Winter 2025 Plebiscite Results

KINGSTON, ON – Below are the results of the 2025 AMS Special Referendum. Voter turnout was 2642 (13.0%) 

Plebiscite questions are used to survey the opinion of undergraduate students.  Non-binding Plebiscite questions will not be deemed “Pass” or “Fail”.  

Plebiscite Questions 

Do you agree that external groups (these are non-student groups that are not affiliated with the AMS, faculty societies, Queen’s University or the SGPS) should be allowed to seek an optional fee?  

• No – 1037 (52.2%) 

• Yes – 951 (47.8%) 

• Abstain – 654 (24.8%) 

 

Do you agree that Queen’s University should prioritize divestment from fossil fuels?    

• Yes – 1643 (81.1%) 

• No – 382 (18.9%) 

• Abstain – 617 (23.4%) 

 

Do you agree that Queen’s University demonstrates an active commitment towards environmental sustainability?   

• Yes – 1153 (59.9%) 

• No – 772 (40.1%) 

• Abstain – 717 (27.1%) 

 

 

Do you agree that the AMS demonstrates an active commitment towards environmental sustainability through its services (CoGro, The Queen’s Journal, Tricolour, Walkhome, etc…)?  

• Yes – 1508 (79.6%) 

• No – 387 (20.4%) 

• Abstain – 747 (28.3%) 

  

Do you agree that the AMS Housing Centre provides adequate resources that support the needs of students?  

• Yes – 664 (50.3%) 

• No – 657 (49.7%) 

• Abstain – 1321 (50.0%) 

 

Do you agree that housing in Kingston is accessible and affordable?   

• No –2173 (93.2%) 

• Yes – 159 (6.8%) 

• Abstain – 310 (11.7%) 

 

Do you agree that the municipal government shows an active commitment to engage positively with students at Queen’s?  

• No – 1360 (77.3) 

• Yes – 400 (22.7%) 

• Abstain – 882 (33.4%)
   

Do you agree that food insecurity is a pressing issue facing undergraduate students?  

• Yes – 1758 (86.5%) 

• No – 274 (13.5%) 

• Abstain – 610 (23.1%) 

 

The AMS provides event sanctioning to offer insurance coverage to student events on-campus. Do you agree that the event sanctioning process is clear and transparent?   

• No – 784 (52.0%) 

• Yes – 724 (48.0%) 

• Abstain – 1134 (42.9%) 

 

Do you agree that the AMS has adequately informed students about the Menstrual Equity Project?   

• No – 1534(82.7%) 

• Yes – 321 (17.3%) 

• Abstain – 787 (29.8%) 

 

Do you agree that there is effective communication and resources (from the AMS, Queen’s University or Kingston) about waste services?  

• No – 1187 (63.9%) 

• Yes – 670 (36.1%) 

• Abstain – 785 (29.7%) 

 

Please select three environmental issues that should be an advocacy priority for improving environmental sustainability on-campus: (choose your top three).   

• Energy efficiency and renewable energy – 1501 (24.6%)  

• Climate change and greenhouse gas emissions  – 1486 (24.3%) 

• Waste reduction and recycling  – 1484 (24.3%) 

• Biodiversity and ecosystem protection – 900 (14.7%)  

• Water conservation – 720 (11.8%) 

• Other (write in) – 14 (0.2%) 

 

• Abstain – 607 

 

Please select all the initiatives/communication channels that you have interacted with and/or believe are effective for communicating with you on events, funding opportunities (grants/bursaries), job opportunities and other news related to the AMS or by the AMS:  

• Instagram – 1722 (31.4%) 

• Emails directly from the AMS – 1510 (27.5%) 

• Boothing in the ARC – 712 (13.0%) 

• AMS Website – 461 (8.4%) 

• Video Series/Reels – 428 (7.8%) 

• LinkedIn – 388 (7.1%) 

• News Section on the AMS website – 126 (2.3%) 

• AMS Asks U – 103 (1.9%) 

• Other (write in) – 32 (0.6%) 

 

• Abstain – 720 

Please select up to five advocacy areas that you feel the AMS has had success with advocacy on behalf of undergraduate students:  

• Orientation week – 805 (15%) 

• Campus Safety – 776 (14.5%) 

• Health and Wellness – 704 (13.1%) 

• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity – 616 (11.5%)  

• Transportation – 495 (9.2%) 

• Academic Integrity – 467 (8.7%) 

• Accessibility – 402 (7.5%) 

• Student Financial Aid – 256 (4.8%) 

• Environmental Sustainability – 192 (3.6%) 

• Student Evaluation of Teaching – 168 (3.1%) 

• Experiential Learning – 118 (2.2%) 

• International Students – 115 (2.1%) 

• University Trademarks  – 85 (1.6%) 

• JDUC – 82 (1.5%) 

• Non-Academic Misconduct – 80 (1.5%) 

• Other (write in) – 4 (0.1%) 

 

• Abstain – 1219 

 

Which one of the academic supports are you aware are available to you:   

• Academic Advisors – 1523 (28.3%) 

• Student Academic Success Centre – 1374 (25.5%)  

• Queen’s Student Accessibility Service – 1275 (23.7%) 

• Queen’s Career Centre – 808 (15.0%) 

• Academic Affairs Centre – 402 (7.5%) 

 

• Abstain – 768 

Which one of the following policies of Queen’s University do you feel you have been adequately informed of?  

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures – 25.0% 

• Academic Consideration for Students in Extenuating Circumstances Policy – 21.9% 

• Student Code of Conduct – 21.7% 

• Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence Involving Students – 16.8% 

• Harassment and Discrimination Prevention and Response Policy – 14.6% 

• Abstain – 1011 (38.3% of total voters) 

 

Please rank your top five advocacy priorities that the AMS should focus on (1 = highest priority). Note, that the priorities listed below pertain to the relationship of Queen’s University with students:  

 

Note, that order in which the advocacy priorities below appear reflects the rankings of priorities by students. Item ranked #1 should be considered the top priority for advocacy.  

• Quality of Education  

• Health and Wellness  

• Student Financial Aid  

• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Indigeneity   

• Campus Safety  

• Accessibility  

• Environmental Sustainability  

• Student Representation  

• Student Evaluation of Teaching 

• Academic Integrity    

• Orientation week  

• Experiential Learning  

• JDUC  

• Substance Use   

• Enrolment  

• Non-Academic Misconduct   

• International Students  

 

• Abstain – 1343 

 

 

Please rank your top four provincial advocacy priorities that the AMS should focus on:  

Note, that order in which the advocacy priorities below appear reflects the rankings of priorities by students. Item ranked #1 should be considered the top priority for advocacy. 

 

• Housing insecurity   

• Tuition, Ancillary Fees and Financial Aid  

• Food insecurity   

• Housing, Transit and Community Development   

• Student Health and Wellness   

• Funding for post-secondary sector  

• Environmental Sustainability   

• Accessibility   

• International Students  

 

• Abstain – 1209 

 

Please rank your top three federal advocacy priorities that the AMS should focus on:  

 

Note, that order in which the advocacy priorities below appear reflects the rankings of priorities by students. Item ranked #1 should be considered the top priority for advocacy. 

 

• Student Financial Aid  

• Investments in Student Housing  

• Funding to create more jobs and employment  

• Access to Mental Health Services   

• Research Funding  

• Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples  

• Intellectual Property and Copy Right  

 

• Abstain – 1241 

 

Please rank how effective the following evaluation methods are in assessing learning that takes place in academic courses: 

 

Note, that order in which the advocacy priorities below appear reflects the rankings of priorities by students. Item ranked #1 should be considered to have recieved the most votes. 

• Written Assignments  

• Research Assignments  

• Tests and Quizzes with open-ended questions  

• Take-home exams   

• Tests and Quizzes with multiple-choice questions   

• Exams  

• Verbal Presentations  

• Group Projects   

 

• Abstain – 1258