Solidarity. Not Austerity.
On April 8, over 200 members of the Queen’s community showed up to the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS) Town Hall, where the idea of transforming the School of Computing into a “college” within FAS was the sole item on the agenda. QCAA has spoken with many attendees since the meeting, and, to a … Continue reading More Holes than Swiss Cheese: On the Idea to Create a College of Computing
Not known for his morale-boosting or consensus-building, Provost Evans has plumbed new depths in recent weeks. Here, we focus on his approach to three key issues of serious consequence to the future of the university: The abrupt departure of Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, Bob Lemieux, on March 26; the plan … Continue reading Winners and Losers: A Wild Week at Queen’s
Over the last several weeks, faculty, staff, and students have been asked to rearrange schedules at the last minute; we’re pulled into job talks and appointments committee meetings through hushed tones with the promise that we might land a Big Researcher. Most of the appointment processes underway are part of the Canada Global Impact+ Research … Continue reading Deep Impact+: New Canada Chairs Program Steers Queen’s Towards High-Tech, Military, and Undemocratic Futures
Greetings QCAA readers! It may be a new year, but Queen’s is still a hot mess. Here are some of the highlights from the first month of 2026. It’s not news that the provincial government and Queen’s administration are trying to shrink the arts, humanities, social sciences, and even some basic sciences in the post-secondary … Continue reading From Leaks to Geeks
You are invited to QCAA's first social of the year. We'll be gathering at the Grad Club after FAS Faculty Board, which typically ends between 4:00 and 4.30 pm. We hope to see you there!
Dear Dean Lemieux (Bob), I attended the FAS Town Hall in Humphrey Auditorium yesterday, and left feeling grateful to be in the privileged position of being able to retire next year. I think the most depressing aspect of the Town Hall was the lack of any discussion of what we are doing as an institution … Continue reading “Empty and Hollow Inside”: One Reader’s Response to the FAS Dean’s Town Hall
QCAA received the following commentary on the FAS proposal to raise the external credit allowance from 6.0-units to 12.0-units. (See “Motion Regarding Revisions to the Academic Program Regulation” in the FAS Faculty Board Agenda package for Friday, November 21). We are grateful to the readers who submit such analyses to us and invite others to … Continue reading Further Diminishing FAS? The Proposal to Allow FAS Students to take 12 External Credits
The administration has sent out another “survey” by Nous to assess shared services. The survey is very similar to the first one and asks us to evaluate service relevance and performance. The only difference is that it’s even more incompetent than the last one (if you can believe it). For example, one section asks if … Continue reading Still a Trap: How to Respond to the Second “Service Effectiveness Survey”
On Wednesday, November 19th, at 2:30 pm, in Humphrey Auditorium, the FAS Faculty Board will host a special ‘State of FAS 2.0’ update from the Dean. The Dean wrote in an email that his presentation will include an “update on FAS finances, ongoing work on financial recovery pillars, and future–proofing FAS.” Given this preview, and … Continue reading Show Up, Speak Up! State of FAS 2.0, Nov. 19
TW: Suicide This year’s Fall Reading Break has ended much like any other: I’m trying to recuperate my energy to keep going for another six weeks under the crunch of the austerity regime at my workplace—taking longer walks, cooking more elaborate meals, and doomscrolling a little less. But this year feels different. I find myself … Continue reading Guest Post: Are you Cracking Yet?
Queen's Coalition Against Austerity 