Special Advisor to the Principal on Community Engagement
鈥淐ollaboration between universities and community partners opens avenues for innovative projects with real-world applications and benefits, as well as shared learning experiences. All of which will contribute to a vibrant academic atmosphere that enriches communities. By adopting this framework, Queen鈥檚 can strengthen relationships and trust between academia and broader communities, nurture existing partnerships, and foster new ones that together enhance impact.鈥
Principal鈥檚 Advisory Council on Community Engagement
The Principal鈥檚 Advisory Council on Community Engagement was established to cultivate university-wide strategic planning at Queen鈥檚 University. The Council brought together members from the various leadership, faculties, and staff to guide operational trajectories and initiatives, enhancing community engagement across the three priority areas: partnerships, teaching and learning, and research.
The Council is composed of 4 subcommittees and meets every 2 months to give feedback on the subcommittees鈥 work.
Subcommittees
Goals:
- Create a university-wide theoretical model for community engagement at Queen鈥檚.
Goals:
- Grow course offerings with community engagement opportunities for students.
- Build a new certificate program grounded in community engagement.
- Develop a mechanism for students to self-report their community engagement longitudinally.
Goals:
- Establish joint management mechanism for partnered projects.
- Develop policies and guidelines to support community engagement.
Goals:
- Develop evaluation metrics for annual reporting on community engagement activities.
- Implement mechanism for partner intake and collecting partners鈥 feedback.
- Method for longitudinally tracking students鈥 engagement in the community.
Our journey
Appointment of Special Advisor
Feb. 2023
Principal Patrick Deane appoints Special Advisor on Community Engagement.
Environmental scans
Mar. - Nov. 2023
The Special Advisor's team conducted literature reviews of Canadian and American universities for their community engagement initiatives. The team identified undergraduate and graduate courses at Queen's including community enagement.
Course review
July 2023 - Jan. 2024
Every undergraduate and graduate course at Queen's was reviewed for offering community engagement opportunities.
Community Engagement Council
Fall 2023
Twenty-three Queen's faculty and staff members formed the Principal's Advisory Council for Community Engagement.
Planning for assessment and evaluation
2024
Subcommittees held 21 meetings, and the full Council met four times to advance and give feedback on new community engagement initiatives.
Community Engagement Framework launched
Fall 2025
Queen's launched its Community Engagement Framework after inviting partners to provide feedback on its collective approach to community engagement.
Next steps
Community Engagement Record
Developing a Community Engagement Record to allow students to systematically track their community engagement activities while identifying and reflecting on professional skills developed while attending Queen鈥檚.
SDG-focused online course
Creating an online course that introduces students to the SDGs and to collaboration, problem-solving approaches, and community engagement.
Certificate development
Establishing an interdisciplinary certificate available to all undergraduate students that focuses on sustainability and community engagement.
In the media
Oct 09, 2025
Annual United Way campaign kicks off
Queen鈥檚 committee sets a $475,000 fundraising goal to support the KFL&A community.
Oct 08, 2025
Celebrating a community of Queen鈥檚 scholars
A recent reception in Grant Hall highlighted recipients of the university鈥檚 major scholarships and awards that are making a Queen鈥檚 education more accessible.
Oct 08, 2025
Queen鈥檚 community invited to Thrive
From Nov. 3 to 7, Queen鈥檚 community members can participate in special programming, events, and activities that focus on connection and inclusivity.