Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5553
Decision Date: May 13, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Aishane Ganeshwaran
Student Email: 16ag29@queensu.ca
Course: ARTH 116
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: ARTH 117
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: ASTR 101
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BISC 100
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BISC 101
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: POLS 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: PSYCH 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Dr. Anna Taylor
Dear Aishane Ganeshwaran:
I am sorry to have read that you experienced difficulties during the 2016/17 academic year at the Bader International Study Centre and have carefully considered your appeal to drop ARTH 116, BISC 100 (F 2016); POLS 110 (FW 2016/17); and ARTH 117, ASTR 101, BISC 101 (W 2017) past the academic deadline as well as request Credit standing in PSYC 100 (FW 2016/17) based on those circumstances. 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. Academic Regulation 10.3.2. states that, Credit standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed all of the work of the course including the final examination, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond their control, earned a substantially lower grade than might have been expected, normally a grade of C or lower.€ Credit standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control. 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.
Your letter suggests that you had a difficult transition to your studies at the BISC and I was pleased to see how you managed that situation and problem solved that challenge so you could eventually have an individual room. I also noted in your letter your explanation regarding an unfortunate situation with regards to a theft while you were on a short trip and although I can sympathize with this situation, the theft did take place after the Fall term had ended and you were able to return to your studies two weeks into Winter term. At that time, it was your responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of these circumstances on your studies and drop courses by the drop deadline dates if you had fallen behind in your course work. The appeals system is not designed to address grades after the fact; instead it is intended for situations where students experience an unforeseen acute or new situation that arises after the drop deadline in Week 8.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€). Do not use the on-line application for this process. The Office of the Ombudsman can also assist students with advice about policies and procedures. You may contact the Ombudsman at ombuds@queensu.ca or by phone at 613-533-6495.
Aishane, I am sure this is a disappointing decision and I would like to suggest that you make an appointment with either myself or Haley Everson, Associate Director, Student Services (Advising, Appeals and Academic Consideration) to discuss this decision and your progression in your pursuit of your university degree.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20031287Ganeshwaran1
Cc: Diane Reid
Haley Everson
Decision Date: May 13, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Aishane Ganeshwaran
Student Email: 16ag29@queensu.ca
Course: ARTH 116
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: ARTH 117
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: ASTR 101
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BISC 100
Term: Fall
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BISC 101
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: POLS 110
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: PSYCH 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Dr. Anna Taylor
Dear Aishane Ganeshwaran:
I am sorry to have read that you experienced difficulties during the 2016/17 academic year at the Bader International Study Centre and have carefully considered your appeal to drop ARTH 116, BISC 100 (F 2016); POLS 110 (FW 2016/17); and ARTH 117, ASTR 101, BISC 101 (W 2017) past the academic deadline as well as request Credit standing in PSYC 100 (FW 2016/17) based on those circumstances. 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. Academic Regulation 10.3.2. states that, Credit standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed and passed all of the work of the course including the final examination, but because of illness or other extenuating circumstances beyond their control, earned a substantially lower grade than might have been expected, normally a grade of C or lower.€ Credit standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control. 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.
Your letter suggests that you had a difficult transition to your studies at the BISC and I was pleased to see how you managed that situation and problem solved that challenge so you could eventually have an individual room. I also noted in your letter your explanation regarding an unfortunate situation with regards to a theft while you were on a short trip and although I can sympathize with this situation, the theft did take place after the Fall term had ended and you were able to return to your studies two weeks into Winter term. At that time, it was your responsibility to pause and evaluate the impact of these circumstances on your studies and drop courses by the drop deadline dates if you had fallen behind in your course work. The appeals system is not designed to address grades after the fact; instead it is intended for situations where students experience an unforeseen acute or new situation that arises after the drop deadline in Week 8.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, information and deadlines can be found at www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals (click on €œBoard of Studies€). Do not use the on-line application for this process. The Office of the Ombudsman can also assist students with advice about policies and procedures. You may contact the Ombudsman at ombuds@queensu.ca or by phone at 613-533-6495.
Aishane, I am sure this is a disappointing decision and I would like to suggest that you make an appointment with either myself or Haley Everson, Associate Director, Student Services (Advising, Appeals and Academic Consideration) to discuss this decision and your progression in your pursuit of your university degree.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20031287Ganeshwaran1
Cc: Diane Reid
Haley Everson
Generated May 13, 2019 at 8:33:30 AM.