Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 7489
Decision Date: May 3, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Christine Mao
Student Email: 16cm1@queensu.ca

Course: DEVS352
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: DEVS300
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: DEVS306
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Christine Mao:

I have read with interest your appeal to drop DEVS 352, DEVS 300 and DEVS 306 (W 2021), taking note of the challenges 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, we have made repeated requests for documentation which you have not provided. Without documentation to support the circumstances you have described, I am unable to grant this appeal. In the future, I encourage you to carefully adhere to my previous advice and to evaluate your progress in a course by week 7 of the term. If you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop the course by the week 8 drop deadline. The drop deadline 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.

Christine, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from their GPA and the higher grade is included. I encourage you to work with Student Academic Success Services (SASS) and to continue your work with Student Wellness Services. You may also want to consider registering with QSAS if ongoing supports are required. A QSAS Advisor may be able to help with both your health and academics, and support you as you attempt to manage your circumstances.

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)

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