Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 1966
Decision Date: March 31, 2016
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Philip MacLean
Student Email: 15pvjm@queensu.ca
Course: GEOL 104
Term: Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Mr. MacLean:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop GEOL 104 (W 2016) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under exceptional circumstances. The integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students€™ records without clear and compelling documentation indicating that the student€™s performance was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.
The deadlines for dropping courses have been designed and established in order to provide sufficient time for students to determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional.
While it is clear that you have had a challenging winter term, your appeal does not describe any circumstances that are extenuating in nature that would warrant allowing a late course drop. For the types of difficulties that you describe in your letter, we would expect students in your situation to seek academic advice through the Faculty Office. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that you attempted to seek any help to resolve these challenges. Furthermore, there is no explanation provided as to why you were not able to make a decision and follow through to drop this course by the February 26 drop deadline. Without having documented extenuating circumstances that prevented you from dropping GEOL 104 by this deadline, I cannot reasonably grant your request.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, you must submit an appeal to the Board of Studies within 21 days of the date this decision was sent. Guidelines for appealing to the Board of Studies and the appeal form can be found at: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€) Do not use the on-line application for this process. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the Ombudsperson for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 421 Robert Sutherland Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10197172MacLean
Decision Date: March 31, 2016
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Philip MacLean
Student Email: 15pvjm@queensu.ca
Course: GEOL 104
Term: Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Mr. MacLean:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop GEOL 104 (W 2016) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under exceptional circumstances. The integrity of Arts and Science transcripts in general would be greatly diminished if the Faculty were to effect changes to students€™ records without clear and compelling documentation indicating that the student€™s performance was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.
The deadlines for dropping courses have been designed and established in order to provide sufficient time for students to determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional.
While it is clear that you have had a challenging winter term, your appeal does not describe any circumstances that are extenuating in nature that would warrant allowing a late course drop. For the types of difficulties that you describe in your letter, we would expect students in your situation to seek academic advice through the Faculty Office. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that you attempted to seek any help to resolve these challenges. Furthermore, there is no explanation provided as to why you were not able to make a decision and follow through to drop this course by the February 26 drop deadline. Without having documented extenuating circumstances that prevented you from dropping GEOL 104 by this deadline, I cannot reasonably grant your request.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, you must submit an appeal to the Board of Studies within 21 days of the date this decision was sent. Guidelines for appealing to the Board of Studies and the appeal form can be found at: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€) Do not use the on-line application for this process. You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the Ombudsperson for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 421 Robert Sutherland Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10197172MacLean
Generated March 31, 2016 at 1:25:57 PM.