Important messages, dates and news from the Faculty office.
Important dates

Friday May 21, 2021
All Staff Holiday (University will be closed)

Monday May 24, 2021
Victoria Day (University will be closed)

Thursday May 27, 2021 from 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Undergraduate Chairs and Assistants Retreat


Friday June 11, 2021 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Committee of Departments Meeting



The Faculty of Arts and Science recently launched a social media campaign to announce five new positions in Black Studies, as part of a suite of initiatives to promote and engage with Black Studies.  In response to the campaign, a number of anti-Black, racist, violent, and hateful comments were posted.  We apologize to members of our community impacted and harmed by the reaction to our promotion of these positions as well as by our response in the management of the campaign.  There are takeaways from this experience that will inform us moving forward, including a review of our social media strategies and an implementation of anti-racist communication guidelines.

Queen's is enriched by the deep intellectual legacy of Black Studies and the ongoing service and scholarship of Black faculty, students and staff.  We are excited to further develop Black Studies at Queen's and to continue our contribution to this global discipline. Also read the statement on our website.
gradesSummer 2021 grades memo

Please see the attached Grades Memo which includes deadlines and information on submitting grades. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected]
OCEFOntario Community Environment Fund

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is currently accepting applications for our enhanced Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF). It is specifically looking for projects that focus on the protection and preservation of our land, air and water. 

The deadline to submit an application through the Transfer Payment Ontario portal is June 23, 2021 at 5:00 pm EST. Successful applicants will be notified by summer 2021 and projects may begin in fall 2021. Email [email protected] for more information or visit the Ontario Community Environment Fund website for more information. 

nsercNSERC Alliance-Mitacs Accelerate grants

NSERC and Mitacs have developed an opportunity for applicants seeking support from both an Alliance, Option 1 grant and Mitacs Accelerate, to apply through a single application submission and review process. Applicants are invited to include in their Alliance application a request for additional support through Mitacs Accelerate internships as a component of the training of HQP.

Applicants must meet both NSERC's and Mitacs' eligibility and merit criteria when the application is submitted and when funding is released. Applicants who wish to include Mitacs Accelerate internships in their Alliance application should contact Michael Lacasse [email protected] to obtain the Mitacs supplemental application and budget spreadsheet.

tomcshowTom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series featuring the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould

The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, P.C., Q.C., M.P. (Puglaas) presents UNDRIP is the Start, Not the Finishing Line as part of the Tom Courchene Distinguished Speaker Series. Canada's first Indigenous Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Canada's first elected female Independent Member of Parliament has been a leader among Indigenous peoples advocating for the proper recognition and implementation of Indigenous rights.

Bill C-15 is the federal government's response to calls to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as a framework for reconciliation in Canada. Hear her share insights from her unique experience as an Indigenous and Canadian politician and leader.

The Zoom event is scheduled for May 19, 2021 at 4:30 PM.

firesideNew Fireside Series podcast

In case you missed it, listen to the new podcast Timely Teaching for a Globalizing Present and Decolonial Futures presented by Beverley Mullings - Professor, Department of Geography and Planning, and Thashika Pillay - Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education. These two scholars concerned with diasporic and global identities, as they seek common and uncommon ground, in a Fireside Series chat about teaching in, from, and to the current moment. The podcast was also aired recently on CRFC.

qcakRecruiting employers and new graduates for the Queen's Career Apprenticeship: Kingston (QCA:K) program

Know an employer looking to hire a recent graduate for a year or a graduating student in humanities or social sciences who is currently job searching? Contact the Faculty of Arts and Science Experiential Learning Team at [email protected].

The Queen's Career Apprenticeship: Kingston is an innovative program entering its fourth year, which connects new graduates from the humanities and social science disciplines within the Faculty of Arts and Science with a Kingston employer. The program aims to help new graduates launch their career while retaining skilled talent in the community.
healthyReminder - Supporting Healthy Communities 

Reflecting our commitment to supporting our people and building strong, healthy communities, we are pleased to announce that we are now offering and planning a range of initiatives to support your mental and physical health and social well-being.  
 
Monthly events are being organized specifically for FAS staff and faculty as a way to support faculty-wide mental health, the first of which is a Building Empathy from the Inside-Out webinar featuring current Queen's graduate student, alumnus and past University Rector Mike Young at 10:00 am EST on May 20, 2021. Mike is the Executive Director and Founder of The Empathy Institute, and is an educational consultant and speaker who seeks to facilitate impactful conversations about mental health, gender and sexual diversity, sexual violence, personal / organizational growth, empathy, and leadership through engaging talks, panels, workshops, and writing. Register now for the event

In addition, we have designed a new Coffee Break Series to facilitate fun, informal connections across the Faculty starting this May. Sign up by May 25, 2021 to let us know your preferred days/times over the next two months and whether you would be interested in volunteering as a co-host for our breaks, which would involve helping to ensure a positive and inclusive experience for participants and facilitating conversation. Sign up now

Learn more about what FAS and Queen's are doing to support mental and physical health and social well-being in our feature story: Supporting healthy communities.
majorReminder - Launch of Indigenous Studies Major and Medial
 
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Major and Medial in Indigenous Studies are available for Plan Selection/Change of Plan this May, along with the Minor in Indigenous Studies. Please consider advising any interested students on the option of doing one of these plans (Major, Medial, Minor).   

bartlettReminder - Bartlett Family Fund for the Humanities

The Bartlett Family Fund for the Humanities was established to promote excellence in the Humanities at Queen's. Funds will be directed to support specific projects that are intended to have a tangible impact beyond the fiscal year they are expended and are not to be used to supplement operating costs of a department.
 
Proposals up to $14,000 will be considered - submissions will be reviewed and considered through the Dean of Arts and Science Office. Additional funding for a total of $28,000 is available in 2021/22 and therefore multiple projects will be accepted this year. 
 
There are 13 qualifying departments - Art, Classics, Dan School of Drama & Music, Fine Arts, Film & Media, Global Development Studies, History, Languages, Literature & Culture, Philosophy, Political Studies, Psychology, Religion, Sociology).
 
The deadline for submissions is June 15. For more information, visit the website.
shoutoutReminder - Artsci Shoutouts

Over the past year we have all been working hard to adjust to the challenges that we have had to face. Working together and supporting each other has been essential. Whether it has been helping to set up a colleague's webinar or virtually welcoming a new team member, everyone has pitched in. We want to celebrate and shine a light on all of the little things that our coworkers do to help us excel in these difficult times.

Visit https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/artsci-shoutouts to post a shoutout to one of your colleagues and view what other staff & faculty are posting to each other.
Arts _ Science Shoutout graphic