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EDIIA Student Support

The Nest - QHS EDIIA Initiatives has collected a list of resources available across Queen's University and outside campus to QHS students regarding scholarships/bursaries, mentorship, career advancement, employment, and other supports. Please feel free to email valarezo@queensu.ca if you are looking for any other supports to be added to this list.

Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. To acknowledge this traditional territory is to recognize its longer history, one predating the establishment of the earliest European colonies. It is also to acknowledge this territory’s significance for the Indigenous peoples who lived, and continue to live, upon it – people whose practices and spiritualities were tied to the land and continue to develop in relationship to the territory and its other inhabitants today.

The Kingston Indigenous community continues to reflect the area’s Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee roots. There is also a significant Métis community and there are First Peoples from other Nations across Turtle Island present here today.

 

QHS Anti-Discrimination Statement

Queen’s Health Sciences has a long-standing history of implementing discriminatory and oppressive policies including the expulsion of women from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Kingston, in 1883, and the ban of Black medical learners in 1918. While Queen’s Health Sciences (QHS) has issued public apologies to address some of these historical wrongdoings, we still have much work ahead to appropriately address and redress the many forms of institutional racism, discrimination, and oppression that not only existed historically, but continue to permeate our classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, research labs, and clinics.

To openly embrace decolonization and anti-oppression in all forms, we must first confront our own systemic patterns of injustice and profound privilege in QHS. A cultural shift towards a more just, equitable, and inclusive QHS will require us to acknowledge and tackle our own histories of oppression and sit in that discomfort. It will necessitate a process of self-reflection, unlearning and learning, listening to and valuing diverse voices among learners, staff, and faculty and a deep-seated commitment to change. We must be a leading example of the positive change our communities and the world deserve.

QHS disavows any form of oppression and discrimination, and stands against dehumanizing acts here at Queen’s, within the Kingston area, across Canada and around the world. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous and Black communities who continue to confront a systemic cycle of brutality and trauma. We recognize the need to dismantle institutional practices and policies that sustain and fuel acts of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, xenophobia and other forms of marginalization and oppression.

 

QHS Inclusion Statement

QHS is committed to fostering excellence and innovation in education, research, and clinical services by integrating equitable, inclusive, and just policies and practices that empower learners, staff, and faculty with diverse lived experiences to thrive at Queens University. We strive to create a sense of belonging amongst all individuals embodying an intersectionality of perspectives, backgrounds, and identities (including, but not limited to any aspect of a person’s physical appearance, ethnic or cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity, nation of origin, language, socio-economic status, disability status, immigration status, religion and creed, age, or family status, amongst others). Our responsibility is to serve diverse communities and society with humility, compassion, and empathy by educating health care professionals, conducting equitable and inclusive research, and practicing clinical care grounded in cultural safety and justice. We are responsible for building a more just, equitable, and inclusive healthcare system that dismantles barriers and builds bridges.

Through the collective development of the QHS EDIIA Action Plan, we strive to undergo a cultural transformation that promotes inclusive leadership and accountability by building and implementing equitable, inclusive, and reconciliatory practices.

 

 

Statement on Social Accountability

QHS is accountable to its learners, faculty, staff, and alumni. We are also accountable to the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington community and more broadly, to the national and global community where QHS can play a role in improving health and health equity. QHS has an obligation to take action to respond to the education and health needs of our communities in an equitable and inclusive manner. It is the responsibility of QHS to develop education, research, and clinical activities that prioritize “health for all” and which support health equity, accessible health care and population health. QHS is also accountable to the many commitments our University and Faculty have already made such as those to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action and the Scarborough Charter as well as to human rights declarations and to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our current and future health professionals, scientists, educators, and communicators must advocate for community members and patients disenfranchised by power structures and social conditions negatively impacting their health. We commit to these multiple layers of social accountability and to regularly assessing and enhancing our social accountability mandate.

 

Definitions of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Indigeneity, and Accessibility

  • Equity

Equity – guarantee of fair treatment, access, and opportunity. Goes beyond formal equality; differential treatment according to need may be required. Redressing unbalanced conditions is needed to achieve equality of opportunity for all groups.

QHS is committed to ensuring the fair and respectful treatment of all learners, staff, and faculty by eliminating unfair biases, stereotypes and/or barriers that limit someone’s full participation in educational, research and clinical activities. In addition, QHS strives to create opportunities for learners, staff, and faculty who have been historically and systemically marginalized and underrepresented to access power and improved academic and growth opportunities.

  • Diversity

Diversity is any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another. It means respect for and appreciation of differences in ethnicity, gender, age, national origin, ability, sexual orientation, faith, socio-economic status, and class. But it also includes differences in life experiences, learning and working styles and personality types that can be engaged to achieve excellence.

QHS is committed to diversifying the presence and participation of learners, staff, and faculty with different perspectives, backgrounds, and identities. We recognize that people hold many intersecting aspects of identity and we value a diverse community that includes (but is not limited to) people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour, members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, persons living with a disability, and those from diverse backgrounds with respect to ethnicity, immigration status, religion and creed, language, age, or family status, amongst others. We celebrate the diversity of our learners, staff, and faculty in QHS and strive to ensure that representation in QHS reflects that of the greater Canadian society.

  • Inclusion

Inclusion is the active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversity, where each person is valued and provided with the opportunity to participate fully in creating a successful and thriving community. It means creating value from the distinctive skills, experiences, and perspectives of all members of our community.

QHS is committed to creating an environment and culture where our learners, staff, and faculty can fully participate and flourish, build a sense of belonging, and feel welcomed and respected. QHS appreciates and embraces the diversity of perspectives, backgrounds, and identities of our learners, staff, and faculty by supporting their full participation in QHS.

  • Indigeneity

Indigeneity describes the state of being Indigenous or related to Indigenousness. Indigenous Peoples recognize their won Indigeneity, Indigenousness, and identity. Indigenous relates to territory, culture, community, and traditions.

QHS is committed to supporting Indigenous learners, staff, and faculty connection to land colonized by settlers and supporting a process of confirming Indigenous citizenship that no longer relies solely on self-identification. QHS will comply with the findings and recommendations of the Queen’s University Indigenous Identity Project. QHS will contribute to acts of decolonization and will support the Indigenization of the institution.

  • Accessibility

Accessibility is about giving equal access to everyone, included members of our communities who live with disabilities or whose environments disable them. Without being able to access the facilities and services found in the community, persons living with disabilities will never be fully included. In most societies, there are innumerable obstacles and barriers that hinder persons with disabilities. These include such things as stairs, lack of information in accessible formats such as Braille and sign language, and community services provided in a form or language which people are not able to understand.

QHS is committed to designing and building barrier-free information, activities, and environments for all learners, staff, and faculty, including those who may identify as having a disability.

General Scholarships/Bursaries

Please see the Current Students

page for more information about bursaries, scholarships and awards, and emergency financial aid. In this link you will find links for:

General Bursaries

  • Major Admissions Award
  • Admission Bursary
  • Promise Scholars
  • Schulich Leadership
  • Other Admission Awards
  • Automatic Admissions Scholarships
  • External Awards
  • Named general bursaries.
  • Robert Sutherland award
  • Automatic award

Scholarships and Awards

  • Open to all Students
  • Arts and Science Students
  • Engineering and Applied Science Students.
  • Faculty of Education Students
  • Nursing Students
  • School of Business Students
  • School of English Students

Work Study

Queen’s Work Study Program Provides eligible students with the opportunity to receive priority for certain part-time positions during a specified period of study.

Other Aid

External awards, Short term loan, and Student line of credit

 

First Generation 

First Generation Student Admission Pathway

A pathway program for first-generation students who are within the first generation of their family to pursue post-secondary education in Canada.

Promise Scholars

The Promise Scholars program is a comprehensive initiative designed to reduce financial barriers and increases access to Queen’s for local, first-generation students.

First generation student undergraduate admission pathway

An alternative admission pathway to the first year of a full-time, first-entry undergraduate degree program.

 

Students living with a disability 

Disability Awards

Link for addition information

Accessibility Award

This award recognizes the efforts of faculty, staff, and students promoting accessibility for persons with disabilities on campus.

 

Racialized Students

  • Scholarships/Bursaries for Indigenous students

Indspire

Indigenous achievement scholarships

Post-Secondary Student Support Program

Awards for Indigenous students in Queen's Medicine

  • Scholarships/Bursaries for Black students

In this link you will find the following scholarships and awards:

  • Robert Sutherland Harry Jerome Entrance Award
  • Robert Sutherland Memorial Admission Award
  • Betty Harrison Awards for Black Canadian Students

BBPA National scholarship

The BBPA National Scholarship Program (NSP) was founded in 1986 with the goal of supporting and fostering academic performance among Black Canadian kids through an annual scholarship program.

Blanche MacDonald Centre

This scholarship is the establishment of a $1 million scholarship program for Black Canadians who face financial challenges.

Community Unity Alliance – Directory of Black Scholarships and Awards

The Community Unity Alliance is pleased to provide a comprehensive Scholarship and Bursary guide for deserving students in need of financial assistance to continue their education, made possible by the generous contributions of our scholarship donors.

  • Additional Scholarships/Bursaries

Yellow house

Diverse range of different types of financial support  available for you on and off campus. The resources below are categorized by Awards, Grants, and Aid, and are catered to your unique QTBIPoC identities.

GrantMe BIPOC scholarships

External scholarship aims to support students who show commitment to strengthening their communities through celebrating their own identity, overcoming personal challenges and in engaging in leadership work.

Jean Lumb awards

The Jean Lumb Foundation offers 15 annual scholarships to Grade 12 students of Chinese heritage.

 

2SLGBTQIA+

Bill 7 awards

This award is sponsored by a registered charitable trust that provides scholarships to gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, two spirited, and queer students who are in financial need and studying at a higher level institution in Ontario to attain their first degree or diploma.

Scholarships Canada

Links contains a large variety of scholarships for 2SLGBTQIA+

 

International students

Financial aid programs available to assist international and U.S. students studying at Queen's.

 

Program Specific Scholarships/Bursaries

  • Medicine

School of Medicine Admission Bursary Application

To check for the eligibility of this scholarship please consult this link

Medicine scholarships

Website providing medical scholarships available in each province of Canada.

  • Master’s and PhD

School of graduate studies and post post-doctoral affairs awards

This link contains awards and bursaries for School of graduate studies and post post-doctoral affairs.

  • Nursing

School of Nursing Scholarships, Bursaries, and Financial Assistance

Those scholarships bursaries and financial assistance can be found in this link

ONA

The Ontario Nurses' Association Scholarship Fund assists students in nursing programs in Ontario. Up to 9 scholarships at $1,000 each are available each year.

  • QuARMS

The awards can be found in this link

QSuccess First Year Mentorship

For first year students.

Develop skills to succeed academically, time management.  Develop strategies to keep healthy

Altitude Healthcare Mentoring

Apply to be a mentee to a health care student in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, etc.

Upper-Year Peer Mentor Program

  Medicine school mentorship programs

Mentorship Resources

Please see a map of Queen's University campus to navigate these spaces.

Gender neutral bathrooms

Please visit link

Indigenous spaces

Please visit Indigenous Spaces on Campus for more information.

Prayer and reflection spaces

Please visit link

Child Friendly Campus

Assists parents and caregivers on campus

Miscellaneous inclusive spaces

  • Yellow House
    (140 Stuart St)
    Safe and comfortable space for People of Colour, Queer, Trans, Black, and Indigenous people.
  • Ban Righ Centre
    (32 Bader Lane)
    Hub for mature women students and mothers from diverse backgrounds.

Wheelchair Accessible Facilities

Please visit link

The Nest - QHS EDIIA Initiatives

The Nest is located in Room 402 in the School of Medicine building. It is the home of the Office of Equity and Social Accountability and the Office of Indigenous Health. It is a nurturing, welcoming, and safe gathering space for students, employees, and community members to come together to work and connect. It is open weekdays from 9-5 and people can also request after-hours access. The Nest is home to the following:

  • Shared workspaces
  • Lounge
  • Bookable private
  • board room
  • Local art
  • Kitchen with fridge and microwave
  • Breastfeeding area

Work Study Program

Work Study

provides students with the opportunity to work part-time jobs during their academic terms. The Work Study entitlement value is not a financial award; if you are employed for a Work Study job position, you will be paid an hourly wage as employment income directly to you.

Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP)

SWEP

presents a gratifying on-campus summer job experience for Queen's undergraduate students.To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in their first full-time Queen’s undergraduate degree program AND must be returning to the same full-time Queen’s undergraduate degree program in the fall.

Queen's Undergraduate Internship Program (QUIP)

QUIP

grants second or third year students a paid 12–16-month internship that provides valuable career-related experience. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in their second or third year of their Bachelor of Health Sciences degree (on-campus or online).

Resources for Career Advancement

to view upcoming career fairs to explore opportunities and connect with employers.

Anti-racism

International students

Mental health

  • Student Wellness Services  
    Supports the personal, academic, and social health development of students by providing a range of programs and services (e.g., counselling, referral to other services).
  • Good2Talk
    Free and confidential support services for post-secondary students in Ontario and Nova Scotia.
  • Conversation
    Service that enables students to book appointments with mental health professionals quickly and confidentially. Only students covered by the SGPS Health Plan are eligible.
  • Console
    Holistic mental health and well-being app available for undergraduate students.

Safety

  • Walkhome
    (613-533-9255)
    Provides students a safe way of traveling at night by connecting them to two Walkhome staff who help escort them to their destination.
  • Campus Observation Room  
    Space where intoxicated students can come to for support, monitoring, or even to sleep.

Sexual assault

Sexual gender and diversity

  • LGBT Youthline
    Confidential and non-judgmental peer support through telephone, text and chat services.
  • Trans Lifeline
    Phone service run by trans people for trans and questioning individuals.
  • Education on Queer Issues Project
    Club that advocates for human rights and raises awareness about queer-related issues.

Miscellaneous support

  • 211 Ontario
    connects people to social services, programs, and community supports they need. These include resources related toabuse, food, family services, financial assistance, government/legal resources, and more.
  • Resources
    identified by the Queen’s Human Rights and Equity Office that are organized into categories such as accessibility, anti-racism, indigenization, sexual gender and diversity, etc.
  • Resources
    related to academic and financial needs, food insecurity, sexual health, physical activity, substance use, etc.

Harassment and Discrimination

All members of Queen’s University have the right to be free from harassment and discrimination.

Please see the QHS Harassment and Discrimination page for more information.