Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 3575
Decision Date: July 4, 2017
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Connor Timmings
Student Email: 14cmst@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 126
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2015
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: McEachern
Course: ECON 222
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Kennedy
Course: COMM 200
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: McCaughtery
Course: COMM 221
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Moneta
Dear Mr. Timmings:
I have carefully considered your appeal to receive Credit standing in COMM 200, COMM 221 (F 2016) and ECON 222 (W 2017) as well as waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
Your request for Credit standing in MATH 126 from the Fall/Winter 2015/16 academic year cannot be heard because it is well past the appeal deadline for this course. See Appeal Regulation 3.2 for further information: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/appeal_regulations.pdf
To be eligible for Credit standing, the student must have completed all of the requirements of the course and received a final passing grade. Because you received failing grades in COMM 200 and ECON 222, you are not eligible for CR grades. You did receive a passing grade in COMM 221 but there is no evidence supplied to show that you would have performed significantly better in this course in the absence of any extenuating circumstances.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success.
The Academic Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student€™s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control. The requirement to withdraw is waived only in rare and exceptional circumstances where documentation makes clear that the difficulties are temporary rather than ongoing or that these difficulties have been dealt with in such a way that the student may make a successful return to the university. While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return would be in your best academic interests.
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. The letter supplied from Dr. McLaren does not indicate the timeline or the severity of your condition and diagnosis, nor does it confirm the specific impact that your condition had on your school work over the past year. There is also no confirmation that your new medication or CBT
is showing any signs of success. Without confirmation from your doctor that your treatment is working and you are likely to be able to make a successful return to your studies next year, I cannot reasonably grant your request to waive the requirement to withdraw.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain an average consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your program.
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 Ombudsman 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).
Yours sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10189646Timmings
Decision Date: July 4, 2017
Associate Dean: Sue Blake
Student Name: Connor Timmings
Student Email: 14cmst@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 126
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2015
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: McEachern
Course: ECON 222
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Kennedy
Course: COMM 200
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: McCaughtery
Course: COMM 221
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Moneta
Dear Mr. Timmings:
I have carefully considered your appeal to receive Credit standing in COMM 200, COMM 221 (F 2016) and ECON 222 (W 2017) as well as waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
Your request for Credit standing in MATH 126 from the Fall/Winter 2015/16 academic year cannot be heard because it is well past the appeal deadline for this course. See Appeal Regulation 3.2 for further information: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/sites/default/files/appeal_regulations.pdf
To be eligible for Credit standing, the student must have completed all of the requirements of the course and received a final passing grade. Because you received failing grades in COMM 200 and ECON 222, you are not eligible for CR grades. You did receive a passing grade in COMM 221 but there is no evidence supplied to show that you would have performed significantly better in this course in the absence of any extenuating circumstances.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success.
The Academic Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student€™s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control. The requirement to withdraw is waived only in rare and exceptional circumstances where documentation makes clear that the difficulties are temporary rather than ongoing or that these difficulties have been dealt with in such a way that the student may make a successful return to the university. While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return would be in your best academic interests.
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. The letter supplied from Dr. McLaren does not indicate the timeline or the severity of your condition and diagnosis, nor does it confirm the specific impact that your condition had on your school work over the past year. There is also no confirmation that your new medication or CBT
is showing any signs of success. Without confirmation from your doctor that your treatment is working and you are likely to be able to make a successful return to your studies next year, I cannot reasonably grant your request to waive the requirement to withdraw.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain an average consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your program.
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 Ombudsman 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).
Yours sincerely,
Sue Blake
Assistant Dean (Studies)
10189646Timmings
Generated July 4, 2017 at 10:28:40 AM.