make student club and university events and resources more visible and easier to connect with.”

Along with students, Queen’s faculty and staff are encouraged to submit events to the calendar. The items included are intended for equity-deserving students, as well as students who want to become better allies. Submissions are reviewed and approved before being published, typically within two business days.

“We have been excited by the uptake of the calendar so far, and we hope it will help students feel more connected on campus,” says Aubrey Rose Apps, Student Ambassador, Queen’s Shift Project. “The calendar has the potential to be a powerful tool for building community and making Queen’s a safer and more inclusive place for everyone.”

Some upcoming events currently listed on the calendar include a Morning Gratitude Fire at Four Directions, a workshop for the Queen’s University International Centre Intercultural Awareness Certificate program, and Consent Awareness Week.

The EDII student events calendar is part of the work of the Queen’s Shift Project, a collection of events and initiatives that aim to provide opportunities for dialogue around topics outlined in the Student Experiences Survey and act on next steps towards improving campus culture at Queen’s.

View the calendar online and learn more about how to submit events on the Queen’s Shift Project webpage.

Doors Open event for equity-deserving students

One of the events promoted on the EDII student events calendar gave equity-deserving students at Queen’s an opportunity to connect directly with offices across Student Affairs. The Doors Open event on September 15 welcomed students as they dropped in and met the staff and student staff at Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion, Queen’s University International Centre, Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre, Faith and Spiritual Life, Student Wellness Services, and Athletics & Recreation.

The Student Experience Office also ran a booth at University and Union to get the word out and help direct students to the offices and spaces they wanted to visit.

Expanding EDII resources

In addition to the calendar, the Queen’s Shift Project is also working to expand EDII resources on campus. The project is currently hosting the Sunday Supper Series, a monthly event that provides a safe space for dialogue, and is promoting ACT (Action, Commitment, Transformation), a four-part workshop designed to help students learn how to contribute to safer and more inclusive spaces on campus. ACT was created by the Student Experience Office and the Human Rights and Equity Office.

The Shift Podcast provides equity-deserving students with a platform to speak about their lived experiences at Queen’s and share tips for where to find community and support. Season two of the podcast will be released this fall.

Going forward, the Queen’s Shift Project will also administer the Shift Survey every two years. As with the initial Student Experiences Survey, the Shift Survey will provide the university with information about students’ perceptions and experiences of diversity and inclusion and sexual violence.

Learn more on the Queen’s Shift Project webpage and follow the project on Instagram for updates about events and initiatives.