Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5297
Decision Date: January 29, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rachael Akankwasa
Student Email: akankwasaracheal65@yahoo.ca
Course: GEOL 107
Term: Fall
Year: 2015
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: GEOL 104
Term: Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ms. Akankwasa:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop GEOL 107 (F 2015) and GEOL 104 (W 2016) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under extenuating 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 performance was significantly compromised by circumstances beyond his or her control.
While your appeal does explain challenges which were extenuating in nature at that time, your appeal fails to include supporting documentation which confirms these circumstances prevented you from dropping courses by the drop deadline date. The appeals process is not meant to be used to manage ongoing problems but is designed for students who encounter problems, or whose problems become acute, after the drop deadline.
Rachel, I would also like to try and set your mind at ease regarding these grades and your concern that it may impede your admission to a graduate program. It is my experience that an application to a graduate program will include an opportunity for you to offer an explanation regarding a possible anomaly in a grade or year of study and if you are comfortable doing so, you may want explain the challenges you faced during your first year, as well as highlight the successes you will have since then.
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 the Office of the Ombudsman for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. Their office is located in room 421 Robert Sutherland Hall and can be reached by phone (613-533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10177379Akankwasa
Decision Date: January 29, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rachael Akankwasa
Student Email: akankwasaracheal65@yahoo.ca
Course: GEOL 107
Term: Fall
Year: 2015
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: GEOL 104
Term: Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ms. Akankwasa:
I have carefully considered your appeal to drop GEOL 107 (F 2015) and GEOL 104 (W 2016) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request.
As you know, courses must be dropped on SOLUS within the published deadlines. The Academic Regulations (Appeal of Academic Decisions, IIIb) stress that exceptions to this will only be waived under extenuating 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 performance was significantly compromised by circumstances beyond his or her control.
While your appeal does explain challenges which were extenuating in nature at that time, your appeal fails to include supporting documentation which confirms these circumstances prevented you from dropping courses by the drop deadline date. The appeals process is not meant to be used to manage ongoing problems but is designed for students who encounter problems, or whose problems become acute, after the drop deadline.
Rachel, I would also like to try and set your mind at ease regarding these grades and your concern that it may impede your admission to a graduate program. It is my experience that an application to a graduate program will include an opportunity for you to offer an explanation regarding a possible anomaly in a grade or year of study and if you are comfortable doing so, you may want explain the challenges you faced during your first year, as well as highlight the successes you will have since then.
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 the Office of the Ombudsman for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. Their office is located in room 421 Robert Sutherland Hall and can be reached by phone (613-533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10177379Akankwasa
Generated January 29, 2019 at 12:44:33 PM.