Greetings from the Disability Services Office!

Welcome to Queen’s! Coming to university is a big transition for students, not just socially (new people and new places), but also academically. Students often have questions about where to go for assistance and support and it’s important for all students to know that there are services to help you make that transition. For those students with learning, psychiatric and/or physical disabilities, there might be very specific questions about services and support on campus – and that’s where we come in! Disability Services can meet with you and talk about potential exam or classroom accommodations. We can help you figure out what you need to tell your professors or how to talk with them about your disability. We can also advocate on your behalf if that is what you would prefer. Be sure to contact us as early as possible to make sure you get what you need. We look forward to working with you and welcoming you to campus.

You’ll find us in the Health Services building at 146 Stuart Street. We’re here to help. Feel free to drop by or make an appointment to get to know us.

Our receptionist, Scia, will book your appointment; you’ll meet either me, Theresa, the Disability Service Advisor, or Gail, the Learning Strategist. Scia will help you figure out who you should be talking to. Wendy is our note taker program coordinator and will set you up with a volunteer note taker if you need one. If you’re a really good note taker, or want some training on taking notes, why not BE a note taker? It looks great on a resume.

We can also set you up with a Peer Mentor through Liz, the program coordinator, make sure you’re in a frosh group with a Leader who knows something about disabilities, and make sure your residence, classroom, exams, and events are accessible to you. All you have to do is ask and let us know what accommodations you require.

We hope to meet you soon and look forward to getting to know you!

Theresa Richard, Disability Services Advisor

Spring is coming…and so is the March Break Open House!

Like most of Ontario, we’re currently digging our way out of the remains of last weekend’s snowstorm – Mother Nature’s little reminder that winter is not yet over! Despite the snow, the one thing that is keeping me going is that spring IS coming…it’s only a matter of time…

The coming of spring is one of my favourite times of year, not only because I’m sick of wearing heavy jackets and shoveling my walk, but also because it marks the beginning of a very busy and exciting time in Admission Services. It also means it’s time for our March Break Open House, one of our largest and most exciting on-campus events!

I have to confess that I have a little bit of a soft-spot for March Break Open House, or MBOH, as we call it. During my undergrad here, I participated every year at tour guide, and during my first year in Admission Services, I was responsible for organizing it. The entire day is pretty exciting, but my favourite part is the Welcoming Ceremony in the morning. Why, you might ask? I’m not telling…yet. We’re going to post pictures and more information about MBOH over the next couple of days, so you’ll be able to see soon enough!

If you are on campus today for the first day of the MBOH, welcome to campus and I’m sure I’ll see you soon (I’m heading down to the Welcoming Ceremony in a few minutes). I just got word that the crowds have already started to arrive and there is only one hour left before the Welcoming Ceremony – I can’t wait! If you are joining us tomorrow, we will see you very, very soon!

To everyone, welcome to campus and to the March Break Open House 2008!

Danyal Martin

Admission Coordinator

Deciding which school to attend is hard enough…

…but deciding what you want to do with your life is even harder!

My name is Sara, I’m from Belleville, Ontario and I’m in my third year of the Chemical Engineering program at Queen’s University. I am a Campus Tour Guide, a Teaching Assistant, a Website News Story Writer and an active outreach volunteer. Sometimes I get overwhelmed –engineering can be intense, but I get through it. I get drive from my pilates class and my innertube waterpolo team. I appreciate my classmates, my coworkers and my friends. I love the community that Queen’s provides and I value the challenge of engineering.

I didn’t always know that I wanted to study engineering, and I didn’t always know I wanted to come to Queen’s. I didn’t know I would become a tour guide, or a teaching assistant, and I never thought I would play innertube waterpolo. I was once a high school student and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I was good at math and science, but I was also good at English and geography. I really enjoyed my outdoor education class and I didn’t have a strong interest in chemistry. My curiosity led me to engineering, where I could learn how things worked, and hopefully one day contribute to society with innovative designs.

The general first year program worked out well for me – I wasn’t sure what I wanted to take, but after first year, I picked Chemical Engineering. I have always been interested in healthcare, so I am gearing my electives to help me get there. I’m not sure what exactly I want to do yet, but I think I have my bases covered. Engineering is an intense academic program providing me with the skills to excel at anything I do, but it’s the out-of-class experiences that are shaping me into the person I am today. I came to Queen’s with an idea of what I wanted to do, and I’m going to leave with many ideas and the experiences and skills that will get me there.

Sara Soubliere – Sci ’09 (which means I graduate from Engineering in 2009)

Belleville, ON

Why I chose Queen’s…and Canada!

 

Working in Admission Services, I’m lucky enough to work with our students (current and future!) on a daily basis. A little while ago, I asked a couple of our campus tour guides why they chose Queen’s – and I got a huge response! Turns out that Queen’s students love talking about why they think Queen’s was the best fit for them. These students were all once in the same position that many of you are in now – how to find the right university and program? Over the next few months, we will be posting some of their responses, which will hopefully give all of you a bit of insight into how to make the decision that is best for you. If you have any specific questions that you’d like us to address, please let me know!

Best wishes!

Danyal Martin
Admission Coordinator

Why I chose Queen’s…and Canada!

As my high school years were coming to an end, I felt (like most students do at this time) uncertain about what would lie ahead of me. I was unsure as to what direction my life would be going in, and where I would be in the future. Though I had a few ideas about what I might want to do, I was mostly undecided as to what life after high school would be like.

When it came time to start looking for a university, the same uncertainties came into play. It was hard to imagine myself anywhere but the place I had grown up. However, after visiting Queen’s University, I was no longer worried about not finding the right university. I knew almost instantly that, for me, Queen’s was the whole package. I hadn’t decided exactly what I wanted to study, but the high academic standards at Queen’s guaranteed me an outstanding education regardless of what program I ended up in. Outside the classroom, Queen’s provided me with an endless number of possibilities to fill my spare time with. Regardless of what you are interested in, there is way to get involved at Queen’s. Students can choose to get involved in organizations that center around politics, theatre, religion, sports, foreign language, cooking, or martial arts (to name a few). In addition, there are a number of student run organizations (including a pub, coffee house, and bookstore) that students can gain valuable work experience. I have always put a heavy emphasis on my experiences outside the classroom, and believe that in many ways they can be more valuable than time spent in the classroom. At Queen’s, I know I am getting the best of both worlds.

However, the biggest draw to Queen’s for me was the sense of community and school spirit found on campus. The school is filled with tradition, and students are welcomed into the Queen’s community as soon as they arrive on campus (during Queen’s Frosh Week). I quickly felt at home within the university.

As a student from upstate New York, I am frequently asked “Why Canada?” In reality however, I didn’t simply choose Canada. Queen’s stood out as the best choice for me, and throughout the search process, I constantly felt myself trying to match other schools up to Queen’s. In looking for a university, I had wanted a unique experience without having to be on the other side of the continent. I was also looking for a quality education that could provide me with lots of different opportunities and choices for the future. Queen’s has given me everything that I was looking for in a school and more.

Alexandra Erath – Arts ‘10
Sherburne, NY

Queen’s Was Not Built in a Day

If you’ve visited Queen’s recently, or if you know anyone who has, you’ve probably heard that we have some construction taking place on-campus. There are actually a few projects underway at the moment, but by far the largest – and if you ask me, the most exciting – is construction of the Queen’s Centre. Once completed, the QC will be home to our all new aquatic centre, gymnasia, ice rink, field house, fitness and weight centre, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, and Student Life Centre. It’s a massive project to be sure, but the end result will certainly be worth the wait.

Construction of the QC is well underway, although right now it doesn’t look like much. You can, however, get a really good sense of what the project is all about by taking a virtual tour of the facility.

Like Grant Hall before it, the QC would not have been possible without the support of Queen’s students. In 2005, the Alma Mater Society (our central student government) pledged $25.5 million for construction of the QC – one of the largest financial contributions ever by a student society in Canada.

Once completed, the QC will be a source of enduring inspiration for all Queen’s students, past and present. As Mr. Bill Young, Chair of Queen’s Board of Directors, said at the groundbreaking ceremony, “The gift from the students to the Queen’s Centre has been made in the present, but it will inspire for generations to come… [The Queen's Centre] will serve as a symbol, and venue, for engagement, reflection, celebration and growth – physical, mental, spiritual and emotional – in support of the academic mission.”

Cha gheill,
Jesse Campling, ISC Admission Coordinator