Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6141
Decision Date: November 18, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Stephany English
Student Email: stephany.english@queensu.ca
Course: STAT 263
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: PSYC 235
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Stephany English:
I have read with interest your appeal to drop STAT 263 (W 2017) and PSYC 235 (FW 2016/17), taking note of the circumstances you outlined. 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 you have been unable to provide documentation which supports the circumstances you have outlined and I cannot therefore alter your transcript. In the future, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a course prior to the drop deadline date and if you have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the drop deadline. The drop deadline is set to allow students 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.
Stephany, for your information, if a student repeats a course, the lower grade will be excluded from the GPA and the higher grade will be included. This may be a good strategy for you to consider as you progress with your degree since it will help lead to a higher GPA.
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)
20036934English
Decision Date: November 18, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Stephany English
Student Email: stephany.english@queensu.ca
Course: STAT 263
Term: Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: PSYC 235
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2016
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Stephany English:
I have read with interest your appeal to drop STAT 263 (W 2017) and PSYC 235 (FW 2016/17), taking note of the circumstances you outlined. 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 you have been unable to provide documentation which supports the circumstances you have outlined and I cannot therefore alter your transcript. In the future, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in a course prior to the drop deadline date and if you have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the drop deadline. The drop deadline is set to allow students 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.
Stephany, for your information, if a student repeats a course, the lower grade will be excluded from the GPA and the higher grade will be included. This may be a good strategy for you to consider as you progress with your degree since it will help lead to a higher GPA.
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)
20036934English
Generated November 18, 2019 at 8:34:30 AM.