Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 6301
Decision Date: December 12, 2019
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Amelia Nicholas
Student Email: 15an51@queensu.ca

Course: PHIL 362
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Adele Mercier

Course: MATH 121
Term: Summer
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: MATH 120
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: MATH 221
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PHIL 330
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PHIL 250
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: STAT 269
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: MATH 281
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PHIL 329
Term: Winter
Year: 2019
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: STAT 268
Term: Fall
Year: 2018
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: Brad Rodgers

Course: COMM 221
Term: Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: COMM 211
Term: Fall
Year: 2017
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Amelia Nicholas:

I have carefully considered your appeal to drop MATH 121 (S 2017), COMM 211 (F 2017), MATH 120 (FW 2017/18), COMM 221 (W 2018), MATH 221, PHIL 330 (F 2018), PHIL 250 (FW 2018/19), MATH 281, PHIL 329 and STAT 269 (W 2019) after the drop date. You have also appealed for Credit standing in PHIL 361 (F 2017), PHIL 257 (FW 2017/18), PHIL 362, STAT 268 (F 2018). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your request to drop MATH 121 (S 2017) based the circumstances outlined.

2. To grant your request to drop COMM 211 (F 2017) and receive Credit standing in PHIL 361 (F 2017) based on your extenuating circumstances and how they feasibly continued to impact your studies during that term.

3. To deny your request to drop MATH 120 (FW 2017/18), COMM 221 (W 2018), MATH 221, PHIL 330 (F 2018), PHIL 250 (FW 2018/19), MATH 281, PHIL 329 and STAT 269 (W 2019) after the drop date as well as your request for Credit standing in PHIL 257 (FW 2017/18), PHIL 362, STAT 268 (F 2018). As you know, 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.€ Credit standing is only granted in cases where there are well documented and unforeseen extenuating circumstances outside of a student€™s control. The Regulations note that 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 extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control.

Amelia, I am sure this is a disappointing decision but the appeals process is designed to address circumstances that arise after the drop dates. The challenges you outline became evident to you prior to 2nd year. If your challenges were persisting, you could have dropped your courses in these various terms prior to the academic drop deadline dates as there are no specific circumstances outlined that would have prevented that. In addition, you had met with an Academic Advisor during Winter term 2018 who discussed the appeal process at that time as well as reminded you of the drop dates but you did not act on the advice provided at that time.

Let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the higher grade will be included with the GPA and the lower grade will be excluded. This may be a good strategy for you to consider as you select courses in the future.

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 University Ombudsperson for information about student rights and responsibilities as well as guidance on policy and procedure (www.queensu.ca/ombuds).

Going forward, I strongly suggest that you pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term. If you have fallen behind in your studies due to your health or other extenuating circumstances, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline date.

Best of luck with your courses this term

Sincerely,


Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)


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