Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 2320
Submitted: June 5, 2016 at 6:43:34 PM
First Name: Evan
Last Name: Carr
Student Number: 10054553
Email: 11ejc8@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BA Medial
Plan: PSYC/MUSC
Level of Study: 4
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request a review of instructors' decisions on grading of final examination and/or term work
Code: MUSC 178B
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Petition Category: Request a review of instructors' decisions on grading of final examination and/or term work
Instructor's Name: Dan Tremblay
Component: Final Grade
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: To the Associate Dean,
It has recently come to my attention that I was given a failing grade in the MUSC 178B Fall/Winter 2015/2016 course. I was very upset to see this grade, particularly given all of the efforts that I had initially put into even getting into the course, which had unfortunately required a prior academic appeal (see attached letter dated Nov. 12, 2015). I was very happy to be granted the credit appeal, as the instructor had expressed his need for a percussionist like myself, and I very much wanted to join the Wind Ensemble.
I was really excited to be accepted into the class in the first place and felt happy to have progressed so much as a musician with the Wind Ensemble over the course of the year. The instructor, Mr. Dan Tremblay, had even noted in my first appeal that: ¿¿He has been a model student and deserves being credited for his participation in the ensemble.¿
I was genuinely shocked to see the final failing grade. Upon contacting my instructor to inquire about this, he stated that I had failed because I had missed 2 rehearsals in the Fall term and 4 rehearsals in the Winter term. He further indicated that ¿¿the rules about absences and how to excuse them are written clearly in the syllabus.¿
I wish to appeal this outcome, not only because it prevents me from graduating with my degree, but primarily because I believe it is profoundly unfair.
In respect of the Fall term absences, I did not join the Wind Ensemble until after the third week in September, and I believe they were both from when I was not even a part of the ensemble yet.
In respect of the Winter term absences, in or about February I missed my first rehearsal of the year. I explained to my instructor that I was unable to attend because of a pressing academic deadline for another course, whereupon he made brief mention, in passing, to not miss another practice.
Afterwards, I made sure to attend every practice early in order to help set up the equipment needed for the practice. The instructor even came to me towards the end of the semester to put up posters around campus in order to help advertise for our final performance as an ensemble in Montreal.
As for the other three absences in the Winter term, on each one of these days I was unfortunately unable to attend in order to secure the job that I now hold as a military percussionist at Fort Henry for the summer. The first day occurred during Queens¿¿ own career fair, whereupon I met my current employer; the second was to attend for an interview for the position; and the third was for my uniform fitting - all of which could be done by appointment only.
As to the instructor¿¿s reference to the rules about absences being set out in the course syllabus, I was never at any time provided a course syllabus, nor was I able to locate any online resources for the course in Moodle, ¿¿My Queens U¿, or by Queen¿¿s email.
During my time as a member of the Wind Ensemble, the instructor had never provided any indication that I was going to receive a failing mark due to the missed rehearsals I¿¿ve described, or that I was anywhere close to receiving it. I had taken great pride and experienced a sense of personal accomplishment and belonging in helping my instructor and my class mates in the Wind Ensemble at the end of class performance at McGill University. I found my mark especially upsetting because I had been made to feel like I was an important contributing member of the ensemble, and at no time before our final performance in Montreal was I given any indication that the instructor was intending to assign me a failing grade. The instructor even indicated in his most recent communication to me that ¿¿I never said that you were a bad musician and I appreciated you being early to help the percussion setup.¿
The sole and exclusive reason for being given the failing grade is because of missed rehearsals, two of which occurred prior to joining the ensemble. Apart from the four rehearsals in the Winter session that I¿¿ve described above, I diligently attended all other classes and rehearsals in the program throughout the full academic year, volunteered to participate in set up and assist with promotional activities, and was an active member of the ensemble, to and including the final performance in Montreal.
I am very disappointed in being in a position of having to write this appeal letter, but for the reasons I have set out, I consider the failing grade in this class in all the circumstances to be extremely harsh, arbitrary, and unfair.
This is to respectfully request that you consider my appeal of the failing grade I was assigned this course. I would be pleased to meet in person if desired, and to answer any questions or provide any further information you may require. Thank you for considering this appeal.
Sincerely,
Evan J. Carr
Queen's Student No. 10054553
It has recently come to my attention that I was given a failing grade in the MUSC 178B Fall/Winter 2015/2016 course. I was very upset to see this grade, particularly given all of the efforts that I had initially put into even getting into the course, which had unfortunately required a prior academic appeal (see attached letter dated Nov. 12, 2015). I was very happy to be granted the credit appeal, as the instructor had expressed his need for a percussionist like myself, and I very much wanted to join the Wind Ensemble.
I was really excited to be accepted into the class in the first place and felt happy to have progressed so much as a musician with the Wind Ensemble over the course of the year. The instructor, Mr. Dan Tremblay, had even noted in my first appeal that: ¿¿He has been a model student and deserves being credited for his participation in the ensemble.¿
I was genuinely shocked to see the final failing grade. Upon contacting my instructor to inquire about this, he stated that I had failed because I had missed 2 rehearsals in the Fall term and 4 rehearsals in the Winter term. He further indicated that ¿¿the rules about absences and how to excuse them are written clearly in the syllabus.¿
I wish to appeal this outcome, not only because it prevents me from graduating with my degree, but primarily because I believe it is profoundly unfair.
In respect of the Fall term absences, I did not join the Wind Ensemble until after the third week in September, and I believe they were both from when I was not even a part of the ensemble yet.
In respect of the Winter term absences, in or about February I missed my first rehearsal of the year. I explained to my instructor that I was unable to attend because of a pressing academic deadline for another course, whereupon he made brief mention, in passing, to not miss another practice.
Afterwards, I made sure to attend every practice early in order to help set up the equipment needed for the practice. The instructor even came to me towards the end of the semester to put up posters around campus in order to help advertise for our final performance as an ensemble in Montreal.
As for the other three absences in the Winter term, on each one of these days I was unfortunately unable to attend in order to secure the job that I now hold as a military percussionist at Fort Henry for the summer. The first day occurred during Queens¿¿ own career fair, whereupon I met my current employer; the second was to attend for an interview for the position; and the third was for my uniform fitting - all of which could be done by appointment only.
As to the instructor¿¿s reference to the rules about absences being set out in the course syllabus, I was never at any time provided a course syllabus, nor was I able to locate any online resources for the course in Moodle, ¿¿My Queens U¿, or by Queen¿¿s email.
During my time as a member of the Wind Ensemble, the instructor had never provided any indication that I was going to receive a failing mark due to the missed rehearsals I¿¿ve described, or that I was anywhere close to receiving it. I had taken great pride and experienced a sense of personal accomplishment and belonging in helping my instructor and my class mates in the Wind Ensemble at the end of class performance at McGill University. I found my mark especially upsetting because I had been made to feel like I was an important contributing member of the ensemble, and at no time before our final performance in Montreal was I given any indication that the instructor was intending to assign me a failing grade. The instructor even indicated in his most recent communication to me that ¿¿I never said that you were a bad musician and I appreciated you being early to help the percussion setup.¿
The sole and exclusive reason for being given the failing grade is because of missed rehearsals, two of which occurred prior to joining the ensemble. Apart from the four rehearsals in the Winter session that I¿¿ve described above, I diligently attended all other classes and rehearsals in the program throughout the full academic year, volunteered to participate in set up and assist with promotional activities, and was an active member of the ensemble, to and including the final performance in Montreal.
I am very disappointed in being in a position of having to write this appeal letter, but for the reasons I have set out, I consider the failing grade in this class in all the circumstances to be extremely harsh, arbitrary, and unfair.
This is to respectfully request that you consider my appeal of the failing grade I was assigned this course. I would be pleased to meet in person if desired, and to answer any questions or provide any further information you may require. Thank you for considering this appeal.
Sincerely,
Evan J. Carr
Queen's Student No. 10054553