More than 2,400 staff and faculty attended the annual Summer Faculty and Staff BBQ hosted by the Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor on July 11.

As the Queen’s community celebrates the Class of 2023, it is also recognizing the formative influence of teachers who have inspired graduates along their educational journey with the Baillie Award for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. Graduating students are invited to nominate their past teachers for the award, which are presented during the students’ convocation ceremonies.

Five teachers who have inspired Queen’s graduates were on hand last week during ceremonies at the Leon’s Centre.

Five courses have been selected as the Principal’s Impact Courses this year. The successful applicants will receive grants providing up to $10,000 in one-time funding to develop their proposed courses.

The Principal’s Impact Courses program is part of a long-term commitment to transform curricula and enhance already-existing undergraduate courses or develop new courses that support the Queen’s Strategy.

For the third straight year, Queen’s has ranked among the top 10 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings – earning third place worldwide and first place in North America out of over 1,700 universities. Queen’s is the only Canadian university to achieve three top-10 placements since the rankings began in 2019.

Queen’s is getting ready to celebrate the class of 2023 during spring convocation ceremonies. A highlight of the academic year, this spring’s festivities kick off May 26 with one ceremony in Grant Hall and continue with six ceremonies in the Leon’s Centre happening between June 20-23. Graduating students from six faculties and schools will be walking the stage.

Special Olympics Ontario, a non-profit organization that helps provide sports and training programs for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities, is holding the 2023 Ontario School Championships in Kingston from June 6 to 8, 2023. Several opportunities to volunteer on campus are still available.

The event, hosted by Kingston Police, will welcome over 1100 student-athletes, coaches, and their families to the City of Kingston and to Queen’s campus. During the 2022/23 academic year, over 7,000 high-school athletes competed across the province to qualify.

Just a few months ago, Black History and Futures Month at Queen’s, as elsewhere, was devoted to honouring the history and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane has announced two appointments to the university’s Senior Leadership Team.

Matthew Evans will serve as Queen’s next Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) and will begin a five-year term on Aug. 1, 2023, succeeding Interim Provost Teri Shearer.

Queen’s has launched its new Global Engagement Strategic Plan 2023-2028, a guiding document for enhancing the university’s ability to generate global impact.