Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 3604
Decision Date: July 10, 2017
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sean Sutherland
Student Email: 11sms33@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Sutherland:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for a Minimum of Three Years. After reviewing your file, I must unfortunately deny your request.
As you already know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar. 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.
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 had a difficult year and faced some significant circumstances that were beyond your control, there is no supporting documentation supplied to confirm the timeline, severity or impact that your circumstances had on your academic studies over the past year. There is also no clear evidence to show that your circumstances have been resolved or are now being managed in such a way that you are able to make a successful return to your studies next year. Without this confirmation, I cannot reasonably allow an early return to studies. However, if you are able to supply some documentation to this effect within the next 21 days, I will accept it and review your appeal again. You may send it to asc.appeals@queensu.ca with a note asking to amend your appeal and I will reconsider my decision with the documentation included.
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,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10057416Sutherland3
Decision Date: July 10, 2017
Associate Dean: Johanne Benard, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sean Sutherland
Student Email: 11sms33@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Sutherland:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for a Minimum of Three Years. After reviewing your file, I must unfortunately deny your request.
As you already know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar. 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.
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 had a difficult year and faced some significant circumstances that were beyond your control, there is no supporting documentation supplied to confirm the timeline, severity or impact that your circumstances had on your academic studies over the past year. There is also no clear evidence to show that your circumstances have been resolved or are now being managed in such a way that you are able to make a successful return to your studies next year. Without this confirmation, I cannot reasonably allow an early return to studies. However, if you are able to supply some documentation to this effect within the next 21 days, I will accept it and review your appeal again. You may send it to asc.appeals@queensu.ca with a note asking to amend your appeal and I will reconsider my decision with the documentation included.
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,
Johanne Bénard, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10057416Sutherland3
Generated July 10, 2017 at 2:34:44 PM.