Following a series of house parties in the University District that led to an increase of COVID-19 infections among students in December, Queen’s said it’s holding students who don’t adhere to public health directives accountable under the Student Code of Conduct—though it wouldn’t specify how.

Queen’s reported a total of 52 positive cases of COVID-19 in the University community in December, with several of these cases being associated with student gatherings. 

When The Journal inquired how students who have hosted and attended parties in the past year have been penalized, the University declined to comment.

READ MORE: Student Wellness Services now offering voluntary, asymptomatic COVID-19 testing

“While we cannot comment on specific cases, the [Non-Academic Misconduct (NAM)] process includes a range of outcomes, which are available under the Student Code of Conduct,” the University told The Journal. 

Principal Patrick Deane noted in September that students who throw and attend parties are subject to penalty under the Student Code of Conduct with a maximum punishment of expulsion.

Instead, the University said it’s continuing to partner closely with the City of Kingston, Kingston Police, and Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health to promote the safety of the community. 

“We support the efforts of our city partners and when we receive information involving students who are not adhering to public health guidelines, we consider these cases as part of the [NAM] process,” the University said. 

According to Queen’s, less than 14 per cent of COVID-19 infections in the Kingston region have involved Queen’s students. 

With the recent discovery of the B.1.1.7. virus in Kingston, the University is continuing to urge students to comply with public health guidelines and suggesting students consider voluntary asymptomatic testing at the on-campus assessment centre.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for everyone’s continued efforts in helping to minimize the spread of the virus and keep local case counts low.” 

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