Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 6924
Decision Date: October 5, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Treno Morton
Student Email: 16tm7@queensu.ca
Course: GPHY 332
Term: Winter
Year: 2020
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: David Gordon
Dear Treno Morton:
I am sorry to have read that a family member passed away during Fall term 2019 and I am sorry for your loss. I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in GPHY 332 (W 2020) due to the impact that circumstance had on this course. After reviewing your appeal letter and your documentation, I have decided to deny your request.
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 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.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however, there is no relevant documentation submitted which confirms the impact your circumstances had on your studies and this course in particular during the Winter term. Since this difficult circumstance took place during the Fall term, you had plenty of time to drop the course if your grade was impacted by this circumstance. In addition, due to COVID19, students were given up until June to drop a course or request a P grade and you have been unable to provide documentation outlining circumstances that caused you to miss the extended deadlines and remedies offered to students due to the pandemic.
Going forward, I suggest that you inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in the Important Dates section on the Arts and Science web page and assess your progress in your courses or discuss your options with an Academic Advisor during week 7 or 8 of the term. If you find that you have fallen behind in your attendance, readings or assignments, it is your responsibility to drop by the end of week 8.
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).
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20026851Morton2
Decision Date: October 5, 2020
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Treno Morton
Student Email: 16tm7@queensu.ca
Course: GPHY 332
Term: Winter
Year: 2020
Category: Request credit (CR) standing in a course or courses
Instructor: David Gordon
Dear Treno Morton:
I am sorry to have read that a family member passed away during Fall term 2019 and I am sorry for your loss. I understand that you are seeking Credit standing in GPHY 332 (W 2020) due to the impact that circumstance had on this course. After reviewing your appeal letter and your documentation, I have decided to deny your request.
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 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.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however, there is no relevant documentation submitted which confirms the impact your circumstances had on your studies and this course in particular during the Winter term. Since this difficult circumstance took place during the Fall term, you had plenty of time to drop the course if your grade was impacted by this circumstance. In addition, due to COVID19, students were given up until June to drop a course or request a P grade and you have been unable to provide documentation outlining circumstances that caused you to miss the extended deadlines and remedies offered to students due to the pandemic.
Going forward, I suggest that you inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in the Important Dates section on the Arts and Science web page and assess your progress in your courses or discuss your options with an Academic Advisor during week 7 or 8 of the term. If you find that you have fallen behind in your attendance, readings or assignments, it is your responsibility to drop by the end of week 8.
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).
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20026851Morton2
Generated October 5, 2020 at 8:27:22 AM.