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Terms of Reference

Purpose

As part of the consultation process for developing the university’s bicentennial vision, this group is tasked with articulating a comprehensive vision for the future of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS) at Queen’s University. Within the context of the university’s financial challenges and national and global trends affecting AHSS fields, this vision should identify opportunities to strengthen these fields through research and teaching, addressing emerging challenges, and enhancing their contribution to academic excellence, societal engagement, and global impact.

Mandate

The group will:

• Assess the current state of AHSS disciplines at Queen’s, including strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Identify and analyze national and global trends and developments in AHSS in higher education.
• Engage with students, staff, and faculty to gather diverse perspectives on the future direction of AHSS at Queen’s.
• Explore strategies to integrate AHSS with other disciplines, leveraging interdisciplinary approaches to address complex societal challenges.
• Recommend initiatives to enhance the visibility, relevance, and sustainability of AHSS programs at Queen’s.

Composition

The group will be selected by the Principal in consultation with the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science and be composed of:

• Chair: An academic leader with expertise in AHSS.
• Faculty members representing a diverse range of AHSS disciplines.
• A graduate student and an undergraduate student from AHSS programs.
• A support staff member from the Office of the Principal.

Scope

The group will focus on:

• Academic programming, including curriculum innovation and pedagogy.
• Research priorities and funding strategies.
• Community engagement and partnerships, both local and global.
• Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and accessibility in AHSS.
• Technology and digital transformation in teaching and research.
• Financial sustainability and resource optimization.

Deliverable

The group will deliver a report to the Principal outlining the vision for AHSS at Queen’s to be considered as part of the development of the university’s Bicentennial Vision. A first draft of the report is due by June 1, 2025 and the final report is due by July 1, 2025.

 AHSS Group Terms of Reference [PDF 93.5KB]