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With the new academic year underway, Queen’s has been busy welcoming more than 1,900 new graduate students.  They are coming to Queen’s from across Canada and 60 countries around the world to advance their education, pursuing graduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and PhDs. The Queen’s School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA) is leading the effort to help these students build a sense of community and learn about the wide array of resources available to them at Queen’s.

“Graduate students come to Queen’s to explore a diverse array of fields, and through their programs, they build strong, close-knit communities,” says Fahim Quadir, Vice-Provost and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. “However, it's equally important for our graduate students to recognize that they are part of the larger Queen’s family and the vibrant graduate student community as a whole. This is why, at the start of each academic year, we seek meaningful opportunities to connect incoming graduate students—not only with one another but also with the valuable support systems Queen’s has in place to help them thrive.”

As part of this outreach, SGSPA set up a tent in front of Gordon Hall throughout the week and invited graduate students to stop by to chat and learn more about life at Queen’s. Joining the SGSPA staff were representatives from various units on campus, such as Career Services, Student Academic Success Services, Queen’s Library, Research Services, and the Centre for Teaching and Learning. Upper-year graduate students were also at the tent to provide guidance to their new peers.

New graduate students at the welcome reception in the Biosciences Atrium. (Jana Chytil)

A reception held in the BioSciences Atrium also brought together new graduate students so they could meet members of their cohort from outside their programs. They also heard welcoming messages from university leaders, including Dean Quadir, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Cathy Keates, and Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans.

“As a research-intensive institution, Queen’s graduate students are integral to the fabric of the university,” said Provost Evans in his remarks. “You are at the start of what I hope will be a very rewarding and expanding academic journey – one filled with opportunities to learn from and work alongside Queen’s leading researchers, make lasting connections with peers and mentors, deepen your knowledge, and make important contributions to your fields. I wish you all the best of luck as you begin your studies, and I look forward to seeing the impact you make at Queen’s and beyond.”

Learn more about graduate studies at Queen’s on the SGSPA website.