the journal Queen’s University
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Vol. 153, Issue 8
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F r i day , S e p t e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 2 5
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Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.
Since 1873
After two-year hiatus Bader College reopens for Winter 2026
Academic programming planned to shift away from undergraduate course offerings J onathan R eilly Senior News Editor Herstmonceux Castle welcomes back students and staff after a two-
Herstmonceux Castle in England.
year closure, reopening with a new academic focus. Bader College will reopen for classes in 2026, the University announced on Sept. 25 in
queensjournal.ca
Queen’s Gazette. school shut d o o r s November 2023, after structural issues were found at
The its i n of
Herstmonceux Castle, sending students home to finish the semester online. “This fall, the essential repairs to the castle building [...] will be completed, and all areas of
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the castle will be accessible by the end of the year. These restorations include the newly rebuilt gatehouse parapet and repairs to the southwest tower. Additional restoration w o r k s will be conducted over the
to faculty-led international learning, hosting students from Queen’s and partner institutions, offering research residencies, such as Scholars Retreat and expanding lifelong learning opportunities. According to the announcement, the Scholars Retreat is meant to be a one to six-month stay at the castle to provide “academics, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students with a dedicated setting for research, writing, and reflection.” “Alfred and Isabel [who donated Herstmonceux Castle] envisioned the castle as an international study centre, bringing Queen’s students and GRAPHIC BY JULIA LUDDEN faculty into dialogue next few years, but they won’t have with their peers from around the an impact on operations at Bader world, and providing a venue for College,” the statement read. discussions across cultural and The return comes with changes. national boundaries,” Lecturer at Bader College will shift from Bader College Diana Gilchrist said undergraduate-only programming in the Gazette article.
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The University also launched the Bader College Academic Programming Development Initiative to support new undergraduate and graduate programs at the castle. The initiative will provide multiple awards of up to $10,000 to fund successful course proposals. These proposals will be evaluated by the Bader College Academic Programming Committee, which is comprised of the Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning), two Queen’s faculty members, a student representative, a representative from the Bader College leadership team, and a representative from the Centre for Teaching and Learning. There are also plans to rewild much of the outdoor grounds of the estate, which have been farmed in previous years. The project was initiated several years ago but is now in full development, with more information to come in the upcoming months.
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