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February 2026

1. Preamble

The Principal’s Declaration of Commitment to Address Systemic Racism includes a pledge to “eliminate gaps in support and resources for gender and sexual minority students, staff and faculty.” To this end, in 2019 Provost Mark Green asked Teri Shearer, Deputy Provost, Stephanie Simpson, AVP (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion), and Jean Pfleiderer, the Associate Director, Human Rights Advisory Services/Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor to establish an action group to improve the climate for sexual and gender diversity at Queen's. The Provost’s Action Group on Gender and Sexual Diversity (PAGGAS) was formed in the Spring of 2021 with the purpose of initiating and supporting actions to improve the climate of the University for all 2SLGBTQIA+ ���ϳԹ���Դ community members. PAGGAS serves as a conduit for connecting ideas and proposals to the resources needed to enact them. The Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) will serve as one of the two co-chairs for PAGGAS as the Principal’s delegate. In recognition that PAGGAS’ scope extends beyond areas of campus life that fall within the provostial portfolio, the Group’s name was changed to the Principal’s Action Group on Gender and Sexual Diversity at ���ϳԹ���Դ in 2024.

2. Role

PAGGAS initiates, supports, and consults on actions to improve the climate for gender and sexual diversity at ���ϳԹ���Դ, and responds to community needs through feedback from 2SLGBTQIA+ members taking intersectionality into account.  

3. Responsibilities

Working in partnership with university leadership and appropriate bodies/resources internal and external to Queen's, PAGGAS is mandated to:

1. Help ���ϳԹ���Դ and its units exercise their responsibility to prevent and respond to institutional forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression by doing the following:
   1. Provide guidance on policies, programs, initiatives, roles, resources, and services to campus units, departments, and university shared services that impact 2SLGBTQIA+ members of the university community. 
   2. Review and advise on data gathering, auditing, consultation, and securing expert opinion to inform decision-making on areas related to PAGGAS’ role.
   3. Monitor the University’s progress on improving the campus climate for gender and sexual diversity.
   4. Initiate specific projects and resourcesrelated to PAGGAS’ role, and support the provision of project leadership, timelines, funding, and administrative requirements. 

4. Chair

PAGGAS has two Co-Chairs. The first Co-Chair is the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion). The second Co-Chair is elected in May from among PAGGAS members. The elected Co-Chair serves a term of one calendar year from date of appointment and is elected by secret ballot of current or outgoing (not incoming) PAGGAS members. A member may stand for being elected Co-Chair in successive years.

5. Membership

PAGGAS membership is drawn from students, faculty, and staff whose responsibilities, research, teaching, and/or community expertise closely relate to gender and sexual diversity. We aim for at least 50% of the group to also be members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Where necessary and appropriate, this group will reach out to other communities. 

PAGGAS shall endeavour to maintain a membership of at least eight, and may include:

Static membership

• Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs or delegate
• Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor at the Yellow House,
• Chair of the Students’ Advisory Group on Gender and Sexuality Diversity (SAGGAS),
• ���ϳԹ���Դ Association of Queer Employees (QUAQE) delegate,
• AMS Social Issues Commissioner (Internal), or delegate,
• Director, Society of Graduate and Professional Students and Postdocs or delegate,
• Human Rights and Equity Office representative

Fluid membership

• Representative from the ���ϳԹ���Դ Queer Alumni Chapter,
• Up to three tenure-track or tenured faculty members-at-large,
• Up to three adjunct faculty members-at-large,
• Up to three staff members,
• Another student representative not included among the static members.

Specific consideration for populating employee roles shall be given to the following units:

• Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre, Office of Indigenous Initiatives
• Student Wellness Services (SWS)
• ���ϳԹ���Դ Student Accessibility Services (QSAS) 
• Employee Wellness (Human Resources)

Incumbents in the above-listed roles (fluid membership) may be invited to serve on PAGGAS for a two-year renewable term at the start of the academic year in September. Invitations are tendered by the Co-Chairs after consultation with current and outgoing members of PAGGAS. If consensus on membership invitations is not reached, the Co-Chairs have discretion. However, a 2/3 majority vote with a secret ballot on a specific membership invitation may be called by any member with the agreement of one other member.

In considering membership invitations, PAGGAS should endeavour to constitute a membership that is as representative as possible of the intersectional diversity in 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Prospective PAGGAS members who bring lived experiences of belonging within these communities are given priority over prospective members without.

No PAGGAS member has a ‘portfolio’ or other role apart from the Co-Chairs. PAGGAS members opt to participate according to their expertise, capacities, and availability, or may be asked to serve on the PAGGAS Washroom and Changerooms Panel (see Terms of Reference at Appendix A).

6. Decision-Making

PAGGAS decisions are arrived at by consensus, and all members are voting members. In cases where consensus has been tried but is not possible, a 2/3 majority vote with a secret ballot may be called by any member with the agreement of one other member. Quorum is five members.

7. Frequency of Meetings and Manner of Call

PAGGAS holds regular monthly meetings where possible or at least once per semester in a given academic year: Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April) and Summer (May – August). The Co-Chairs are responsible for calling these meetings. Additional business may arise that requires additional meetings in between regular meetings.

PAGGAS may also strike a subcommittee to direct a project or activity initiated by PAGGAS members in accordance with its mandate as outlined in clause 3. Responsibilities. 

8. Amending the Terms of Reference

PAGGAS shall endeavour to review these Terms of Reference annually and amend as necessary.

9. Resources

Specific students, faculty, staff or leaders may be invited to meetings when their participation and expertise may be needed for information and/or advice in relation to issues under discussion. 

PAGGAS receives administrative and financial support from the Office of the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion).

10. Reporting

PAGGAS reports to the Principal and Vice-Chancellor.

The action group is co-chaired by Stephanie Simpson, Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion), and Alexandra Pedersen, Manager for EDII Capacity Development, Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute, and includes students, faculty, and staff whose work is closely concerned with gender and sexual diversity issues on campus. Membership is expected to turn over as project focus changes, with the intention being to maintain a small number of members (roughly 10) and a larger circle of contributors.

2024-25 Membership Composition:

• Kandice Baptiste, Senior Director, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Student Affairs
• Elliot Chapple, Senior Advisor Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization, Smith Business
• Chris DeLuca, Associate Dean, School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
• Jo-ann Ferreira, Clinical Manager, Student Wellness Services
• Lauren Jack, SAGGAS Representative
• Kel Martin, Sexual and Gender Diversity Advisor, Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion
• Taryn McKenna, Student Inclusion & Engagement Coordinator, Student Experience Office
• Darcy McNinch, Functional Space Planning Analyst, Campus Planning and Real Estate
• Alexandra Pedersen, Manager for EDII Capacity Development, Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute
• Chloé Savoie-Bernard, Assistant Professor, Department of French Studies
• Teri Shearer, Deputy Provost
• Stephanie Simpson, Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion)
• Toni Thornton, Accessibility Advisor, Student Accessibility Services