Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 5929
Decision Date: July 23, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Christopher Nam
Student Email: 14cwn@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 280
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: SPAN 111
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Monica Chamberlain
Course: STAT 351
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 281
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 225
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: STAT 269
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Christopher Nam:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year and drop MATH 280, STAT 351 (F 2018), MATH 281, MATH 225, STAT 269 (W 2019) as well as received Credit standing in SPAN 111 (F 2018). After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve that 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. In addition, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional that makes clear that the difficulties significantly impacted a student€™s academic progress. 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 am very sympathetic to your situation and I understand that there were challenges that you experienced which may have somewhat impacted your studies, I am ultimately not convinced that these circumstances should lead me to waive the requirement to withdraw. It is a student€™s responsibility to carefully assess their progress in their courses by week 8 of the term and if you felt that you were falling behind in your courses due to those challenges you should have dropped your course by the drop date deadline.
I realize that your hand injury took place after the drop date and you were referred to QSAS for assistance with making arrangements so you could receive extensions on assignments and exams or extra time to write your exams. According to your letter of appeal, you decided to write the exams with extra time which was certainly one of your options.
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 Your present plan is Mathematics but your academic record suggests that the math courses may not be your strength so it may be wise to attempt courses in a different area when you return.
€¢ 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.
€¢ Continue to work with your QSAS Advisor who can assist you with both your health and your academics.
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.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10185707Nam
Decision Date: July 23, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Christopher Nam
Student Email: 14cwn@queensu.ca
Course: MATH 280
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: SPAN 111
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Monica Chamberlain
Course: STAT 351
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 281
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 225
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: STAT 269
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Christopher Nam:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year and drop MATH 280, STAT 351 (F 2018), MATH 281, MATH 225, STAT 269 (W 2019) as well as received Credit standing in SPAN 111 (F 2018). After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve that 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. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. In addition, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional that makes clear that the difficulties significantly impacted a student€™s academic progress. 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 am very sympathetic to your situation and I understand that there were challenges that you experienced which may have somewhat impacted your studies, I am ultimately not convinced that these circumstances should lead me to waive the requirement to withdraw. It is a student€™s responsibility to carefully assess their progress in their courses by week 8 of the term and if you felt that you were falling behind in your courses due to those challenges you should have dropped your course by the drop date deadline.
I realize that your hand injury took place after the drop date and you were referred to QSAS for assistance with making arrangements so you could receive extensions on assignments and exams or extra time to write your exams. According to your letter of appeal, you decided to write the exams with extra time which was certainly one of your options.
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 Your present plan is Mathematics but your academic record suggests that the math courses may not be your strength so it may be wise to attempt courses in a different area when you return.
€¢ 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.
€¢ Continue to work with your QSAS Advisor who can assist you with both your health and your academics.
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.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10185707Nam
Generated July 23, 2019 at 11:53:40 AM.