Principal Hitchcock’s “Engaging the World” is a discussion paper outlining the principal’s vision for the future of Queen’s—namely, “global engagement.”
The principal’s discussion paper incorporates broad phrases and jargon, but few specifics as to how exactly this “global engagement” will be brought about. While it emphasizes the hoped-for position of Queen’s on the world stage and recruiting top scholars and students from outside Canada, it devotes little attention to this institution’s current students and staff and issues they are now facing.
“Engaging the World,” however, is a step in the right direction. Rather than opening hotlines for residents, Principal Hitchcock is making an attempt to open lines of communication between her and the students at this university.
That said, her discussion paper is focused on Queen’s as a research institution. She mentions improving technology and also making “strategic investments in defined areas of … strength.” This commitment to improving specific areas may mean that other areas will fall to the wayside and be allowed to deteriorate.
Hitchcock makes a strong commitment to improving and developing graduate programs. Although this may help Queen’s attain the worldwide recognition the paper repeatedly refers to, it does not negate the fact that there are other aspects to the University aside from graduate studies. It is important that a balance is struck between supporting graduate programs and research while still maintaining and bettering the quality of the undergraduate education the University offers.
For instance, if Hitchcock is looking to elevate the University’s reputation, she need look no further than the students (undergraduate and otherwise) walking around campus. There is no better way to advance the Queen’s reputation than letting the achievements of alumni to speak for themselves. If alumni do great things, the value of a Queen’s degree in the rest of the world will rise proportionally. With this in mind, it would be advantageous for the University to invest in the future and its reputation by investing in the students it currently educates. It can do so most effectively by focusing on reducing class sizes and improving deteriorating buildings—basic initiatives that will greatly increase the quality of undergraduate education.
Students who leave with a positive experience from Queen’s will become the school’s best ambassadors and supporters. If the principal addresses the short-term issues that affect these students, great strides will be made in dealing with the long-term issues of recruitment, curricular breadth and “global engagement.”
The discussion paper seems to suggest that undergraduate studies have or will become subordinate to graduate studies. However, if one priority of “Engaging the World” is to “attract the best students and scholars from across Canada and internationally” it should also be a priority to produce undergraduate students of this calibre.
Its focus on attracting prospective students makes it difficult for current students to factor themselves into the equation. It is our responsibility as students to make our concerns known at the upcoming town hall meetings. If we accept Hitchcock’s invitation “to participate fully” we can help make the future vision for the University something we can all engage with.
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