Manage Appeals
Petition Type: New
ID: 7811
Submitted: June 5, 2021 at 10:21:15 PM
First Name: Abhishek
Last Name: Shastry
Student Number: 20120386
Email: 18as14@queensu.ca
Degree Program: BScH
Plan: LISC
Level of Study: 3
Petition Categories
Petition Categories: Request a review of instructors' decisions on grading of final examination and/or term work
Appeal Category Detail: Appeal Academic Integrity Departure Findings and Sanctions
Code: PHGY 355
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Petition Category: Request a review of instructors' decisions on grading of final examination and/or term work
Instructor's Name: Amany Elbehairy and Ruaa Al-Qazazi
Component: Test 3 (Parts A and B)
Petition Letter
Petition Letter: Dear Associate Dean (Academics),
My name is Abhishek Shastry (20120386) and I am going into my fourth year as a Life Sciences student. I am writing this letter to you as an appeal to the finding made by my instructors (Dr. Amany Elbehairy and Dr. Ruaa Al-Qazazi) in PHGY 355, that I had violated Academic Integrity. I am appealing both the finding and the sanction (50 on both parts A and B of the test; and a Level II departure) placed on me, as I know that these are untrue. The evidence presented by my instructors relates to a test, which had two parts, taken by me and another student (Kasthuri Ravishanker), who had written the test at similar times. We had studied for and written the test in the same building, which is why the public IP address reported on the evidence the instructors had used was the same. The other student and I both took many measures to maintain academic integrity, by writing this test in separate rooms (as she was living in her brother's room when he had left Kingston), not communicating or leaving the rooms unnecessarily while writing the test, and not discussing any test questions before or during the test. The instructors noted that we wrote the tests at similar times, and that is because we had been studying quite extensively for this test and exams that were upcoming. By studying for this test together, we were both able to memorize certain topics, concepts, and lists, that we could relay on the test. Due to our memorization of the notes, we had written similar answers on the test which were directly from the notes. The instructors noted that our answers were similar on the written and multiple choice sections, but did not provide any evidence that this was true. I explained that because of the nature of how Kasthuri and I had studied, the word usage and vocabulary of the answers must have been similar. Again, there was no evidence provided to us that this was true. The only evidence provided was the times going through each question and page for the test (parts A and B). Internet issues and an outage had occurred while we were writing our test, which caused the similar delay in time found in the test timing document. I had waited in my room for the internet to return, but had to leave my room to restart the router as the internet issue was persistent. After doing so, both Kasthuri and I were able to return to writing the rest of our tests. I realize this may have caused suspicion, but I had explained this setback to my instructors. I believe that the finding and sanction, without the relevant evidence presented to me as a student, is unfounded and I am appealing both here.
I have supporting documentation regarding the evidence the instructors presented and course notes used in the course. I can also provide the lease agreement including Kasthuri's brother's information if required.
Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide regarding this finding.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Abhishek Shastry
My name is Abhishek Shastry (20120386) and I am going into my fourth year as a Life Sciences student. I am writing this letter to you as an appeal to the finding made by my instructors (Dr. Amany Elbehairy and Dr. Ruaa Al-Qazazi) in PHGY 355, that I had violated Academic Integrity. I am appealing both the finding and the sanction (50 on both parts A and B of the test; and a Level II departure) placed on me, as I know that these are untrue. The evidence presented by my instructors relates to a test, which had two parts, taken by me and another student (Kasthuri Ravishanker), who had written the test at similar times. We had studied for and written the test in the same building, which is why the public IP address reported on the evidence the instructors had used was the same. The other student and I both took many measures to maintain academic integrity, by writing this test in separate rooms (as she was living in her brother's room when he had left Kingston), not communicating or leaving the rooms unnecessarily while writing the test, and not discussing any test questions before or during the test. The instructors noted that we wrote the tests at similar times, and that is because we had been studying quite extensively for this test and exams that were upcoming. By studying for this test together, we were both able to memorize certain topics, concepts, and lists, that we could relay on the test. Due to our memorization of the notes, we had written similar answers on the test which were directly from the notes. The instructors noted that our answers were similar on the written and multiple choice sections, but did not provide any evidence that this was true. I explained that because of the nature of how Kasthuri and I had studied, the word usage and vocabulary of the answers must have been similar. Again, there was no evidence provided to us that this was true. The only evidence provided was the times going through each question and page for the test (parts A and B). Internet issues and an outage had occurred while we were writing our test, which caused the similar delay in time found in the test timing document. I had waited in my room for the internet to return, but had to leave my room to restart the router as the internet issue was persistent. After doing so, both Kasthuri and I were able to return to writing the rest of our tests. I realize this may have caused suspicion, but I had explained this setback to my instructors. I believe that the finding and sanction, without the relevant evidence presented to me as a student, is unfounded and I am appealing both here.
I have supporting documentation regarding the evidence the instructors presented and course notes used in the course. I can also provide the lease agreement including Kasthuri's brother's information if required.
Please let me know if there is any other information I can provide regarding this finding.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Abhishek Shastry
Academic Plan
Academic Plan: My academic plan for the future will include creating better study plans and managing my time better. This would also help in writing the test an appropriate time, and writing answers that reflect my own words rather than those from my notes. I acknowledge that managing time more efficiently and writing my test using my own words would have helped me succeed more in this course, and write the test more successfully. To better manage this, I will consult with Student Academic Success Services in the future to find scheduling, studying, and time management skills that I can improve on for the rest of my undergraduate career. In addition, I will try to contact an Academic Advisor when I have doubts about my ability to study during a stressful time period such as that before this test, which may have made studying for this test easier and more efficient.
In addition, I will be to better reword and put my answers in my own words when I am writing tests or other examinations, as to not make it appear that there is any academic violation occurring. Along with this, ensuring that I complete my tests at a time during the day and at a separate time as my peers would encourage following academic integrity guidelines set out by the university, which I also highly value. I will also ensure that I am able to access strong and reliable internet when I am writing such a test, to avoid such events.
In addition, I will be to better reword and put my answers in my own words when I am writing tests or other examinations, as to not make it appear that there is any academic violation occurring. Along with this, ensuring that I complete my tests at a time during the day and at a separate time as my peers would encourage following academic integrity guidelines set out by the university, which I also highly value. I will also ensure that I am able to access strong and reliable internet when I am writing such a test, to avoid such events.
Documentation
Professional Letter Detail: NO DOC
Documentation Detail: These are the lecture notes used to study for Test 3 (A and B)
Documentation Detail: This is the timing document of movement in my answers during the test, which was the only evidence provided to me.
History
Originally submitted June 5, 2021 at 10:21:15 PM.
| Field | Reference | Old Value | New Value | Note | User | Date/Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| status | N/A | Received | Withdrawn | Spring Forsberg | 2021-06-07 11:39:33 AM |