Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 3886
Decision Date: October 23, 2017
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sara Raahemi
Student Email: 16sr59@queensu.ca
Course: LIBS 100
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Michael Couchman
Dear Ms. Raahemi:
I have carefully considered your appeal to add LIBS 100 (F 2017) after the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be added 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 ability to add a course within the deadline was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.
The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established in order to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload. In the absence of extenuating circumstances, beyond your control, which would have prevented you from meeting the add deadline as published in the Arts and Science Calendar, I can not reasonably waive the Faculty Regulation.
I am sorry to hear that you are not finding the Bachelor of Music Program to be a good fit for you. We can certainly help you find a Degree Plan that suits you better and assist you with a strategy to get on a different path. I would recommend that you schedule an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to learn more about your options. Appointments can be made by calling 613-533-2470.
While I can understand that you feel the need to make up for lost time and credits by adding a class for the fall term, I ultimately do not believe that this is in your best academic interests. As a first year student you still have a lot of changes to adjust to and students often underestimate how challenging the transition to university can be. The fall term is also nearly half over and it would be extremely difficult for any student to successfully catch up in a class at this point in time and achieve a reasonable level of academic success. I am especially mindful of the fact that your first year grades will be used to determine your eligibility for a Degree Plan. The higher your grades are, the more options you will have in terms of what Major you can pursue. Given that LIBS 100 can only be used as an elective course for on-campus students, taking this course now will not present you with any advantages or save you any time. If you are concerned with catching up on lost credits, I would suggest that you meet with an academic advisor to discuss changing your winter term classes and/or perhaps taking an online course over the summer term instead.
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).
Sincerely,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20060766Raahemi
Decision Date: October 23, 2017
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sara Raahemi
Student Email: 16sr59@queensu.ca
Course: LIBS 100
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Michael Couchman
Dear Ms. Raahemi:
I have carefully considered your appeal to add LIBS 100 (F 2017) after the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be added 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 ability to add a course within the deadline was significantly compromised by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.
The deadlines for adding courses have been designed and established in order to provide sufficient time for students to obtain the relevant permission, determine their interest in the course material, to consider their ability to handle each course, and to evaluate their overall workload. In the absence of extenuating circumstances, beyond your control, which would have prevented you from meeting the add deadline as published in the Arts and Science Calendar, I can not reasonably waive the Faculty Regulation.
I am sorry to hear that you are not finding the Bachelor of Music Program to be a good fit for you. We can certainly help you find a Degree Plan that suits you better and assist you with a strategy to get on a different path. I would recommend that you schedule an appointment to meet with an academic advisor to learn more about your options. Appointments can be made by calling 613-533-2470.
While I can understand that you feel the need to make up for lost time and credits by adding a class for the fall term, I ultimately do not believe that this is in your best academic interests. As a first year student you still have a lot of changes to adjust to and students often underestimate how challenging the transition to university can be. The fall term is also nearly half over and it would be extremely difficult for any student to successfully catch up in a class at this point in time and achieve a reasonable level of academic success. I am especially mindful of the fact that your first year grades will be used to determine your eligibility for a Degree Plan. The higher your grades are, the more options you will have in terms of what Major you can pursue. Given that LIBS 100 can only be used as an elective course for on-campus students, taking this course now will not present you with any advantages or save you any time. If you are concerned with catching up on lost credits, I would suggest that you meet with an academic advisor to discuss changing your winter term classes and/or perhaps taking an online course over the summer term instead.
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).
Sincerely,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20060766Raahemi
Generated October 23, 2017 at 9:06:54 AM.