Queen's Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) is a growing program at Queen's University which allows students to achieve a 4 year BHSc either on campus or entirely remotely (as online students). While the online program offers great flexibility for students in situations which may affect their ability to be in person (i.e., financial constraints, familial obligations, working professionals, etc), online students have unequal access to involvement at Queen’s University and most importantly are denied health and dental insurance coverage that is available to in-person students.

Currently, the only way for a Queen’s undergraduate student to have access to Health and Dental insurance (or participate in any sanctioned club/sport/event) is as a member of the Alma Mater Society (AMS)*. According to the past AMS leadership, and current policy, access to this program is not available to online students. This refusal to allow students who are labeled as "online" vs "on-campus" is based solely on administrative designation.  AMS inclusion is extended to all on-campus undergraduate students of both full time and part-time status, as long as they are registered as "on-campus”. This is regardless of the actual status of the courses they take (online or on-campus). In addition, individuals who attend the Bader International Study Center are eligible for enrolment in insurance only.

The distinction between online students and part-time on-campus students has become less clear over time.  For example, the Senate approved BHSc Academic Regulations which allows online students to enrol in up to 12.0 units of on-campus courses per academic year! In many cases, the primary distinction between these two groups of students are the codes (DIST vs UGRD) in SOLUS, rather than presence on-campus. Further, there are now cases of “on-campus” students taking entire semester's “online” and still maintaining AMS membership and healthcare coverage.

The AMS has provided a position in which they have stated that they specifically will not separate the full AMS fee slate with access to health/dental insurance. Meaning if online students remain online, but want health insurance that is affordable, they cannot access it through Queen’s/AMS. Further, they have also stated that they are unlikely to modify any of the fee slate to accommodate for those who remain distanced but require health insurance (i.e., omitting the cost of bussing or ARC membership if they are not on campus). Despite presently having avenues for AMS opt-in (i.e., part-time students)  they have stated that they will continue to deny students who are currently designated “online” but taking on-campus courses access to opt-in to the full fee slate or health insurance. Below is a direct quote from the AMS website, note online students are denied this opportunity: 

“Part-time on-campus AMS-affiliated undergraduate students, students who come to Queen’s on exchange and who pay their home university’s fee, and students on an internship with the Queen’s University Internship Program are not automatically covered by the AMS Health & Dental Plan. They are eligible to enrol themselves by completing an enrolment process and paying the applicable fee during the Change-of-Coverage Period.”

All we ask is that ALL Queen's student's are afforded the same opportunity to part-take in the community and receive medical care. 

Thank you for your support! 

For those interested in helping show their support/assisting in this initiative, please reach out to 19pgrs@queensu.ca 

On behalf of the online BHSc student community, 

Patrick S. & Shenna D. 

 

 

Attached below are some examples of why this is an important issue (important identifiers have been removed for anonymity):

Student 1 is a varsity athlete at Queen’s University in cheerleading. She began her studies with Queen’s in Health Studies, but over the summer of 2021 explored the option of switching to the online BHSc program. This increased the flexibility for her varsity athletics schedule and was more in line with her academic interests. She would remain eligible as an athlete and would be able to continue taking courses on campus. After significant stress and time, an exception was made for her so that she could pay her AMS fees for this year, however she is concerned that the same may not occur next year. NOTE: the AMS has agreed to “grandfathered” in the few students who were able to access insurance without the AMS’s awareness of their online status. The AMS has strongly stated that this will not be provided to any other online students in the future, unless there are amendments to their current policy. 

Student 2 is a single mother supporting 2 children. She has spent the past 4 years as a part time online student while juggling motherhood and a full-time career. She has since left her full-time job to pursue academics full time. In leaving her position, she has lost her benefits associated with full-time work. She now has no health coverage for her or her 2 children. She has struggled to find private insurance that is reasonable and affordable. Under the current AMS policy, despite her status as a full-time student, she is unable to receive any coverage unless she were to move on campus.

When student 3’s father became ill, they were impressed by how impactful his healthcare providers were to his overall health and well-being.  This experience prompted them to switch careers and apply to the online BHSc program in the hopes of finding a career where they could feel fulfilled and help others. The online BHSc program allowed them to stay at home where they could live at their father's house to assist him in daily living, work part-time, and at the same time earn a degree.  Student 3 reports that they study/work/volunteer for approximately 70-80 hours a week as they work towards their goal of becoming a Genetic Counsellor.  They are now frustrated and dismayed that they are being denied access to insurance coverage for medications, reading glasses, and dental procedures that other on campus students are receiving.

*Please note, the AMS is separate from the Queen's administration and is student run. The issues lie in the AMS and not Queen's University.*