President of the Alma Mater Society
Report to Assembly
Jana Amer
president(@ams.queensu.ca)

REPORT TO AMS ASSEMBLY

It is with deep gratitude and excitement that I submit my first report to AMS Assembly as the 156th President of the Alma Mater Society.

My name is Jana Amer (she/her), and I am entering my fourth year in Health Sciences. Over the past three years, I’ve held several student leadership positions—from residence governance and academic coaching to wellness and equity work—most recently serving as your Social Issues Commissioner (Internal). I am honoured to continue serving the student body and to bring my passion for access, voice, and well-being into this role.

JDUC Move-In & Reopening | The AMS officially returned to the revitalized John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) on May 5, 2025. This is a major milestone—bringing AMS services, offices, and student spaces back under one roof for the first time in years.

Our move-in has been deliberately phased to minimize service interruptions and support teams in setting up their new spaces. We’re excited to mark this transition with a few key reopenings, including the Queen’s Pub, which officially reopened on June 3.

Budget Briefs & Goal Planning | All AMS services, commissions, and offices have been working toward the June 1st submission deadline for their Budget Briefs and Goal Plans. This process ensures that portfolios are operating with clarity, accountability, and alignment with organizational priorities.

Staffing & Rehiring | We are currently in the process of rehiring for a number of critical roles, including:

· Secretary of Internal Affairs

· Orientation Roundtable (ORT) Coordinator

· ORT Assistant Coordinator

· ORT Equity Chair

These roles are key to the successful delivery of both governance and orientation programming. Interviews are well underway, and we aim to have the full team hired and onboarded by early June.

Student Life Centre & Space Bookings | The Student Life Centre (SLC) team is preparing to launch a new event booking and pricing model for AMS-run spaces. This model is designed to improve transparency, support student use, and offer clearer access for both student groups and external partners.

Additionally, we’ve finalized a Summer 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lionhearts Inc. to launch a bi-weekly Fresh Market in the Queen’s Centre. This initiative strengthens food accessibility for students and community members during the summer term, and we’re excited to support it with strong branding and operational support.

Marketing & Communications | The Marketing Office has been undergoing a necessary transformation to ensure that students find AMS services and communications more accessible, coherent, and useful. Key updates include:

· Launching a centralized request form to streamline internal design and promotion needs

· Drafting a creative strategy to guide consistent and student-oriented campaigns

· Standardizing email signatures and internal templates to reduce confusion and promote consistency

· Continuing to advocate for the Instagram account merger to address low engagement and improve reach for commissioners and campaigns

While there is still backlog to work through, we’ve already seen stronger coordination and early momentum that reflects our goals of organizational clarity and student accessibility.

Orientation 2025 Planning |Planning for Orientation Week 2025 is underway. The Orientation Roundtable have been:

· Reviewing and updating GBV, LIT, and volunteer training materials

· Coordinating branding guidance and faculty orientation agreements

· Finalizing event forms, occupancy limits, and scaffolding safety protocols with both Queen’s and the City of Kingston

· Scheduling leadership transitions and mentorship pairings

Our goal is to ensure that Orientation is safe, inclusive, and well-supported across all faculties.

Governance | Alongside the Secretary of Internal Affairs, I’ve been finalizing AMS Assembly dates and preparing for the early Assemblies of the term.

We’ve also started a comprehensive policy review, identifying inconsistencies, outdated sections, and points of confusion. This cleanup work is necessary to ensure that governance documents are accessible and easy to follow for Assembly members, staff, and students alike.

Our aim is to build a culture of governance that is policy-driven, transparent, and supportive, so that student representatives feel confident and equipped in their roles.

Ongoing Work & Operations Cleanup | In addition to planning, much of the past few weeks has been spent resolving longstanding operational issues that have created confusion or delay in the past. These include:

· Clarifying space allocation disputes

· Addressing structural gaps in Orientation planning

· Cleaning up inefficient MarComms workflows

These aren’t the most visible tasks, but they are essential to ensuring our teams can spend the rest of the year focused on high-quality service and program delivery.

Sector Engagement & Representation | Earlier this month, our Executive Team attended the Studentcare Stakeholder Conference (now ALUMO) in Montreal. This was a valuable opportunity to learn from other student unions across the country and strengthen our understanding of national student issues.

We’ve also hosted our first AMS Board of Directors meeting, and I had the chance to speak at the Board of Trustees, continuing to bring forward student priorities and strengthen partnerships at the institutional level.

Closing Reflections | These first few weeks have been busy, rewarding, and filled with necessary groundwork. I’m proud of the momentum we’ve built and grateful for the commitment of our staff, managers, and student leaders.

Thank you for your trust as we step into this year. I look forward to building a stronger, more accessible, and more representative AMS, together.

Cha Gheill,

Jana Amer (she/her)

156th President, Alma Mater Society

613-533-6000 ext. 32726

president(@ams.queensu.ca)

Vice President of Operations
Report to Assembly
Elena Nurzynski
vpops(@ams.queensu.ca) 

Dear Assembly,

I am beyond grateful to be submitting my first assembly report for the 2025-26 VPOPS umbrella. It has been an exciting albeit busy time for the services with the move to the JDUC and summer training falling within the span of a few weeks. However, the service Head Managers have diligently opened their respective services for the summer term and are excited to serve the AMS and the broader Queen’s community for the summer term. Currently, all head managers and editors-in-chief are working on their respective goal plans, marketing strategies, and budgets.

Common Ground Coffeehouse | Common Ground is open for summer operations as of Monday, May 12th and is looking forward to serving students throughout the summer. Alex is currently working on organizing the opening of The Brew, launching in September. Hiring has opened for Fall term head manager. Common Ground’s summer operating hours are Monday-Friday 9am-3pm.

Tricolour Outlet | Tricolour Outlet opened for summer operations on Thursday, May 22nd and has seen great success with summer sales. The management team successfully hosted the QU Bound event on Saturday, May 24th and were excited to welcome incoming Queen’s students. Summer hours of operation are Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, and Saturdays from 1-4pm.

AMS Media Center | The AMS media center is opening for operations on Tuesday, June 3rd. Due to electrical issues in the JDUC, the Media Center will be operating at a reduced capacity focusing on completing internal orders.

Queen’s Pub and Restaurant | The Queen’s Pub and Restaurant is gearing up to open to the public on June 3rd. The management team is currently working on training their summer staff and supervisors and hosted a stress test on May 30th. Summer hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm.

Queen’s StuCons | The Stucon team began operating on May 9th, with the management team consistently operating at Clark Hall for Friday ritual. The Clark Hall management team has communicated extreme satisfaction with the service, with positive relationships being formed between both head managers.

Walkhome | Walkhome opened for summer operations on May 14th. Their operating hours are Thursday-Saturday 9pm-1am.

Foodbank | The foodbank team has been working hard on setting up their new JDUC space and preparing for their summer staff and supervisor training. The team received a generous donation of $2500 from Gananoque Kinsmen and opened for summer operation on May 20th. Summer hours of operation are Tues-Thurs 5:30-6:30pm.

The Queen’s Journal | The Journal Chief’s hosted their first official press night this past weekend. Be sure to grab a printed copy at various Journal newsstands across campus and stay up to date on their most recent investigations.

Peer Support Center | The Peer Support Center does not operate during the summer term. However, the team is currently gearing up for Pride weekend and are excited to see the community come together.

Bus-It | The final Bus-It agreement was passed via e-vote by the Board of Directors on May 13th. The City of Kingston is taking it to their City Council meeting on June 16th for a final vote.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

All my best,

Elena Nurzynski (She/Her/Hers)

Vice President of Operations | AMS

Vpops(@ams.queensu.ca)

Vice President of University Affairs
Report to Assembly
Alyssa Perisa
vpua(@ams.queensu.ca)

Dear Assembly,

I hope that the first month of your term has been nothing short of exciting! I am very excited to work with you all this year and see everything that we can accomplish. Please note that this assembly report will likely be one of my shortest as my portfolio is just beginning and the little movement is due to planning and preparation.

President Amer and I had an extremely informative time at the annual Alumno Conference this month. During the two-day conference, we are able to network with student associations from across the country. There we discussed current issues facing students and what each association is doing to combat these issues such as food insecurity, mental health, access to gender-affirming care, and the housing crisis. We also had the opportunity to sit in workshops about negotiations, spokesperson training, and managing energy and mitigating burnout. I am grateful to have a deeper understanding of our health & dental plan so that I can properly share access and information to this important resource.

The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance is one of the student lobby groups for which the Commissioner of External Affairs sits on the steering committee. Commissioner Ballaj has returned from her first Steering Committee Opening Retreat where they discussed their internal elections and ratifying advocacy and organizational priorities.

Commissioner Al-Safadi passed the first policy change of our terms, updating the ORT-CAC Equity Grant to reflect realistic timelines. We have two bursaries/grants opening next week, the Student Graduation Bursary and the Club’s Experience Grant. Please share these opportunities throughout your channels.

Finally, my commissioners are working very hard to plan for the year ahead and prioritize their short- and long-term goals. Their collaboration is already apparent as they explore opportunities for collaboration between their commissions and the services. They are introducing themselves to relevant stakeholders and their enthusiasm for the potential of this year is extremely exciting.

Warmly,

Alyssa Perisa

Vice President of University Affairs | AMS

vpua(@ams.queensu.ca)

Arts & Science Undergraduate Society
President’s Report to Assembly
Ivana Drinziu
president(@asus.queensu.ca)

Hello members of assembly,

My name is Ivana Drinziu (she/her), and I’m honored to serve as the ASUS President for the upcoming academic year. I’m excited for the opportunity to work alongside all of you during our terms.

Since beginning in this role, I’ve been working closely with Piper Veloso, Vice President of Society Affairs, and Jaiden Watkins, Vice President of Operations. Together, we’ve hired our Council team, and they have already begun planning and budgeting within their respective portfolios for the year ahead.

This year, ASUS is prioritizing stronger collaboration across many areas. Our goals include building better collaborative relationships with faculty, advancing the work and visibility of the Department Student Councils (DSCs), encouraging collaboration between members of the ASUS Office, and continuing our partnerships with other faculty societies. We believe that by working together in these areas, we can create meaningful impact and foster greater engagement for ArtSci students.

It has already been a busy summer for ASUS. Camp planning is complete, and we are excited to welcome our campers! A huge thank you to our amazing directors and Piper for orchestrating what looks like one of the most successful camp years in the history of ASUS. Orientation preparations are progressing smoothly and ahead of schedule, thanks to the amazing work from our Head Gael, Taite, and her OCs!

Thank you all. I look forward to a productive and collaborative year ahead.

Warm regards,

Ivana Drinziu

President, ASUS

Engineering Society Affairs
President’s Report to Assembly
Jordan Belainsky
president(@engsoc.queensu.ca)

Since the start of our term (May 1st), here’s what our team has been up to:

All-exec tasks

• Reading (our own Bylaw, Policy, transition manuals, external bodies, etc…)
• Administrative handover (Emails, space access, finances, legal signover, etc…)
• Meetings & introductions (with faculty, other FacSocs, our Directors, etc…)
• Space tidy up (lounge)

President

• Introductory meetings/communication with other school executives
• Orientation week planning
• Permanent staff/General Manager administration
• Sitting on misc committees for faculty
• Static meetings with Directors & corporate initiatives

VP Student Affairs

• Various event-specific trainings
• All communications and marketing
• Updating list of active clubs and design teams
• Updating affiliate group contracts
• Statics with Directors

VP Operations

• April month ends.
• Payroll for all current and April staff
• Tax filing
• Invoice payment for corporate initiatives & services
• Summer rituals (+ hockey nights at Clark)
• Statics with Directors

VP Finance & Administration

• All legal and financial sign over backend work
• Key distribution, collection, and cataloguing
• IT setup and distribution of emails to director team
• Coordinating with bookkeepers and bank
• Helping with summer rituals (+ hockey nights at Clark)
• Supporting Hyperloop Global events finance

Smith Commerce Society
President’s Report to Assembly
Prem Mehta-Spooner
president(@comsoc.queensu.ca)

🔗 Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

`ComSoc has initiated closer ties with key administrative units to support cross-functional initiatives:

• Career Advancement
• Centre Marketing & Communications Department
• Student Engagement Department
• Alumni & Corporate Relations

These partnerships help amplify student-led efforts and create aligned value across Smith.

🛍️Strategic Initiatives & Hiring 

• Completed hiring cycle with ~100 new members.
• Launched a major overhaul of the ComSoc Shop.
• Secured a $14,000 SVF investment for upgraded security and operational improvements.

🎓 Student Voice in Dean Search

• Conducted survey and focus group to capture student priorities.
• Representing undergraduates on the Smith Dean Search Committee (ComSoc holds the only undergrad seat).
• Ensuring meaningful student input in leadership decisions.

📅 Summer Planning in Motion

• Although operations formally begin in September, ComSoc has:
  • Held regular internal strategy meetings over the summer.
  • Aligned teams on goals, timelines, and early-stage execution.

🤝 Expanding Reach with AMS

• Beginning collaboration with the Alma Mater Society (AMS).
• Aim: Bring ComSoc initiatives to broader Queen’s audiences, especially outside the Commerce bubble.

Health Sciences Society
President’s Report to Assembly
Arani Hiritharan
president(@hss.queensu.ca)

Hello everyone,

The month of May has primarily been a time of transition and groundwork for the incoming Health Sciences Society team. As we’ve officially stepped into our new roles, much of our energy has been dedicated to team onboarding, internal restructuring, and organizing materials to ensure a smoother transition process for future years.

We’ve begun revisiting and refining internal documents, communications, and procedures to support the Society’s operational efficiency moving forward. Supplies have been relocated and accounted for, and we’re setting up systems to ensure continuity across our initiatives.

Looking ahead, we’ve started planning summer programming for incoming students—including our presence at SOAR and an optional course selection webinar—aimed at easing the transition for the incoming BHSc class and fostering early engagement with the Society.

Though the month has been more administrative in nature, it has laid the foundation for an organized and impactful year to come. We’re excited to bring new ideas to life in the coming months and continue building a strong and inclusive community.

Warmly,

Arani Hiritharan

25/26 Health Sciences Society President

Computing Students’ Association
President’s Report to Assembly
Hugh Tuckwell
president(@compsa.queensu.ca)

Dear Assembly,

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the warm(er) weather as summer starts up. We have quite a few updates from COMPSA as we start up:

Director Hiring | We hired all of our directors! This year we added two new portfolios, Industry Outreach & Athletics. Industry Outreach was previously under our Professional Development portfolio, and Athletics is an old portfolio that was removed, but we’re bringing it back due to extremely positive reception to some of the Athletic-related events COMPSA ran last year.

Portfolio Year Plans | We’re currently working out our general year plan for every different portfolio within COMPSA & seeing how different portfolios plans can merge and work together to achieve our plans. For example, our Tech Team plans to build an automated marketing request application that can help Marketing easily track the status of all of their posts.

That is all for now, have a great summer everyone!

Concurrent Education Students’ Association
President’s Report to Assembly
Emily Gluckman
president(@cesa.queensu.ca)

Hello Assembly,

My name is Emily Gluckman and I’m the president of CESA for the upcoming school year. I am looking forward to meeting and working with everybody!

Alongside my executive team, internal and external vice presidents and our executive administrator, we have hired an amazing council and extended council for the year to come.

Summer Plans

We have been communicating and meeting with various members of our team so far and will continue to communicate over the summer. We are looking forward to planning events and programs for the upcoming year!

Orientation

Yay coned orientation! Teach Exec is continuously hard at work to welcome the incoming Class of 2029! We are excited to see all their hard work to come to fruition.

My team is looking forward to an exciting year ahead. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

—

Emily Gluckman (she/her)

CESA President

president(@cesa.queensu.ca)

Physical Education & Kinesiology Students’ Association Sustainability
President’s Report to Assembly
Cynthia Charette
president(@pheksa.queensu.ca)

Dear Assembly,

I hope you are doing well. Our first assembly meeting this past Monday was productive, and I look forward to joining you for this upcoming year.

PHEKSA Assembly Transition

To start the summer term, our incoming Commissioner of Internal Affairs worked to transfer all our assembly members’ emails to the incoming members. At the same time, we shared each position’s respective transition report and our revised constitution. Both incoming and outgoing members met on April 5, 2025, for the PHEKSA Annual General Meeting. At this meeting, we voted on all proposed changes to our constitution, updating it for the coming year.

Annual Ski Trip

Our Junior Athletics Commissioners have begun communicating with Ski Evolution—the company that has assisted PHEKSA with our annual ski trip since 2007—and have set a tentative date of January 23 to 25, 2026. Coming out of one of our most successful trips this past February, we look forward to continuing this tradition next year!

At this time, PHEKSA does not have any motions we wish to propose to the group.

Kind regards,

Cynthia Charette (she/her)

PHEKSA President

Nursing Science Society
President’s Report to Assembly
Mika Heler
president(@nss.queensu.ca)

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are enjoying your time off and your transitions are going smoothly. Here are my updates:

Class Council Updates

• Ella McRae (President of 2025) has finished organizing the year 4 pinning ceremony for BNSc students, set to commence after convocation. Both myself and the NSS VPUA (Emmy Lind) will be MCing the event.

Class Council Updates

• Our Events coordinator and VPOPS have begun to plan our nursing formal, set to commence in November

Executive Updates

• At our last NSS assembly we officially voted on and changed the name of our “Florence Nightingale Award” to the “Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture award”

As you transition into your new roles, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about student government or any other matters. I’m happy to support you during this time.

Best,

Mika Heler

She/her (Click here to learn about pronouns)

NSS President

Nursing Science Society | Queen’s University

Email: president(@nss.queensu.ca)

Kingston, ON

I acknowledge and honour that Queen’s University is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory. I invite you to join me on a continual reflection regarding the history of the land on which we learn, work, play, and reside.

Commission of Clubs
Report to Assembly
Xian Tronsgard
clubs.manager(@ams.queensu.ca)

As we conclude the previous semester, our primary objective has been to address all outstanding tasks and ensure a seamless transition into the upcoming academic term. I am pleased to report that the Club Helpdesk is now fully operational and consistently providing support to clubs as required. The redesign of the club page website has been completed and is currently pending final approval. Additionally, new website content has been developed to address previous information gaps, thereby enhancing the accessibility and clarity of club-related resources for both students and administrators.

All outstanding correspondence has been diligently addressed, and immediate operational concerns have been resolved to support a clean start to the new semester. The total number of ratified clubs has been finalized at 351, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and engaged student community. I have also reformatted the Formstack forms to improve accessibility and ensure they meet the diverse needs of users. Furthermore, I have prepared a comprehensive ratification package that outlines recent policy changes and requirements for re-ratification, ensuring that all clubs are fully informed and compliant with current regulations.

The newsletter schedule has been completed and is ready for implementation, supporting timely and consistent communication with clubs throughout the year. Additionally, all critical deadlines—including those related to events, caucuses, and workshops—are currently in the finalization stage and will be confirmed shortly to facilitate efficient planning and execution. To further support clubs during the summer term, summer office hours have been implemented to provide ongoing assistance and guidance. With these initiatives now well underway, I am confident that we have effectively wrapped up the loose ends from last semester and established a strong foundation for continued success in the upcoming term.

Commission of Social Issues (Internal)
Report to Assembly
Edward Sy
sic.internal(@ams.queensu.ca)

Hello Members of Assembly! 

Hello Members of Assembly! It was great meeting all of you during our first assembly! My hope is that the SIC continues to be a resource for you all for anything I-EDIAA (Indigenization-Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility and Anti-Racism), so please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or ideas. Throughout my work this year, I plan to lead with an open-heart and mind, with kindness and empathy, and with collaboration and passion. In the month of May, I have been focused on primarily transitioning into my new role and office, while thinking about my goals and relationships for the year. This involved working a lot with the SIC-External to plan content for Pride and Indigenous History Month, while continuing to uplift equity efforts from other equity organizations for Asian Heritage Month, Jewish Heritage Month, Moose Hide Campaign, and other I-EDIAA focused initiatives.

On top of that, we’ve consolidated ideas for each of our supervisor portfolios (Queer Initiatives, Black Initiatives, Indigenous Initiatives, Accessibility Initiatives and Collective Reflections) to ensure that they have some structure and initiated plans when they come into their roles in August/September.

In the Internal portfolio, my work has been focused on internal AMS matters, such as ensuring that all senior managers have a personalized email land acknowledgement and a meaningful, feasible equity goal plan for the year. From these conversations, we plan to integrate equity across all services, offices and commissions (not just within the SIC), while maintaining systems of accountability and support through regular check-ins, consults, and collaborations.

Additionally, this month has involved a lot of planning for the year, specifically in deciding where the SIC-I portfolio should be directed this year. As a relatively new portfolio, I’d like to build on the advocacy and student lobbying parts of the portfolio to ensure that the AMS is adequately uplifting the voices of equity-deserving students, without relying primarily on the lived experiences of the SIC-Internal. For example, I am looking to work closely with the CEA to advocate for academic equity and have re-obtained a seat on the Principal’s Action Group on Gender and Sexual Diversity (PAGGAS).

So far, it has been incredibly busy, but that means that many seeds have begun to sprout: I’m excited to see what fruits will bear.

Warm regards,

Edward Sy (they/he)

Commission of Social Issues (External)
Report to Assembly
Mujeedat Lekuti 
sic.internal(@ams.queensu.ca)

Dear Members of Assembly, 

As I have been settling into my role, I have focused on organizing and structuring the responsibilities within my portfolio. Over the past few weeks, I have actively consulted with key campus stakeholders, including the Yellow House, Four Directions, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and various community partners, to ensure that our initiatives are informed, collaborative, and impactful.

Indigenous Initiatives Lead

I am currently in the process of establishing the structure of this role, with plans to create an Indigenous Initiatives Council chaired by the lead. This council will serve as a space for stakeholders to share updates and collaborate on campus-wide Indigenous programming, allowing us to collectively support and uplift existing initiatives. I have participated in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Committee to discuss the AMS’ involvement in NDTR-related programming. Additional initiatives under development include campaigns for October 4th (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls), as well as programming around the Winter Solstice.

Black Initiatives Lead

This lead will serve as a liaison between the AMS and the student body by attending the Queen’s Black Clubs Caucus. Foundations have been laid for the continuation of the Union Gallery Exhibition and Black Farewell. Progress has also been made on the Legacy Mentorship Program through outreach to university departments and external stakeholders such as the Umoja Black Advisory Council, Limestone District School Board, and Family and Children’s Services.

Accessibility Initiatives Lead

The structure for this portfolio has been established. The Accessibility Lead will be responsible for continuing accessibility audits and collaborating with Campus Affairs and the university to transition the results into a more meaningful and accessible platform.

Queer Initiatives Lead

Planning has begun for Queer Orientation events, including the traditional breakfast and karaoke night. Additionally, this lead will work with TransFamily Kingston and the Yellow House to coordinate programming for Trans Day of Remembrance. Queer Prom will also continue as a key community tradition.

Racial, Ethnic and Cultural Initiatives Lead

Foundations have been established for a Cultural x Fashion Show in collaboration with the Students of Colour Collective, the Yellow House, and the Health Sciences Society. Planning is also underway for Cultural Crossroads, in partnership with Campus Affairs and the Commission of Environmental Sustainability, with the goal of creating an engaging and inclusive celebration of cultural diversity on campus.

CoRe Initiatives Lead

The team structure for this new portfolio is currently being drafted, with more updates to come in the next report.

Other Initiatives

The SIC, in collaboration with Campus Affairs, Walkhome, and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Centre, is planning Consent Week and Take Back the Night. These events aim to honour survivors of sexual violence and promote community education and prevention, with support from community partners such as Kingston Interval House and the Sexual Assault Centre Kingston.

Warm Regards,

Mujeedat Oluwatomisin Lekuti

Commission of Campus Affairs
Report to Assembly
Ali Al-Safadi
cac(@ams.queensu.ca) 

Hello Members of Assembly, 

My name is Ali, and I’m entering my fourth year in Mathematics. I’m honoured to be serving as this year’s Campus Affairs Commissioner with the AMS. I’m genuinely excited to connect with you all as the year progresses and as we return to in-person Assemblies.

Over the past month, I’ve been focused on setting the direction for the Campus Affairs Commission. This has included ensuring that AMS-affiliated summer camps run safely and on schedule, as well as opening the ORT–CAC Equity Grant for all faculties and Orientation Planning Groups. I look forward to supporting the planning and delivery of these important initiatives during Orientation Week.

Additionally, I’ve been working on launching the AMS Student Graduation Bursary, administered through the CAC. This bursary aims to enhance financial accessibility for all AMS student members attending convocation. Applications will be open from June 6 to June 30, and more information will be available via the AMS Instagram: @queens_ams.

The CAC is also undertaking efforts to improve the events planning and approvals process, and I look forward to hearing your feedback on your experiences with it so far.

Looking forward to a year of challenges, collaboration, and new opportunities.

Best regards,

Ali Al-Safadi (He/Him/His)

Campus Affairs Commissioner | Campus Affairs Commission | AMS

Commission of External Affairs
Report to Assembly
Edlira Ballaj
cea(@ams.queensu.ca)

Hello Members of Assembly!

I hope you’re all doing well and had a great first month on the job!

It’s been a busy but exciting start to the year as I’ve been settling into the role of Commissioner of External Affairs—getting familiar with the portfolio, reviewing transition materials, and grounding myself in both the internal structure and the external-facing responsibilities of the position.

In the past few weeks, I had the opportunity to attend the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) Opening Retreat, where I connected with student leaders from across the province to begin shaping our shared advocacy and organizational priorities for the year. I’ve also begun meeting with key municipal stakeholders, which include the City Counsellor and representatives from City Departments, to start building those strong working relationships and lay the groundwork for our housing and civic engagement advocacy. Alongside this, I’ve been in conversation with several AMS commissions to explore collaborative opportunities across portfolios—particularly around housing sustainability, inclusive governance, and academic equity—to ensure our work is aligned and uses multiple student lenses.

Much of my focus this month has also gone toward finalizing the Commission’s Goal Plan and Budget Plan, which will serve as roadmaps for our work this year. These documents have been built with intention, drawing from last year’s insights, institutional knowledge, and student feedback to ensure we’re moving forward with clarity and purpose. I’m looking forward to beginning implementation soon and sharing more updates with you all as we roll things out.

If you have any questions or ideas related to CEA’s work, I’d love to hear from you.

Best,

Edlira Ballaj, She/her

Commissioner of External Affairs, Alma Mater Society

cea(@ams.queensu.ca)

Commission of Environmental Sustainability
Report to Assembly
Brooke Schmidt
ces(@ams.queensu.ca)

The last month within the CES has focused on consulting every AMS service, office, and commission on their Sustainable Goal Plans. The CES has also begun working to restructure some of our own initiatives to improve their efficiency and student reception. Below are the highlights of this past month:

Collective Closet Restructure: The CES has begun working with the MarComm office to create a new logo and brand kit for the Collective Closet. Additionally, my Internal Manager and I have been reviewing the current employee and collaboration structure of the Collective Closet portfolio and have been creating new guidelines for its operation in September.

Tricolour x CES: To fund continued development of the Community Gardens initiative, we have begun developing a collaborative launch with Tricolour Outlet.

Sustainable Event Certificate (SEC) Restructure: We have been reviewing the structure of the SEC and its performance in the past year to develop a new grading system for applicants. The new structure will eliminate discrepancies between awarded scores, strengthen the integrity to the tier system, and create different awards for different tiers achieved.

SIC-E x CES Cultural Cookoff: We have begun working with SIC-E on the early stages of the Cultural Cookoff event.

Sustainability Month: Across all Sustainable Goal Plan consultations, we have developed various collaborative campaigns to operate in October. These campaigns will be a part of a greater CES ‘takeover’ of AMS marketing during Sustainability Month.

My Internal Manager and I have also begun planting in the CES Community Garden plots and are hoping to harvest throughout late summer and autumn.

Orientation Roundtable Coordinator
Report to Assembly
Ali Haider
ort(@ams.queensu.ca)

It has been a busy month for ORT. There are several action items that we have completed. Firstly, we have been hard at work with event forms; faculties have submitted to environmental/health and safety. We are waiting for feedback from the respective Queen’s stakeholders.

Next, the faculty heads and I have been hard at work with the fee form. This is a document which contains all the expenditure each faculty has for their orientation period. Based on these expenditures as well as the ones associated with ORT such as kit bags, T-shirts, and water bottles, the cost per incoming student can be determined. This year, it is likely that all faculties will have a significant reduction in costs due to the removal of the concert from the orientation period.

Along a similar note, we’ve also been preparing the handbook for distribution through each of the faculties. I’ve reached out to our wonderful AMS executives: Elena, Jana, and Alyssa. They will have a section in the handbook where they each explain their portfolios and the role that the AMS plays in each incoming student’s educational journey. In this handbook, we also have sponsorship opportunities for external and internal organizations. For example, studentcare is submitting a page similar to last year to inform students of their services that they provide.

In addition to these portfolio items, I’ve also spent a lot of time with Jana planning for my departure. Due to an acceptance to medical school, I will be stepping down from my position later in the summer. Because of this, we’ve spent time going through a rehiring procedure for both myself and my assistant, Jessica. I’m currently working on transition manuals as well as a schedule for shadowing.

Finally, we have many potential sponsors as well. Wizeprep has reached out to us as well as other companies for kitbag sponsors. We are very hopeful to get multiple sponsors for this upcoming cycle and reach our goal of $32,500.

Office of the Secretariat
Report to Assembly
Emma Capstick
secretariat(@ams.queensu.ca)

Hello Members of Assembly,

Happy May!

Congratulations to everyone starting their terms and kicking off what looks to be a great year! Over the past month I have been slowly transitioning into the Secretariat role and beginning to plan the upcoming year, especially focusing on setting Assembly and election dates.

Unfortunately, I’ll only be here for the summer before heading off to my Masters, so a large part of my work over the next few months will be transitioning the incoming Secretariat. Luckily after spending the past year in the Internal Affairs Office (IAO), and more importantly, having Bella continuing in Judicial Affairs will be instrumental in making this a smooth process.

Judicial Affairs Office| This summer, I’m very fortunate to have both Bella Quitazol and Andrew Anderson on board. Andrew will continue his role as a Case Officer, and Bella as the Judicial Policy Manager, both bring valuable experience and strong policy expertise to the team. Their input will be valuable as we review a number of policies this summer including but limited to the Clubs policy, Rector Election Policy and Principles and Positions Policy.

Assembly| Looking ahead, we’re excited to continue the great work started by my predecessor, including Equity-themed Assemblies and dedicated guest speakers. I’m especially passionate about making governance more engaging and meaningful for everyone involved.

Elections| I’m especially excited to work on elections this year and I hope to bring new ideas to life. I’m looking forward to improving execution while fostering larger engagement from students.

Overall, I hope to contribute to a governance environment that is functional and empowering for students.

Wishing you all a fantastic start to your terms!

—

Emma Capstick

Chair of the AMS Board of Directors
Report to Assembly
Dreyden George
board.chair(@ams.queensu.ca)

Dear Assembly members,

I am excited to submit my first report to you as the Chair of the Board of Directors. I look forward to sitting on the assembly this year; to help provide updates, context, and concerns from the board to the Assembly; while fostering positive student-board relations; including assembly-board relations.

As an introduction, I will give you a little background on who we are and what we do! The Board oversees the corporate side of AMS. We are governed by a Board Policy and our Corporate By-Laws and work to provide strategic, financial, and human resource support to the organization. Our Board is composed of 6 Student Directors, 3 Community Directors, 3 Executive Members, and the General Manager (who serves as a non-voting member). Our current composition is as follows:

Currently, within the board; we have made some operational changes that are to help improve the productivity and diligence of the board. With already holding the first Board of Directors meeting this past May 28th the board has approved committee operating goals, compositions, and timelines. Alongside this the board approved the Annual Report Editorial Board, 2025-28 Strategic Plan, and Summer Governance Calendar. Having these details and plans done prior to the beginning of the official summer season allows the board to begin it’s yearly work and projects right away. I look forward to providing further updates on the board for assembly and answer any questions or concerns. If you would like to meet for any questions or discussions about the board; feel free to email me.

Sincerely,

Dreyden George

Chair of the Board of Directors | Alma Mater Society

Board.chair(@ams.queensu.ca)

Residence Society President & CEO
Report to Assembly
John Bae
president(@ressoc.queensu.ca)

Hello Assembly,

I hope everybody is having a lovely summer!

My name is John Bae, and I will be serving as the President & CEO of the Residence Society (ResSoc) for the 2025-2026 year. Since May 1st, ResSoc’s executive team have officially begin their summer responsibilities in planning for the coming academic year as well as staff onboarding. This marks the second consecutive year for which the Residence Society will be fully staffed with six executive team members and 19 House Presidents.

Three main initiatives ResSoc’s executive team is working towards this summer is:

• Building stronger relationships with external sponsors
• Creating a more robust financial recordkeeping system
• Reforming pre-existing or curating new HR SOPs

Our CFO and VPSO are currently managing audits from the previous year as well as developing a new operating budget for the 2025-2026 year; this is quite the onerous task given that we are trying to keep residence fees low for incoming residence students while planning to expand the services provided by ResSoc each year. Our PMO is working on developing ResSoc events for orientation and post-orientation, aiming to provide students with opportunities to meet new people from different faculties and find support systems. Our VPRO and HRO are planning training and onboarding to take place in August. And I, along with our Office Administrator, have regularly been meeting with external bodies such as the Queen’s Business Law Clinic and Housing and Ancillary services to discuss how to best support our team as well as each other in the coming year. We brainstormed ideas for exchanging marketing and promotional materials and advertising first-year opportunities. Overall these initiatives aim to enrich the student experience and promote inclusivity within our residence community.

I look forward to working with everyone in the future!

Best regards,

John Bae (he/him)

President & CEO | president(@ressoc.queensu.ca)

The May 2025 Student Senate Caucus Chair Assembly Report is currently unavailable.

Undergraduate Student Trustee Affairs
Report to Assembly
Reem Al-Rawi
trustee(@ams.queensu.ca)

Dear Assembly members,

As I prepare my final report to the AMS Assembly, I want to express what an absolute honour it has been to work alongside all of you and to serve as your Undergraduate Trustee over the past two years. While I will deeply miss our time together and the Queen’s community, I leave with full confidence in EJ Kelvin, who I know will carry this role forward with dedication! To ensure a smooth transition, Kana Ogawa (the outgoing Graduate Trustee) and I have been collaboratively preparing a transition manual for our successors. In addition, we are scheduling meetings to address any questions and share final insights as the incoming Trustees officially begin their terms on June 1st.

Board of Trustees:

Ahead of the Board meetings, student leaders met with Board Chair David Court to discuss important concerns currently affecting the student body. The conversation included topics such as campus safety and the challenges students are facing due to ongoing construction, especially for those with accessibility needs.

The Board of Trustees convened for its open session on May 9th. During the meeting, several motions were passed, including the approval of the Policy Statements on Health and Safety, as well as Environmental Management. The Board also approved the 2025–2026 ancillary fees as outlined by the AMS and SGPS. Additionally, the Board approved the 2025–2026 course-related fees. We also received reports from each committee, the Rector, and the incoming AMS and SGPS Presidents. The student leader’s reports highlighted the meaningful involvement of students in our community, while also addressing pressing concerns such as financial insecurity and the ongoing lack of affordable housing.

Other Initiatives:

As one of our final initiatives, the Graduate Trustee, the Rector, and I have released a series of three videos that provide an overview of the Board of Trustees and how students can get involved. These videos are now available on the Queen’s University Rector YouTube channel! To stay updated on future Undergraduate Trustee initiatives please follow @undergraduatetrustee on Instagram!

Thank you for reading my report for this month. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions!

All the best,

Reem Al-Rawi (She/Her)

Undergraduate Trustee ‘23-’25

Office of the Rector
Report to Assembly
Niki Boytchuk-Hale
rector(@queensu.ca)

Hello Presidents,

Welcome to AMS Assembly and to your roles with the AMS. I thank you for your dedication to supporting Queen’s students and look forward to working together.

This is my second year as Rector and therefore my second year as an observer on Assembly. I have been elected by the student body to be a strong advocate and steady facilitator for our best interests. Learn more about the role by checking out this video.

I have previously completed a Bachelor of Fine Art and Bachelor of Education. I am now perusing a Master of Education while I serve my term as Rector. During my now six years at Queen’s, I have worked for the Alma Mater Society, Undergraduate Admissions, University Relations, and the Human Rights and Equity Office. Prior to joining the Queen’s Board of Trustees, I served as the Vice Chairperson of the AMS Board where I chaired the Governance Committee and was appointed to the Queen’s Journal Advisory Board to oversee their finances and do a mass overhaul of their governing policy.

Office | My Office team includes a First Year Intern, Communications and Engagement Officer, and Multimedia Producer. Their support this year has enabled me to work on my election campaign platform goals. We now officially work out of the JDUC in room 224. This summer, we will be conducting two review committees, for the Rector Election Policy and Tricolour Award Selection Process. As well as some other projects relating to the Rector’s Bursary, website updates, and preparing for the second annual Student Leader Development Conference.

Community Engagement | We helped get students out to vote for the Federal Election through social media promotion of the on-campus booth. I presented the Jeffrey McCarthy Award for outstanding contributions to the club community at the AMS Awards Gala to Joey Lauer.

Board of Trustees | The Board of Trustees met for their last quarterly session of the school year. As always, I coordinated a meeting with a group of student leaders from the AMS and SGPS, and Senate, to meet with myself and the Board Chair to discuss important student issues and ask questions in an informal environment.

The Board has regular Open Session meetings four times per year, and community members can request to join in-person or online by sending an email to trustees(@queensu.ca). Anyone can also access the Governance Portal to view the agenda by clicking on the calendar date of the meeting.

In collaboration with the outgoing Undergraduate and Graduate Student Trustees, Reem Al Rawi and Kana Ogawa, we created a 3-part video serious of ‘Board Basics’ to provide students with information on how the Board functions and how they can get involved. All videos can be viewed here on the Rector YouTube channel:

• Overview of the Board of Trustees at Queen’s University
• Committees on the Board of Trustees at Queen’s University
• Getting Involved with the Board of Trustees at Queen’s University

Committees | I have no major committee updates since last month other than I have recently joined the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) working group. Currently, we are in the very early stages of planning for programming and engagement initiatives for the month of September.

Convocation | Spring convocation season officially started this month and goes through till mid-June. I have the pleasure of conferring degrees and awards on stage so during this time I am focussed on celebrating and will be less responsive. If you are graduating this spring, please refer to the Registrar’s webpage for information.

I want to emphasize that I am here to support you, both in your respective roles and as ordinary students. The Rector is a unique role and I encourage you to become familiar with it so you can effectively guide fellow students or utilize the resources available within my office when needed.

That’s all for now! Please reach out to me if you have any questions, need support, or would like to share an experience that can help me convey student voices to the administration.

At your service,

Niki Boytchuk-Hale (she/her)

University Rector

Office of the Rector

Princeps Servusque Es (Be a Leader and a Servant)

T 613-533-2733

rector(@queensu.ca) | queensu.ca/rector