Queen’s announced today a number of additional measures to assist students and academics impacted by changes in entry and transit policies announced two weeks ago by the United States.
“As a university, it is our collective responsibility to do what we can to assist those in need,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. “By offering a safe haven for those impacted by this policy to continue their studies or their research, we are reaffirming the values of inclusion, diversity and equality that are central to our mission as a modern institute of higher education.”
Queen’s has extended undergraduate and graduate application deadlines. The university is also making emergency bursary funding available, and is offering assistance to any student who needs to find on or off-campus accommodation. Queen’s has also responded to a request from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), seeking institutions willing to assist students, researchers and faculty directly impacted by the policy change. The response to the APLU request is part of a Universities Canada-directed action to assist affected faculty and students.
The Queen’s School of Graduate Studies (SGS) has also announced that they are willing to host students and researchers who are unable to re-enter the United States to continue their studies or research. The SGS will facilitate finding a titular supervisor, workspace and resources to help students continue their academic work and provide the means to connect with their supervisor at their home institution. In light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the US visa policy, students are encouraged to speak with their home university to determine how the policy may impact them, as well as how studying at Queen’s may impact their degree progression at home.
Registered Queen’s graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who are citizens of the countries affected are also eligible to apply for financial support to offset unexpected costs resulting from direct restrictions on travel related to academic pursuits during the period in which the Executive Order was operative. This includes conference registration fees, flight cancellation penalties, and similar associated costs. This measure will be extended if the Executive Order is reinstated.
“Queen’s recognizes the positive impacts that a diverse population can bring to the student learning experience,” says Kathy O’Brien, Associate Vice-Principal (International). “In welcoming students and researchers from around the globe, we can create an environment where discourse and research can benefit from a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives.”
In response to the U.S. Executive Orders, Principal Woolf issued a statement and the university promoted the travel and immigration-related resources available to any member of the campus community who had questions about the impact of the orders. In addition, the Queen’s Law Refugee Support program has taken action in support of those impacted by the ban – including collecting over 100 signed letters asking the federal Minister of Immigration to suspend the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, as legal challenges to the executive orders continue to be filed.
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