Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 7732
Decision Date: June 7, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Hisham Yusuf
Student Email: 16hayy@queensu.ca

Course: POLS 467
Term: Fall
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: POLS 385
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: POLS 405
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: ECON 112
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: HIST 252
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: POLS 461
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Hisham Yusaf:

I was sorry to read of the challenges you faced last year and understand that these were difficult circumstances to deal with. I have carefully considered your appeal to drop POLS 467 (F 2020) and POLS 385, POLS 405, ECON 112, HIST 252 and POLS 461 (W 2021). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your appeal to drop POLS 467 (F 2020). I recognize that the circumstances that you outlined inhibited your academic success during the Fall term 2020.

2. To deny your request to drop POLS 385, POLS 405, ECON 112, HIST 252 and POLS 461 (W 2021). 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 which occurred after the drop date deadline. Since the health-related challenges began in October 2020, you had time to evaluate the impact your challenges were having on your winter term courses and could have dropped these courses by the drop date deadline.

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).

I encourage you to continue to work with your QSAS Advisor who can help you manage both your health and your academics which would include pausing to 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.

Hisham, I do see in your letter of appeal that you plan to repeat your courses, which will then exclude the lower grade from your GPA and the higher grade will be included.

Note that any change in academic registration may impact government or private-firm student financial assistance eligibility and/or funding. Please consult with the Student Awards Office, Office of the University Registrar, Gordon Hall, to understand the potential implications of changes to course or program registration and/or the consequences of not successfully completing the required course load.

Best of luck in your degree progression.

Sincerely,


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

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