Teacher Candidates - Supports and Services

Queen's University provides many services to our students including Academic SupportsHealth & Wellness, and Student Life services. For more details about the types of support available at the Faculty of Education contact the Student Services Office at Duncan McArthur Hall, Room A112.

Colourful illustration with the shapes of people in a circle with drums by Portia Chapman.

 

Mental Health Resources

Personal Counsellors

Pamela Hall and Solita Hoogendam provide students of the Faculty of Education with counselling services - same day appointments can be made through Student Wellness Services by calling 613-533-2506 and requesting an Education counsellor. 

Personal Counsellors

Wellness Groups at SWS

Student Wellness Services offers student-only Wellness Groups facilitated by health care professionals. The groups run 6 to 8 weeks are start in October and February of each year. 

Wellness Groups at SWS

Empower Me

Empower Me is a 24/7 phone service for crisis situations and scheduled sessions that allows students to connect with qualified counsellors, consultants, and life coaches for a variety of issues. 

Empower Me

Student Societies & Student Groups for Teacher Candidates

Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS)

Queen's graduate students are represented in the Society of Graduate and Professional Students (SGPS). In addition to representing the interests of students, the SGPS administers health and dental plans, grants and publications and it organizes events.

SGPS website

Queen's Education Students' Society

The ESS is the official representing body of all teacher candidates at Queen's. They put on events, socials, professional development session and many more exciting opportunities. 

ESS Twitter

Gender and Sexualities Alliance

Queen’s Faculty of Education GSA (Gender and Sexualities Alliance) is a group that is facilitated by Education faculty members, graduate students, and teacher candidates. The group provides a space for sharing and community by hosting social events, as well as supporting community initiatives.

GSA webpage

Teacher Candidates of Colour

Teacher Candidates of Colour promotes inclusive and diverse teaching and safe spaces throughout the campus. Started with the goal of creating a safe space for self-care for visible minority teacher candidates, TCC hosts educational and cultural activities through the year and provides support, knowledge, and resources for teacher candidates. 

Teacher Candidates of Colour webpage

Supports and Services on Campus

Athletics & Recreation (A&R)

The ARC is a state-of-the-art facility, rated A+ in The Globe and Mail’s student satisfaction survey, offers programs for all fitness levels. Intramurals, workouts, pickup sports or swimming. Full-time students are ARC members and can attend all Gaels regular home season games for free!

A&R

Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Coordinator

Barbara Lotan is the central contact for reviewing options and connecting students with the services they are comfortable with. Coordinates campus wide-education, response, support, training and prevention initiatives. 613-533-6330

Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Coordinator

Student Wellness Services

Offers confidential, integrated health and wellness services to all students. Students can book appointments with doctors, nurses, counsellors, accessibility advisors, and health promotion educators. There is also a walk- in clinic available for more urgent needs. 

Student Wellness Services

Faith and Spiritual Life

Chaplains provide confidential spiritual and religious counselling for students and staff from all backgrounds.

Faith and Spiritual Life

Hospitality Services

Consult with a chef or dietician, get a meal plan, check out our three dining halls and visit the many retail food locations across campus. Hospitality Services also offers supports for students with severe allergies.

Hospitality Services

Student Accessibility Services (QSAS)

QSAS supports students to level the playing field by implementing academic accommodations that remove barriers to a student’s academics. 

QSAS

Student Academic Success Services (SASS)

Provides professional academic skills and writing support to students of all levels at Queen's.

SASS

Financial Resources

Managing your finances can be overwhelming. The resources and services outlined below can provide emotional and practical support to push through these difficulties and assist you in a variety of ways.

Students experiencing financial hardship can reach out to Queen’s Financial Aid and Awards to set up free financial advising appointments via an online booking system: Registrar and Financial Aid Services website.

Queen’s Bursaries

Information is available on the Student Awards site regarding the general bursary, scholarships and awards, work study, and other financial aid. If you find this a lot to navigate, as noted above, you can book a student financial advising appointment.

Graduate Student Resources

Indigenous Student Support

AMS Student Experience Bursary

The purpose of the Student Experience Bursary is to enhance the financial accessibility of events run by AMS-ratified clubs or Faculty Societies for all AMS members. The bursary is designed to subsidize, partially or in full, fees required for events where a student would otherwise be unable to participate for reasons relating to financial hardship.

Food Access Resources

Student Affairs provides a comprehensive list of food access resources both on campus and in the Kingston community.

Faith and Spiritual Life Office

Faith and Spiritual Life offers multi-faith, non-judgemental support for religious, spiritual, personal, and financial problems, concerns, or crises.

The Ban Righ Centre

The Ban Righ Centre provides financial and advising services for mothers and other women returning to their studies, including undergraduate, graduate, professional, domestic, immigrant, and international women students. They also offer a free soup lunch to students who visit the Centre and can help access other food assistance on campus and in the community, including Swipe it Forward, the AMS Food Bank, the Queen’s Good Times Diner, and various community resources. Needs-based assistance is available to registered mature women students throughout the academic year.

Gender and Sexual Diversity Resources

Transgender and/or Gender-Nonconforming Teacher Candidates FAQs

As part of Dr. Lee Airton's research into supporting Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Teacher Candidates, they have created a Frequently Asked Questions document that details navigating different aspects of the Bachelor of Education program at the Faculty of Education. 

Queen’s Human Rights and Equity Offices

Focus: Provides confidential advice to Queen’s community members on human rights issues and offers a variety of educational programming.

Email: hrights@queensu.ca
Phone: 613-533-6886 (HRO) | 613-533- 2563

Education on Queer Issues Pro (EQuIP)

Focus: EQuIP “seeks to create a safer environment for individuals at Queen’s and in Kingston of all sexualities and gender identities. EQuIP strives to create a fun, welcoming, and educational community for queer and queer-positive individuals while advocating for human rights and raising awareness about queer-related issues”. This group serves Queen’s students as well as the wider Kingston community.

Email: equip@ams.queensu.ca | Phone: 613-533-3154

Sexual Health Resource Centre (SHRC)

Focus: Specialized information and referral service regarding issues of sex, sexuality, and sexual health. Nonjudgmental and confidential, pro-choice, feminist, positive space, non-heterosexist, lending library discussing various subject matters relating to sex and sexuality as well as pamphlets available for pick up, location in JDUC (main campus) sells different sexual health and pleasure products, and serves as a confidential resource for those in need of immediate support.

Phone: 613-533-2959 Check Facebook page for hours of operation (varies)

Levana Gender Advocacy Centre

Focus: A student-funded Queen’s University organization committed to creating and nurturing a radical community of Kingston students and residents. Devoted to fighting gender oppression and advocating for broad ideas of gender empowerment for those of any or no gender, Levana operates on anti-oppressive practices. Open to all residents of Kingston, and offers a lending library free of charge”.

Email: levanacentre@gmail.com 
Phone: 613-533-2963

Yellow House

Focus: The Yellow House is a safe, comfortable and accountable space for queer, racialized and marginalized students to create community, to feel empowered, to empower others, to celebrate and to honour their histories. We seek to engage students in initiatives that actively dismantle oppressive, racist and colonial ideologies and practices.

Queen’s Faculty of Education Genders and Sexualities Alliance

Focus: The Faculty of Education Genders and Sexualities Alliance brings together gender and sexual minority students, faculty and allies to hang out and do cool things together. Open to all! For more resources, please visit: educ.queensu.ca/gsa

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization Resources

Teacher Candidates of Colour

Teacher Candidates of Colour is a group dedicated to informing teacher candidates on topics of culturally responsive teaching and providing a safe space for teacher candidates of colour.

Email: tcc@clubs.queensu.ca
Faculty Liaison: alana.butler@queensu.ca

Indigenous Teacher Education Program Office

The Indigenous Teacher Education Program Office provides administrative, academic and cultural support for our ITEP campus and community-based teacher candidates (Manitoulin North-Shore Region, Lambton-Kent Region, and Mushkegowuk Territory), Faculty of Education students, faculty and staff, and the greater Queen's and Kingston community.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization Committee

The purpose of the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Decolonization (EDID) Committee at the Faculty of Education is to cultivate an inclusive community; create welcoming classrooms and social spaces for all students, faculty, and staff; ensure equitable and inclusive policies, processes, curriculum, and events; and support marketing, recruitment, and retention initiatives that enhance a diverse teaching and learning community at the Faculty. The EDID Committee is a central point of contact for EDID concerns and supports and advocates for systemic change for students, faculty, and staff. Concerns and issues may be brought to the EDID Committee if they are systemic in nature. For other concerns, the EDID can make referrals to the correct resource.

EDI Coordinator

Dr. Alana Butler began her role as the inaugural EDI Coordinator for the Faculty of Education on May 1, 2021. This role brings guidance and leadership to our students, faculty, and staff as we work to create an inclusive and supportive working, learning, and research community.

The EDI Coordinator:

  • Provides leadership and guidance on EDI-related issues across the Faculty
  • Provides one-on-one advice and guidance to Faculty of Education students navigating EDI-related issues at Queen’s (TCs, and graduate students in various roles, e.g. TA/GTF positions, RAs)
  • Works with instructors on EDI infusion within courses, including developing resources and making referrals to other services and training at CTL, HREO, etc.

Both the Coordinator and the EDI Committee provide support to students, faculty, and staff. Individuals can contact Dr. Butler (alana.butler@queensu.ca) or EDI Committee co-chairs Dr. Claire Ahn (claire.ahn@queensu.ca) or Becca Carnevale (rebecca.carnevale@queensu.ca) through direct email or the anonymous online form. The Committee is not equipped to respond to individual complaints regarding racism, assault, or specific incidents faced by individuals, but can make referrals to additional supports and resources, including the Human Rights and Equity Office and other services at Queen’s.

Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre

146 Barrie Street
613-533-6970

A home away from home for Queen’s Indigenous community. The centre’s programs include 1:1 advising, personal support and counselling, cultural workshops, elder services, traditional teachings and ceremonies, a lounge, library, laundry, kitchen, feasts and a Supporting Indigenous Graduate Enhancement pod.

If you are experiencing an EDID-related issue in the classroom or within the Faculty, please follow the process outlined below.

STEP 1: If possible, and you are comfortable, bring the issue to your professor or course instructor.

If Step 1 does not resolve the concern, then:

STEP 2: Contact Stephen Sliwa, Executive Program Director, Teacher Education Program.

If Step 2 does not resolve the concern, then:

STEP 3: Reach out to the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Coordinator Tracy-Ann Johnson-Myers.

If Step 3 does not resolve the concern, then:

STEP 4: Contact edudeans@queensu.ca to schedule a meeting with Associate Dean, Peter Chin

If Step 4 does not resolve the concern, then:

STEP 5: Reach out to the Queen’s University Human Rights Advisory Service at hrights@queensu.ca to book an appointment with an advisor.

Other places to go for support:

Please see the Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response Policy for a definition of terms.

Student Life

Ban Righ Centre

queensu.ca/ban-righ-centre/
32 Bader Lane
613-533-2976

The centre welcomes women of diverse backgrounds and all ages, especially those returning to university after a time away, and offers community, personal, practical and financial support.

Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre

queensu.ca/fourdirections/
146 Barrie Street
613-533-6970

A home away from home for Queen’s Indigenous community. The centre’s programs include 1:1 advising, personal support and counselling, cultural workshops, elder services, traditional teachings and ceremonies, a lounge, library, laundry, kitchen, feasts and a Supporting Indigenous Graduate Enhancement pod.

Student Community Relations Office

queensu.ca/studentcommunityrelations
JDUC, Room 142a, 87 Union St.
613-533-6745

Guidance and advice about living in the Kingston community, including information about housing, leases, insurance, moving in, moving out and neighbour issues.

Yellow House

queensu.ca/yellow-house
140 Stuart Street 
343-363-4484

Yellow House is a safe, comfortable and accountable space for queer, racialized, and marginalized students to create community, to feel empowered, to empower others, to celebrate and to honour their histories. Yellow House seeks to engage students in initiatives that actively dismantle oppressive, racist and colonial ideologies and practices.

Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC)

quic.queensu.ca
JDUC, Room 111, 87 Union St.
613-533-2604

The centre provides an informal gathering place for the international members of the Queen’s community to network and receive non-academic advice. Supports and programs are offered to students interested in internationalizing their education on campus or through study, work or travel abroad.

West Campus Information

Parking

You can pay for parking by using the Honk smart phone app. The rates (as of Nov. 2022) are $2.00 per hour or $10 for the day (subject to change - please check the app for the most up-to-date information). You can pay via the Honk app to park in any of the lots around Duncan McArthur Hall. The parking lot is regularly monitored and parking tickets are issued. Once you receive a ticket, the Faculty has no means of waving it and cannot pay the fine for you. Parking permits are not required after 5 pm or on weekends. 

Teacher Candidate Parking Pass

This is an exclusive offer for teacher candidates (Consecutive BEd, DipEd and final year Concurrent) only. Permit holders can use this permit to park behind Duncan McArthur Hall in the paved lots (not the gravel lots at Richardson Stadium).

This special permit agreement provides the convenience of only paying for parking during scheduled classes (no payment is taken for teaching placement weeks).​

Duncan McArthur Hall Parking Map

Quiet Space

A quiet space (A311) is available where students and staff can take time for reflection, meditation, and prayer to empower them in their daily life. 

Housing

Resources for housing: 

Eating

During the school year, Jean Royce Dining Hall is open - the building is attached to McArthur Hall. Within Duncan McArthur Hall, there are vending machines and microwaves available for student use. 

Short walks from MacArthur Hall: 

  • Bearance's Grocery (5 minute walk) - has various groceries along with a deli counter that sells freshly made sandwiches
  • Juniper Cafe (15 minute walk) - has coffee, lunch options and baked goods 
  • Subway (10 minute walk) 
  • Tim Horton's (10 minute walk)