There are perks to being senior leaders at Queen’s, and travelling internationally representing the University is one of them.
Senior leaders across the University spent more than $359,654 on travel between October 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023, marking approximately a 52 per cent increase from the previous year, according to The Journal’s analysis of expense reports which were obtained under a Freedom of Information request.
Working out to about $29,971 per month, University money was used for travel costs including commercial airfare, ground transportation, accommodations, and meals for 17 senior leadership positions.
Using Queen’s data from the Expense Reimbursement System (ERS), The Journal ranks Queen’s biggest jet setters for 2023. The Principal’s Office reports travel expenses separately and isn’t included in the ranking.
5. Barbara Crow, Dean (Faculty of Arts and Science) $27,114
Coming in at number five, Dean Crow spent $27,114 during The Journal’s reporting period. In October 2022, Crow travelled to southeast Asia, visiting Vietnam, and Indonesia. Later in the year, Crow travelled east again, landing in the United Arab Emirates before heading to India.
A lover of luxury, Crow stayed the Shangria-La in New Delhi and the Four Seasons in Mumbai. Crow’s most expensive accommodation was at the five-star hotel the Fairmont Singapore, costing $5,977. She ended the year in Austria.
4. Ann Tierney, Vice-Provost (Student Affairs) $38,840
Charged with overseeing services promoting student wellbeing and engagement, Tierney spent $38,840 in 2023. Travelling to England twice over the year, Tierney checked in on Bader College in June and made an additional stop at Oxford in March.
Tierney attended the 2023 Canadian Association of College & University Student Services conference in Niagara Falls in June.
3. Kevin Deluzio, Dean (Smith Engineering) $51,327
Picture a destination. Chances are Dean Deluzio travelled there this year, racking up $51,327 in charges to the University. Taking planes, trains, and cars, Deluzio went everywhere from South Africa to the Netherlands. Deluzio’s biggest expense of $9,586 is vaguely described as “airline – (international destinations)” for a recruitment trip.
He took advancement trips across the United States in March and travelled to India for a recruitment trip in April. He attended several Canadian engineering conferences and the Governor General’s Luncheon in June.
2. Sandra Den Otter, Vice-Provost (International) $52,282
Queen’s international representative, Den Otter’s role took her worldwide this year, totalling $52,282.
Attending the Asia-Pacific Association for International Business in Vietnam, the North American Conference in British Students in Chicago, and checking in on the Matariki Network of Universities in Perth, Den Otter is Queen’s very own Mr. Worldwide.
Notably, Den Otter spent $1,581 at Jump+ in Kingston on a laptop.
1. Wanda Costen, Dean (Smith School of Business) $93,647
Earning of the title of Queen’s biggest jet setter, Dean Costen spent $93,647 on travel between October 1, 2022 and October 1, 2023. Costen travelled to Costa Rica, China, Spain, and more this year.
Costen met with alumni, took Smith professors out for dinner, and attended a dean’s conference in Texas. Toronto meetings with Smith’s advisory board cost approximately $2,316 in March, with Costen staying at the Royal York Hotel.
The beginning of the period was busy for the Smith Dean, who visited Canada’s west coast for two weeks in October 2022 and was off to Europe for the second half of January.
Tags
Administration, Ann Tierney, Barbara Crow, deans, Kevin deluzio, sandra den otter, University
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J. Reid
Just an alumnus who wanted to thank the author for doing good journalism. This is exactly the kind of accountability and transparency that current students and staff can benefit from.
AlanLevy
I think only one side is being examined
Look at. Of course, it’s all well and good to examine how public monies are spent such analysis must be objective . When looking at the money that was spent, but what is the University getting from those folks from the money spent. Thanks. Alan Levy
Anne-Louise McLaughlin
What I think is ridiculous(?) is that we’re pitting Dept against Dept. The school cries poor and people pull out stuff to suggest otherwise. “You have to spend $ to make $$.” “We have to be Relevant to just Be.” But I need to pay my bills. I am not asking for the Vice-Provost for ‘insert dept here’ salary but I am asking for a salary that means I don’t have to work 3 jobs to live and support myself nevermind support a family. There’s $ for some folks to have 3wks at Christmas while others HAVE to work during holidays to keep the place standing. Donations (not actual cash) are lovely but we can’t afford to maintain them and now no one attends classes in them AND we have to shut down other forms of education because ‘insert expensive issue here’. And some of our clientele destroy more on a Saturday night than I will make in 3 years. The University keeps (passively but aggressively) threatening my (big picture) job but they want their offices/classrooms/labs/’insert example here’ while telling me I will have to go to the Food Bank but I can’t have the time off during business hour (3 jobs) to go. I work with people who’s kids might want to go to Queen’s some day. They need to be able to live to be able to do so.
And another thing Mental Health is real, I know that. But why is it only important with regards to the students, some of the staff and most of the faculty?
I’m not saying that saying any that there is anyone less deserving. I am saying, however, that we deserve quality of life as well.
Anne-Louise McLaughlin
I did proof read the above and still missed putting in “clean” re: offices/…/labs and forgot student Residences and Dining Halls
Adele Mercier
Great. Just great.
The Journal should also investigate how much Queen’s pays yearly for fully Orwellian “investigations” of professors.
Darren
This is utterly ridiculous sounds like they need to be in politics when they are sucking at the troug , looks good on Queens saying they are in financial difficulty, wonder why that is!
Harry Swain
Surely Queens puts controls on sumptuary spending, like prior approval, insistence on economy (OK, premium economy for trips over 5 hours), per diems to cover accommodation and food, and demonstration of value for money. These are routine for businesses and governments: must universities be exempt?
Story puts paid to any transient thought I might have had about donating money to Queens!
Tansley Wood
The rules don’t apply equally to everyone. Just like in communist China or in the Soviet Union…
Brent
This largesse cannot be condoned or acceptable. This article doesn’t even mention compensation. As a parent of a Queen’s student in Commerce, it makes me question the surcharge to attend the school of business there when seemingly, accountable spending may be called into question.
Tansley Wood
In view of the budget crisis paralyzing the Queen’s community these days, this revelation is both shocking and scandalous. I sincerely hope that the Principal will apologize to the community, especially to those whose jobs are on the chopping block, for his direct reports’ excessive, and, yes, scandalous, spending. Some heads should roll. One, at the very least. This would provide some measure of accountability and serve as a clear signal that these types of excesses will not be tolerated.
Rick
$360K in travel costs, over a year, for 5 senior academic leaders is completely reasonable.
Queens’ operating budget is nearly three quarters of a billion dollars annually. To highlight a $360K cost as if this is part of the problem….
This isn’t journalism – it’s muckraking.
Queens has serious financial issues that require serious financial solutions. Not whatever this is.
E.M.
$360K is actually the annual travel expenses for SEVENTEEN senior leaders from Queen’s. During a time when international recruitment of undergraduate students is more important than ever to balance the books at Ontario universities. These leaders are simply doing their jobs.
James McDonald
If you were actual journalists, the real story would be why Wanda Ckstens salary went from $200,000 in 2021 to $400,000 in 2022.
Kind of missed the boat there.
Tansley Wood
It is because her appointment started on July 1, 2021.