Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 7488
Decision Date: April 5, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Andrew Lee
Student Email: 18al32@queensu.ca

Course: ECON 243
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ECON 255
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: LAW 201
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: LAW 206
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Andrew Lee:

I received your letter of appeal requesting a late drop in ECON 243, ECON 255, LAW 201 and LAW 206 (W 2021) and I am sorry to have read of the extenuating circumstances you have reported. After reviewing your appeal letter, 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. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional which shows how they impacted your studies.

I am sure this is a disappointing decision, but your appeal does not provide me with sufficient information as to how your friend€™s circumstances impacted your studies, and it does not supply any relevant documentation. Your friend€™s diagnosis was prior to the drop date deadline which 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. Deciding to stay in courses as a distraction is not reason enough for me to alter your transcript.

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)


20137966Lee