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Throughout the duration of the encampment, university representatives engaged in ongoing dialogue with encampment participants. This included dedicated meetings with Queen’s subject matter experts to discuss investments, disclosures, and other areas of interest. 

Regarding our investments, Queen’s University is committed to transparency in its investment activities and takes Responsible Investing seriously. We have had a policy and process for a number of years that provides opportunity for engagement and input from community members to ensure we are meeting our responsible investing commitments.

As outlined in our Responsible Investing Policy, members of the university community can make written representations through this process for special requests and a written request to consider divestment was made by a campus community group in early May. That request met the threshold set out in the process, and subsequently underwent a review by the University Secretariat and was forwarded to Principal Patrick Deane. In accordance with the procedure, Principal Deane is now striking a Review Committee for Responsible Investing to review the request. Membership on that committee is expected to be announced shortly.

Recommendations from the review committee may include the opportunity to coordinate in-depth consultations to ensure it considers the wide range of perspectives from across the campus community.

The committee will provide appropriate recommendations to Principal Deane for consideration, who will then make recommendations to the appropriate committee of the Board of Trustees. Final approval rests with the Board of Trustees. There will be opportunities for all those who have an interest in this matter to participate in this process.

The university voluntarily and publicly discloses detailed holdings information on its investments managed by the university’s external asset investment managers. Queen’s allocates its investment assets to a variety of external investment managers with a range of expertise, mostly through pooled fund vehicles. It does not normally select individual securities internally. Queen’s University as well as the majority of its external investment managers are signatories to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI).  

Regarding debate and discourse on campus, the university’s policy on Free Expression affirms its position on the rights and responsibilities of individuals associated with free expression. Queen’s is a diverse community, reflecting a variety of often differing perspectives. The university’s policy on Free Expression requires that freedom of expression on campus is exercised safely and in accordance with all applicable laws and policies. Queen’s will continue to uphold free expression and to protect the safety of all its staff, students, and faculty.