Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 7635
Decision Date: June 7, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Alexxa Heras
Student Email: 18afh3@queensu.ca

Course: POLS 262
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: LAW 201
Term: Fall
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: COGS 100
Term: Summer
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CLST 150
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: CLST 103
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: POLS 250B
Term: Winter
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: PSYC 241
Term: Fall
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: POLS 261
Term: Fall
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: SOCY 200
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Dear Alexxa Heras:

I am sorry to have read about the challenges you faced during this past academic year and have carefully considered your appeal to drop COGS 100 (Summer 2020), LAW 201, POLS 261, PSYC 241 (Fall 2020), SOCY 200, CLST 103, CLST 150, POLS 262 (Winter 2021) and POLS 250 (FW 2020/2021) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file 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.

I certainly empathize with your situation, but the documentation that you supplied does not indicate the severity of your health issues nor the impact on your academic ability in the courses that you are appealing. I understand that this is a disappointing decision however, with the absence of documentation to verify the impact that your multiple surgeries had on these classes, I simply cannot grant your request at this time. If additional documentation is provided, I am happy to reconsider this decision.

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)