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It’s been almost two years since Queen’s approved the new Student Code of Conduct. The university is considering amendments to the Code, originally approved in 2016 by the Queen’s Board of Trustees after an extensive consultation process, to align with recent institutional recommendations and changes in policy.

Over the next two weeks, the Queen’s community is invited to review the suggested changes to the code and provide feedback for consideration before the amendments are considered by the Board.

A fair and effective Student Code of Conduct supports student health and wellness and a safe and positive learning environment. This contributes to a positive student experience, which is a fundamental pillar of the Queen’s Strategic Framework.

The proposed changes also position the university to take effective action in matters where harassment and discrimination on racial and other grounds may negatively impact the experience of individual students, as well as impair the welcoming and inclusive climates of the university as Queen’s makes efforts to diversify its students, staff, and faculty, as well as its curriculum.

The key changes are based on the recommendations of the 2017 Principal’s Committee on Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (PICRDI) report, the passage of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Bill 148), and the approval of the university’s Sexual Violence Policy.

Highlights of the proposed amendments to the Code include:

• Updated descriptions of the kinds of activities and behaviours that constitute non-academic student misconduct,
• Two updated and separated statements on harassment and discrimination,
• Clarification on the process of sexual violence complaints, and
• Elimination of duplicate or superfluous provisions.

The proposed amendments have been overseen by members of the Non-Academic Misconduct Subcommittee (NAMSC), a subcommittee of the Board of Trustee’s Audit and Risk Committee, with input from the Division of Student Affairs, University Legal Counsel, University Ombudsman, and University Secretary. The NAMSC will consider input from the Queen’s community collected over the next two weeks, then present the code amendments to the Audit and Risk Committee in May for recommendation to the Board of Trustees for final approval.

To review the changes and submit your input, visit the  (see "Policy Posts" on the right sidebar).