The university is introducing a new Queen’s National Scholars (QNS) program and hopes to have two new scholars in place for the 2013-2014 academic year.

“The QNS is a signature program that has brought top talent to the university in the past,” says Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic). “We are confident the new program will be just as effective.”

The selection process has two stages under the program’s new streamlined structure.

Faculty deans will be invited to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for appointments in specific areas in the first stage. Submissions from all fields are encouraged. The QNS committee will review these EOIs and advance four proposals to the next stage.

Those submitting the four proposals will then be invited to submit expanded files in stage two which will include a recommendation of an individual to be appointed. Only candidates external to the university will be considered.

The QNS committee will review these four files and recommend the appointment of two candidates. The committee will also recommend a reversion list in the event that recruitment of either of the two first-choice candidates is unsuccessful.

A central consideration of the QNS committee in making its recommendations at each of the two stages will be alignment with the Academic Plan and the Strategic Research Plan.

Funding for each QNS will be $100,000 annually for five years. Eventually, the program will reach its capacity with 10 Queen’s National Scholars, and continue at a total cost of $1 million per year.