Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5556
Decision Date: July 3, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Mitchell Blasko
Student Email: 18mcb8@queensu.ca
Course: PHIL 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Jon Miller
Course: SOCY 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Sachil Singh
Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Mitchell Blasko:
I am sorry to have read in your letter of appeal the challenges you faced during the Fall term 2018 and have carefully considered your appeal to drop SOCY 121 and PSYC 100 (FW 2018/19) past the academic deadline and receive Credit Standing in PHIL 111 (FW 2018/19). After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request and therefore your Requirement to withdraw for one year will be upheld.
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.
In addition, Academic Regulation 10.3.2. states that, Credit standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed all of the work in the course including the final examination, and achieved a passing grade in the course, 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.€
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however your appeal outlines an injury which took place prior to your arrival at Queen€™s and then a surgery and recovery period during Fall term. Your medical documentation notes that the onset of your health condition was July 2018 and recovery was for a period of 4 -6 weeks which was well before the March 1st drop date. If you were falling behind in your course work due to that circumstance, it was your responsibility to drop courses by that date. I am therefore ultimately not convinced that these circumstances should lead me to drop these courses late, receive Credit standing, or waive the requirement to withdraw.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. 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 take steps for the successful completion of your program and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
€¢ Choose courses carefully. Achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
€¢ Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes
€¢ Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. Academic counselling is available through an advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office (main floor Dunning Hall, phone 613-533-2470) or through your plan department.
€¢ The Learning Commons in Stauffer Library also provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
€¢ The Student Wellness Services Centre located in Mitchell Hall offers personal and academic counselling free of charge to all Queen's students, as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
€¢ If you encounter extenuating circumstances that inhibit your ability to complete course work, consider seeking Academic Consideration. More information is available at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations
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. You may contact the Office of the Ombudsman (www.queensu.ca/ombudsman) for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20140581Blasko
Decision Date: July 3, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Mitchell Blasko
Student Email: 18mcb8@queensu.ca
Course: PHIL 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Jon Miller
Course: SOCY 122
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Instructor: Sachil Singh
Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Mitchell Blasko:
I am sorry to have read in your letter of appeal the challenges you faced during the Fall term 2018 and have carefully considered your appeal to drop SOCY 121 and PSYC 100 (FW 2018/19) past the academic deadline and receive Credit Standing in PHIL 111 (FW 2018/19). After reviewing your file I have decided to deny your request and therefore your Requirement to withdraw for one year will be upheld.
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.
In addition, Academic Regulation 10.3.2. states that, Credit standing in a course is reserved for situations in which a student, who has completed all of the work in the course including the final examination, and achieved a passing grade in the course, 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.€
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however your appeal outlines an injury which took place prior to your arrival at Queen€™s and then a surgery and recovery period during Fall term. Your medical documentation notes that the onset of your health condition was July 2018 and recovery was for a period of 4 -6 weeks which was well before the March 1st drop date. If you were falling behind in your course work due to that circumstance, it was your responsibility to drop courses by that date. I am therefore ultimately not convinced that these circumstances should lead me to drop these courses late, receive Credit standing, or waive the requirement to withdraw.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. 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 take steps for the successful completion of your program and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
€¢ Choose courses carefully. Achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
€¢ Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes
€¢ Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. Academic counselling is available through an advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office (main floor Dunning Hall, phone 613-533-2470) or through your plan department.
€¢ The Learning Commons in Stauffer Library also provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
€¢ The Student Wellness Services Centre located in Mitchell Hall offers personal and academic counselling free of charge to all Queen's students, as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
€¢ If you encounter extenuating circumstances that inhibit your ability to complete course work, consider seeking Academic Consideration. More information is available at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations
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. You may contact the Office of the Ombudsman (www.queensu.ca/ombudsman) for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
20140581Blasko
Generated July 3, 2019 at 10:54:51 AM.