Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 4711
Decision Date: July 13, 2018
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: ShangNan Shi
Student Email: 16sss6@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Shi:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to 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. 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 to classes is warranted.
While I understand that your personal situation over the past year was certainly very difficult and I am sympathetic to the challenges you faced, you were aware of these challenges going into the 2017/18 academic year. Although you realized the need to work and earn extra money to cover your living expenses you remained enrolled in a full time, very heavy load for the fall term and despite failing three courses and receiving D grades in the other two, you continued to register for a full load in the winter term and not drop any courses by the Week 8 deadline, resulting in the failure of three more courses and D- grades in the remaining two. Students with ongoing circumstances are expected to carefully balance their personal and academic responsibilities and drop courses by the deadlines if they find that they cannot manage the workload. There is no evidence in your appeal to show that you are managing your academics responsibly by the fact that you are also registered in five courses for the summer term, an excessively heavy load for any student. Without strong evidence to show that your personal challenges and your academics are now being managed in such a way that you can make a successful return to studies next year, I cannot justify waiving the requirement to withdraw.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university for Fall term 2019. 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,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20033757Shi
Decision Date: July 13, 2018
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: ShangNan Shi
Student Email: 16sss6@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Shi:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to 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. 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 to classes is warranted.
While I understand that your personal situation over the past year was certainly very difficult and I am sympathetic to the challenges you faced, you were aware of these challenges going into the 2017/18 academic year. Although you realized the need to work and earn extra money to cover your living expenses you remained enrolled in a full time, very heavy load for the fall term and despite failing three courses and receiving D grades in the other two, you continued to register for a full load in the winter term and not drop any courses by the Week 8 deadline, resulting in the failure of three more courses and D- grades in the remaining two. Students with ongoing circumstances are expected to carefully balance their personal and academic responsibilities and drop courses by the deadlines if they find that they cannot manage the workload. There is no evidence in your appeal to show that you are managing your academics responsibly by the fact that you are also registered in five courses for the summer term, an excessively heavy load for any student. Without strong evidence to show that your personal challenges and your academics are now being managed in such a way that you can make a successful return to studies next year, I cannot justify waiving the requirement to withdraw.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university for Fall term 2019. 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,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20033757Shi
Generated July 13, 2018 at 8:53:22 AM.