Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5960
Decision Date: July 17, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Kathleen Tawaststjerna
Student Email: 17kmt7@queensu.ca
Course: SPAN 111
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Kathleen Tawaststjerna:
I have read with interest your appeal to drop SPAN 111 (W 2019), taking note of the challenges you had with the roommate. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however complications with roommates is not considered an extenuating circumstance. You note in your letter of appeal that you began experiencing complications with your roommate in January. That was the indicator that you should have considered dropping the course if you were finding it difficult to focus. In the future, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a course by week 7 of the term and if you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the week 8 drop deadline. The drop deadline is set at Week 8 to allow students plenty of time to assess their progress in a class and withdraw without any academic penalty if they feel that they cannot keep up with the demands or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.
This is a difficult learning experience Kathleen but one that will be valuable as you proceed with the pursuit of your university degree. The long term impact of a failure or low grade should not weigh particularly heavy when, and if, you apply to a graduate program. Let me also remind you that if you repeat a course with a low grade, the higher grade will be included in your GPA going forward and the low grade will be excluded.
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) 20104241Tawaststjerna
Decision Date: July 17, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Kathleen Tawaststjerna
Student Email: 17kmt7@queensu.ca
Course: SPAN 111
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Kathleen Tawaststjerna:
I have read with interest your appeal to drop SPAN 111 (W 2019), taking note of the challenges you had with the roommate. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however complications with roommates is not considered an extenuating circumstance. You note in your letter of appeal that you began experiencing complications with your roommate in January. That was the indicator that you should have considered dropping the course if you were finding it difficult to focus. In the future, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a course by week 7 of the term and if you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the week 8 drop deadline. The drop deadline is set at Week 8 to allow students plenty of time to assess their progress in a class and withdraw without any academic penalty if they feel that they cannot keep up with the demands or have the academic background needed to successfully complete it.
This is a difficult learning experience Kathleen but one that will be valuable as you proceed with the pursuit of your university degree. The long term impact of a failure or low grade should not weigh particularly heavy when, and if, you apply to a graduate program. Let me also remind you that if you repeat a course with a low grade, the higher grade will be included in your GPA going forward and the low grade will be excluded.
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) 20104241Tawaststjerna
Generated July 17, 2019 at 10:41:58 AM.