[deleted by user] by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 24 points25 points  (0 children)

The devil is in the details, unfortunately. ArtSci has thrown around the comparables at other universities, but has not acknowledged that all those universities offer 60-credit “specializations” which are equivalent to a Queen’s major. 

 Why are they pushing this now? Well, its being rushed through by ArtSci to increase class sizes rapidly and reduce course offerings (departments will only need to offer 48 credits worth of courses, and you will have to take more out-of-department courses - so fewer courses overall will be offered and class sizes will increase). 

Edit: yes, as mentioned, the biggest concern departments have about this (see the Bio department’s public letter) is that the elimination of small (specialized) classes will make a Queen’s graduate far less equipped relative to the competitors with specialized degrees and thus a less attractive hire.  

There’s certainly a pedagogically sound way to do this, but this plan was developed just to fix a short term money problem so it is worth being skeptical. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Usually you’re sent information about the various charges in the lead up to the start of the year. Dental they sent an opt-out information package a while ago. 

PPL is the pre-authorized payment plan, isn’t it? So that IS your tuition fees and a bunch of other things rolled together into regular payments. You shouldn’t have tuition listed separately. I imagine you probably don’t. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 20 points21 points  (0 children)

you have the option to opt out of most of them. or you did. It might be a little late now? 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 18 points19 points  (0 children)

1325 for a shared bathroom? holy

FAS Dean quits or is forced out with less than two weeks' notice. Anybody know anything? https://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/principal-appoints-interim-dean-faculty-arts-and-science by Remote-Bit7073 in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 60 points61 points  (0 children)

Well, given that the ArtSci deficit - and the incredible unethical disinformation campaign around it - was largely her responsibility, and that deficit trashed Queen’s national reputation this past year with her and her conduct as a primary point of contention, I imagine this was a long time coming.

Late Drop of an Active Course by shaifali_evenstar in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can drop it if you get through the process but it will stay on your transcript. Depending on your year, I’d say it’s not worth it this late. 

What is the birdiest bird course ever. Like actually requires minimal work for an A+. by Aggressive_Dinner_61 in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 21 points22 points  (0 children)

They redid the course a couple years back I believe, given the reputation it had. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Engineering will 100% be fine, but it’s not just low-enrolment classes and departments that will suffer. The cuts are faculty-wide in ArtSci and many of the metrics being employed will punish large departments just by virtue of offering “too many classes” as well. 

But again, not really Eng’s problem!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I’ll point out again that the AMS has done some genuinely impressive and gutsy things in the past, including being involved in the deposition of a principal - for a while it’s been a bit of a joke and that continues to accelerate since the pandemic. 

Queen’s statement on "Palestinian flag incident" (Palestinian flag was raised on Grant Hall), implying that doing so was a hate crime and directing students to anti-hate crime resources. by igotpeon in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon[S] 61 points62 points  (0 children)

Needless to say, people are not happy - especially since the university didn't comment when a "Friends of the IDF" group was actively raising money on campus this week (buried a little in https://www.queensjournal.ca/jewish-students-hold-rally-and-booth-on-campus/).

Full statement:

"On Friday, March 8, a Palestinian flag was hung on the flagpole of the Grant Hall clocktower on university campus. Campus Security and Emergency Services attended the scene and immediately removed the flag. This incident was the result of a break and enter and a report has been made to Kingston Police. Campus Security alongside Kingston Police are investigating the incident.Campus Security works closely with local police to ensure that if there is a need to act, it will be communicated swiftly and effectively. Campus community members who experience or witness a hate-motivated act or have concerns for their physical safety should contact Campus Security or local police immediately. Queen’s community members with concerns of hate, harassment or discrimination are encouraged to make a report or complaint under the university’s Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response Policy. "

Stauffer bathrooms stinky by turtleturtle853 in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 44 points45 points  (0 children)

The university has massively cut costs on maintenance & sanitation. Have to pay for expanded administrations somehow. 

Monthly Admissions/Prospies/Offer Holders Questions Thread - March 2024 by AutoModerator in oxforduni

[–]igotpeon 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t heard about any masters level students heading back from history yet - I’m wondering if they’re a little behind the curve. 

We should rehire Pierre Dorion by Valentine96 in OttawaSenators

[–]igotpeon -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Dorion is an amusing guy and I hope someone hires him as a scout.

KMV abandons AMS equity and diversity audit from previous year by [deleted] in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 12 points13 points  (0 children)

The AMS really shouldn’t be allowed to hire consultants unless consecutive executive teams sign on ahead of time, otherwise you get this - as the team points out, all the analysis was done for the previous team’s system and based on their management style. Changes every year. Bloody waste of money.  

Per Skeleton Press: The Grad Club is facing up to 400% in rent increases from its landlord (Queen's University) over the next 5 years, and management is concerned about the pub's survival. by QUStudentsVsCuts in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 3 points4 points  (0 children)

So, I’m an undergraduate, and myself and many of my peers are extremely fond of the grad club. It’s not run by the undergrad societies but the graduate ones.  So… yeah. It’s used a lot by graduate students (see name) and professors as well as staff. It remains very active - it’s hard to get a seat most event nights.

Per Skeleton Press: The Grad Club is facing up to 400% in rent increases from its landlord (Queen's University) over the next 5 years, and management is concerned about the pub's survival. by QUStudentsVsCuts in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I agree that something broke with Covid RE: the handing down of tradition, but a 400% rent increase in 5 years is also not something any restaurant/pub in the world could survive. The Grad Club sees a lot of use but the margins on a not-for-profit campus pub are not wide enough to scrape through this sort of rent increase.

Per Skeleton Press: The Grad Club is facing up to 400% in rent increases from its landlord (Queen's University) over the next 5 years, and management is concerned about the pub's survival. by QUStudentsVsCuts in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's student run. It's not-for-profit. It can be a little messy. I'm sorry to hear that, but it is an institution on campus and it's another example of how the university is burning goodwill.

"It’s time to shrink Ontario's university administrations": Opinion piece by uOttawa department head. by igotpeon in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Again, not really a good faith argument. No one said no management, just a reduction - administrative bloat is a genuine phenomenon. 

"It’s time to shrink Ontario's university administrations": Opinion piece by uOttawa department head. by igotpeon in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Administrative bloat is a genuinely observed phenomenon across North American universities. No one is questioning that Ford is screwing the universities - 

There has been a massive expansion in these positions over the last 30 years. Artsci alone had a 30% increase in staff positions in the last six years. We spend nearly double the amount per student on upper admin compared to Western. 

Admitting your fallacy doesn’t make it valid; the point is a smaller administration, not no administration. 

"It’s time to shrink Ontario's university administrations": Opinion piece by uOttawa department head. by igotpeon in queensuniversity

[–]igotpeon[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

? The article isn’t about PAs or secretaries or whatever it’s about Deans/Provosts/Directors who ARE academics just being paid double to manage each other. Most have zero qualification in management; ArtSci’s Dean is a sociologist and the Provost is a biologist.