Frequently Asked Questions

If you wish to make a confidential disclosure, you can make an appointment at Student Wellness Services. While other members of the Queen's community can promise discretion, they cannot promise the same level of confidentiality as our Health Care Providers.  Other Queen’s employees are required to notify the SVPR Coordinator about all disclosures made to them. Identifying information (student name, email) is not included in the notification unless you have consented.  

Please see sections 6 and 8 of the Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Students for more information. 

When follow-up is requested by a student, SVPRS Advisors may share limited information with select campus partners to coordinate support (for example, when coordinating accommodations, academic considerations, or referrals to support services). In this case, you should be advised who the information will be shared with. 

In some circumstances, Queen's must take action in response to the information a student shares.  For example, when the situation involves a minor or when workplace policy or legislation requires the University to pursue an investigation.

A student who discloses an experience of sexual violence, regardless of where or when it took place, or the people involved, can decide what kind of support they need. The SVPR team can advise you about what supports and services are available, both on and off-campus.  You can choose to access some, all or none of the things offered.  With your permission, a SVPR team member can work collaboratively with other resources on campus, such as Student Wellness Services, to coordinate support.  

The Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Policy requires all employees (except health care providers) who hear a disclosure from a student to notify the SVPRC of the disclosure. The disclosing student's name and email address are only shared if there is consent. If your name and contact information has been shared a member of the SVPR team will contact you to offer to meet, answer questions and offer a variety of supports and services.

“Immediate measures” are restrictions imposed on a student respondent (person named in the disclosure/complaint). Immediate measures can include restrictions on:

 •    the timing and manner of use of campus facilities, (e.g, limited access to specific buildings to ensure space between parties) 
 •    communications with another member of the community, (e.g., no communication, direct or indirect, with the person who made the disclosure),

and  
 •    other privileges.  (e.g., may be required to suspend participation in a club) 

The University does not require a withdrawal from or place limits on enrolment in academic courses as part of immediate measures. 

Supports and services are available for any student who has or is currently experiencing intimate partner violence. Even if there is no sexual violence taking place, you can contact the SVPR Coordinator. 

How much information you choose to share about your experience is up to you. If you are disclosing an incident of sexual or intimate partner violence to a member of the SVPR team, we only need to know enough about what happened to be able to offer the appropriate support and resources. 

If you choose to file a complaint, more detailed sharing is required.  

All members of the Queen's community are expected to respond to disclosures in a non-judgmental and supportive way. If you make a disclosure, you should be provided with information about the sexual violence policy as well as the various the support services and resources that are available.  

No, you will not be forced to file a complaint or participate in any investigative process. However, if Queen’s becomes aware of an incident of sexual violence that poses a risk to the safety of members of the Queen’s community, it will be required to take reasonable steps to ensure that the Queen’s community is safe. In rare circumstances, it may be possible that a process may be undertaken or continue without your participation. 

You can pursue criminal reporting and/or file a complaint under the Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Queen's University Students. If you are considering making a complaint to the University, please get in touch with the SVPR Coordinator.  Once a complaint is filed, the investigation is managed by the Student Conduct Office  

Making a disclosure about your experience of sexual violence does NOT mean you have to file a complaint.  If you do choose to make a complaint, you can withdraw from the process at any time. You can make complaints both to the University and to the police at the same time.  

Except in very specific circumstances, the Police do not become involved unless you ask them to be. Generally, the University does not notify the Police of either disclosures or University complaints of sexual violence. An exception would be when there is an immediate safety concern.

A student who would like to speak to a police officer for information about police reporting can contact the SVPRC, a Human Rights Advisor or Campus Security for support with that process. 

Yes, it does.  If the person who caused harm is no longer a member of the University community, a complaint cannot be filed. 

The University can only proceed with an investigation when:

  (i) the parties were both members of the university community at the time of the alleged incident; and 
  (ii) at least one of the parties was a student of the University at the time of the alleged incident; and 
  (ii) an individual makes the complaint when the respondent is a member of the university community. If the person alleged to have caused harm is no longer a community member (e.g., a student who is the subject of the complaint has graduated already), Queen’s cannot pursue an investigation.   

There is no time limit for making a report to the Police. 

Section 12.7 of the Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Queen's University Students says if an allegation of sexual violence is substantiated, the outcome may include:  

  (i) a written warning or reprimand; 

   (ii) a letter of behavioural expectation; 

   (iii) educational assignments; 

   (iv) an apology; 

   (v) community service; 

   (vi) restitution; 

   (vii) a conditional or monetary fine; 

   (viii) loss of privileges; 

   (ix) a no-contact Directive; 

   (x) non-academic probation; 

   (xi) a notice of prohibition 

   (xii) suspension or expulsion; or 

   (xiii) sanctions delineated in the Residence Contract and Athletics and Recreation Non-Academic Misconduct Policy. 

Depending on your circumstances, you may want help developing a safety plan. Your safety plan can include options related to your academic, employment, housing, and social life both on- and off-campus. Plans are tailored to your specific needs and circumstances.  The SVPRS team can assist with safety planning. 

Some safety measures can be imposed based on a disclosure (immediate measures) or following a complaint (interim measures).   You may want to consider filing a report with Police in order to access additional supports.  

For help to develop a safety plan, you can contact: 

Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Services (daytime, Mon-Fri only)

• Coordinator   bjl7@queensu.ca (preferred)

• (613) 533-6000 x 36330 

In Residence, contact your Don or the Residence Life Coordinator on call.  

Campus Security and Emergency Services 

• 24/7 Emergency Report Center (613) 533-6111

Sexual Assault Centre Kingston 

• 24/7 support 1 (877) 544-6424

Kingston Interval House 

• Crisis Line: (613) 546-1777 or 1 (800) 267-9445

• By Text: (343)-309-5999

The Sexual Assault Domestic Violence (SA/DV) Program at the Kingston General Hospital site of KHSC offers emergency assistance 24/7 through the Emergency Department. 

They offer emergency medical care, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV and pregnancy and forensic evidence collection if wanted (the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit).

In the case of sexual assault, please note that it is recommended that physical evidence be collected within 72 hours after the assault took place, but it can be collected up to 12 days post-incident. 

For medical care, you can also call or go to Health Services at Student Wellness Services (613) 533-2506 in Mitchell Hall during regular business hours. SWS does not collect forensic evidence. 

Please take care of your health as soon as possible.  

In the summer of 2023, the provincial government introduced legislation related to post-secondary institutions and their employees' interactions with students. The language of Sexual Misconduct was required to be incorporated into policy.  

'Sexual Misconduct' refers to interactions between Queen’s University employees and students. It includes behaviour that violates the Criminal Code of Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Code and includes intimate relationships between employees and students. For example, a sexual or romantic relationship (even if consensual) between an employee and any student is sexual misconduct if the employee has any teaching, advising, supervisory, mentoring, evaluative, coaching, or other similar duties in respect of the student. 

Please see Section 14 of the Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Queen's University Students for more information. 

You have the right to a safe working and educational environment. The Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Queen's University Students clearly states that a student impacted by sexual violence will receive appropriate support or accommodations, regardless of the role of the perpetrator in the Queen’s community.

Complaints against employees follow a different process than complaints made against students. More information about this process is available from SVPR Services. 

In Residence, you can talk to your Don, your Residence Life Coordinator, or any building staff member. Residence staff will listen to you and provide you with resources. 

If disclosing to your Don, they will call the Residence Life Coordinator on-call to attend and provide you with further information and resources, such as speaking with Campus Security and the SVPR Coordinator.

In certain circumstances, Residence staff can impose immediate (temporary) measures to create safety and space. You will be offered the option of an emergency stay space or a room change. 

If there is an immediate safety risk to you or other residents or you wish to make a complaint, the perpetrator may be moved to a different building, have their residence contract terminated, and/or may be issued a notice of trespass to residences. 

More actions may be taken if you make a complaint, an investigation is initiated, and the allegation is substantiated. Queen’s understands concerns regarding reprisal and retaliation and will make all efforts to maintain your safety. 

The Policy on Academic Considerations in Extenuating Circumstances allows students to request short-term (3 days) considerations without supporting documentation. Use your faculty portal to make these requests.  

For considerations beyond 3 days, you will need supporting documentation. Your SVPRS Advisor, your support person in Student Wellness Services or your community health care practitioner can provide it.   

For more information, visit the Student Wellness Services website. 

Queen's University has partnered with International SOS (ISOS) to provide out-of-country emergency assistance for all Queen's community members travelling on university-sanctioned activities. If you experience sexual violence or another type of extenuating circumstance, contact ISOS. You can access International SOS to speak to a doctor, get referred to a local health care provider, receive travel information and alerts, and assistance for immediate medical and security concerns.

You can also contact International SOS before your travel for country-specific information. A multilingual specialist network is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In non-urgent situations, you can also reach out to the SVPR Coordinator, regardless of your location and time zone. Email bjl7@queensu.ca for help to figure out next steps.(Monday to Friday) 

Login to the ISOS webpage with your Queen's NetID for further information. 

Yes, students who have experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives can access help and services through Queen's. Contact SVPRS or SWS for support and information. 

If a complaint has been made against you, please contact the Office of the University Ombudsperson. The designated support office for student respondents may be accessed through that office. 

VESTA for Campus is an online support hub for students who have experienced sexual violence. The app will guide you through recording your experience by describing the incident through a series of sensory-based questions.  You can record and store the information to share at the time or later on.  You can also access the VESTA resource library. 

If you are not already connected with the SVPRS team or with the police, and you would like to file an on-line report to either or both, you can use VESTA.  You can access the online platform on the SVRS website. Depending on your online consent choices, if you include your name, someone from SVPRS, police, or both will follow up with you.  

You can submit anonymously.  No follow up results from an anonymous submission.