Written by Ally Frid
As the first week of school arrives after a long and restful summer, it can be difficult to get back into the swing of things. Whether you are a returning student, or this is your first year at Queen’s, it is always important to get acquainted with the resources that are available to graduate students on campus.
In terms of research and teaching support, the Queen’s University library offers department and research-specific guidance from in your field. This is a helpful tool since research collection at the graduate-level can be a tedious task, especially if you don’t know where to start! Thus, each librarian offers appointments for one-on-one, in-depth consultations that are geared towards your research.
Academic support is also offered for Queen’s graduate students, through Students have the option to book appointments with a member of the SASS team, where they can improve their writing and academic skills at the graduate level. As well, students can attend events such as workshops or study groups, that are geared towards grad student needs. For example, there is a Grad Writing Lab, which is a writing community for graduate students. At this event, students can meet and work alongside others, and receive support from the SASS experts. Currently, SASS offers different workshops for graduate students, that are running throughout the month of September. These workshops (titled “Grad Skills”) focus on different aspects of graduate studies, such as reading and writing skills. They are offered online (on Zoom) to accommodate distance learning students. Otherwise, most SASS workshops are held in Stauffer Library, on Queen’s campus.
On the Queen’s University website (under the “School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs” tab), there is an orientation schedule for incoming graduate students. There are welcome receptions for students in different departments, as well as student-wide events such as the upcoming Sidewalk Sale on September 9th. This event is held on University Avenue, and it is run by ASUS (The Arts & Science Undergraduate Society). This is a great opportunity to get immersed in the Queen’s culture, by learning about the different clubs that are available on campus and meeting other students. As well, there are usually booths for local stores and businesses, to ensure that Queen’s students are acquainted with the Kingston community.
Lastly, if you are an incoming graduate student who is seeking advice from upper-year students, Queen’s University has the perfect program for you! Starting in the fall term, a Peer Mentor Program will be offered for graduate students. Within this program, incoming students will be paired with peer mentors from their department, who can offer support and guidance throughout the school year. Mentees will have the opportunity to build confidence and develop the skills that are needed to navigate graduate school!