A third-party department review of Queen’s Athletics & Recreation (A&R) will begin next month as part of a routine University initiative to evaluate its various departments. 

 

The University believes there have been recent developments in post-secondary athletics that may require a shift in standards and approaches. 

 

“In recent years, there have been several issues in collegiate athletics and recreation across North America, including those relating to safe sport policy, athlete wellness, gender inclusion, complaints processes and coach/athlete power dynamic,” the University wrote in a statement in the Queen’s Gazette. 

 

The University has hired Sport Law & Strategy Group (SLSG) to conduct the review, a sport management company that A&R has retained in the past, and is currently conducting an independent review on the department’s decision to fire former Queen’s cross country coach, Steve Boyd. 

 

“We retained the SLSG back in June and due to COVID-19, we felt it was important to launch the review after we had solidified our return to sport and activity protocols for the start of the academic year. We are eager to hear from student-athletes, our staff, coaches, and other stakeholders such as OUA and USPORTS to reflect an inclusive and transparent process,” Leslie Dal Cin, executive director of A&R, said in the statement.

 

“Our goal is a collaborative approach to ensure our programs and services reflect leading practices and that we remain one of the most progressive collegiate athletics and recreation departments in Canada.”