Undergraduate and graduate students alike took to Zoom to express dissatisfaction over the University’s 2041 vision.
In an online Town Hall on Feb. 13, Principal Patrick Deane opened his discussion paper on “Queen’s Bicentennial Vision” to questions from students. The town hall began at 6:30 p.m. and lasted around an hour with approximately 10 students in attendance. Released on Jan. 17, Deane’s discussion paper sets the stage for Queen’s 200th anniversary in 2041.
Deane began the town hall by reintroducing the discussion paper, focused on increasing the quality and output of research by the University. The event originally listed eight speakers alongside Deane, including Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans and Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) Stephanie Simpson. Although all the speakers were present, Deane was the only one who actually spoke.
The paper’s content was the crux of the event, where students had the opportunity to ask questions via Zoom chat.
READ MORE: Principal Patrick Deane shares vision for University’s 200th birthday
Questions directed at Deane underscored mounting concerns about the University’s prioritization of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs over the humanities, the impact of a university-wide hiring freeze on research output, and the 2024 cuts to Arts and Science Online (ASO) programs—measures taken in response to the University’s $35.7 million operating budget deficit. Additionally, attendees voiced worries about graduate student funding and the University’s support amid rising food and housing insecurity.
In an interview with The Journal, third-year PhD student in civil engineering Zaid Kasim and SGPS vice-president (graduate) detailed his thoughts on the consultation process, calling the town hall “high level” with a focus on University administration.
“There was quite a bit of a disconnect, in my opinion, between the audience and the speakers,” Kasim said.
While Kasim felt Deane properly stressed protection of equity-focused humanities programs, he felt concerns regarding graduate student issues such as funding weren’t well addressed.
“I don’t think they really succeeded in alleviating the concerns,” Kasim said about worries over humanities funding. He noted answers lacked specificity.
“I think there’s a lot of work they need to do in the next few months to make sure that people feel heard,” Kasim said, stressing the importance of future student consultations.
At the end of the town hall, PhD English candidate and President of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) 901 Jake Morrow sent a message in the chat.
“This was honestly useless. Several colleagues let me know they dropped off the call in frustration. Good luck in selling this [bicentennial] vision, whether the community wants it or not,” he wrote.
Prior to the town hall, the Queen’s Coalition Against Austerity (QCAA) published their first issue of the Readers Responses to the Principal’s Bicentennial Vision—a series of responses to questions asked in the Bicentennial Vision from members of the University.
The response criticized the discussion paper’s prioritization of STEM programs over the humanities while proposing ways to combat lower government funding and international student enrollment limits, such as establishing international outpost institutions.
In an interview with The Journal, QCAA member and Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies Samantha King shared her concerns about the bicentennial vision.
“The vision doesn’t seem like a vision at all but is really about aligning the University with provincial funding priorities,” King said.
In response to the paper’s STEM focus, King believes the vision fails to provide any consideration of how to protect the humanities and the social sciences, or any consideration of their value other than playing a supporting role to STEM. For instance, the paper specifies how the humanities must “ponder the lineaments of a possible future defined not by alienation from and reaction against [the drift towards STEM in higher education], but by a recognition of their continuity with it.”
King elaborated on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, a topic raised during a Feb. 11 feedback meeting attended by around 70 members of the Faculty of Arts and Science to help shape Senate discussions and the Senate Board retreat. Rather than prioritizing STEM and professional schools, as emphasized in the bicentennial celebration, the proposal advocated for integrating the humanities and STEM in a way that mutually supports both fields.
In King’s own vision for the University’s 200th birthday, she noted the value in furthering Queen’s unique strength in liberal arts education rather than “anticipatory obedience” in predicting and meeting the wants of the provincial government—something she stresses amidst a rise in authoritarianism in the United States.
Following consultations from students, staff, and faculty, a draft of the final Bicentennial Vision will be posted later this year according to the Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor. Staff and faculty town halls take will take place Feb. 19 and 24.
Tags
bicentennial, Bicentennial Vision, humanities, QCAA, STEM, Town Hall
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