Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 4157
Decision Date: January 31, 2018
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Francesco Tolfa
Student Email: 14ft1@queensu.ca
Course: WRIT120
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Lori Vos
Course: WRIT125
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Prof. Jean Prinsen
Dear Mr. Tolfa,
I have carefully considered your appeal to add WRIT 120 and WRIT 125 (W 2018) 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.
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. As you know, WRIT 120 and WRIT 125 were at full capacity up to the add deadline. Out of fairness to all the students who also wished to take these courses, I cannot reopen registration. While I understand that you need to work to support yourself through your studies, these courses represent the same amount of work as on campus classes and it is not advisable to try and catch up 4 weeks into the winter term. You do not require these classes to progress in your Political Studies Plan so I would recommend that you take them at a later time. Note that both WRIT 120 and WRIT 125 are being offered online this summer. Registration for summer term classes begins on Monday, February 5 www.queensu.ca/cds.
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)
10160597Tolfa
Decision Date: January 31, 2018
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Francesco Tolfa
Student Email: 14ft1@queensu.ca
Course: WRIT120
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Lori Vos
Course: WRIT125
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Add a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Prof. Jean Prinsen
Dear Mr. Tolfa,
I have carefully considered your appeal to add WRIT 120 and WRIT 125 (W 2018) 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.
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. As you know, WRIT 120 and WRIT 125 were at full capacity up to the add deadline. Out of fairness to all the students who also wished to take these courses, I cannot reopen registration. While I understand that you need to work to support yourself through your studies, these courses represent the same amount of work as on campus classes and it is not advisable to try and catch up 4 weeks into the winter term. You do not require these classes to progress in your Political Studies Plan so I would recommend that you take them at a later time. Note that both WRIT 120 and WRIT 125 are being offered online this summer. Registration for summer term classes begins on Monday, February 5 www.queensu.ca/cds.
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)
10160597Tolfa
Generated January 31, 2018 at 1:26:23 PM.