Arriving at Queen’s in 2020 as an equity-deserving student (hello, this is Niki’s Communications and Engagement Officer writing), I carried a heart full of nerves. I wasn’t sure what to expect or how I’d fit in. I soon learned I wasn’t alone in this.
In 2023, 53 per cent of students here at Queen’s felt like they needed to hide some aspects of their identity to fit in, up from 45 per cent in 2021. I must admit that despite being at Queen’s for six years and two degrees, I’m part of that statistic.
So where are these numbers coming from? From all of us.
Every two to three years since 2021, Queen’s has distributed a survey to collect anonymous feedback from students on campus climate. The Shift Survey, formerly called the Student Experiences Survey, captures information on experiences, perceptions and behaviours related to diversity and inclusion.
Your responses get turned into data and then packaged into a report, which is delivered to the highest bodies, the Senate and Board of Trustees, all the way to faculties, departments, and units.
Queen’s uses Shift survey reports to implement change. Following the 2021 result, the Shift Project was created. This initiative hosts a collection of events and initiatives aimed at centring equity-deserving student experiences. Things like the Shift Podcast, Interfaith Network Potluck, and every March they host Student Voices Week with events to encourage open conversations.
It initiated a student advisory group that gathers ongoing student feedback. Made up of students representing diverse identities and leadership roles, the group ensures that student perspectives remain at the forefront of institutional decision-making.
From 2020 to 2026, my experience at Queen’s has improved drastically and that’s why I decided to stay here for grad school. I feel safer and more included, and yet, there’s still moments when I feel the need to shift my identity to fit in. These nuances in just my own experiences are an example of how our school has made significant progress but also has a ways to go.
You can help be a part of that change. Check your e-mails for the link to fill out this year’s Shift Survey—it’s open until Feb. 17. Your 15 minutes may win you a prize like FLEX $, tuition credits, and bicycles.
The more voices we collect, the stronger of a message it sends to the administration that students care about their experiences and want to see a shift. Until campus is safe for everyone, it needs to hear from you.
At your service,
Pungavi
Tags
feedback, Rector's Digest, shift survey, survey
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