Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 7791
Decision Date: June 14, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rodolfo Pena
Student Email: 17rxp@queensu.ca
Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Rodolfo Pena:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to grant your request. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University.
After reviewing the supporting documentation that you supplied, I have decided to deny your request to drop MATH 111 and MATH 121 (Fall/Winter 2017/2018) after the academic deadline. 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 their control. I realize that this is a disappointing decision however, the documentation that you provided indicates that your extenuating circumstances began in September of 2019 and so do not support your request from the 2017/2018 academic year. Upon your return to studies, I encourage you to register for QSAS so that you can work with an advisor to help you manage your academics along with your health-related challenges.
I am willing to drop ENGL 100 and PSYC 100 (Fall/Winter 2020/2021) after the academic deadline as these courses do fall within the timeline of your extenuating circumstances as indicated in your supporting documentation but I but need to warn you that the appeals process is normally designed to be used to manage an ongoing chronic condition. A future appeal for the same circumstances may not be as successful. Going forward, you should pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term and drop courses that you are behind in, or not achieving the grades you desire, by that week 8 drop date deadline. The drop deadlines, as they have been outlined in the €œImportant Dates€ section on the Arts and Science web page, have been established by the Faculty of Arts and Science to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of all students at Queen's.
Due to the nature of your previous difficulties, I have made the decision to place you on part-time status. Note that as a part-time student you will only be allowed a maximum of 18.0 units in the Fall-Winter session with no more than 9.0 units per term. In order to be eligible to progress from part-time to full-time studies, you must fulfill the following conditions:
1. Completed a minimum of 24.0 Queen's credit units, excluding repeated courses, from the time at which they were admitted part-time on a degree Program; and
2. Achieved a minimum Cumulative GPA of 1.90;
OR
1. Completed a minimum of 18.0 Queen's credit units, excluding repeated courses, from the time at which they were admitted part-time on a degree Program; and
2. Achieved a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.90.
It is my hope that the slower pace of part-time study will allow you sufficient time to remedy the personal and academic difficulties you have faced in the past and thereby enable you to be more successful in your future studies. See Admission Regulation 11.6 at: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-calendar for more information on the transition from part-time to full-time study.
As you continue in your course of study it is your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
€¢ Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
€¢ Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes
€¢ Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. Academic counselling is available through an advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office (main floor Dunning Hall, phone 613-533-2470) or through your Plan department.
€¢ Student Academic Success Services (SASS) https://sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library also provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
€¢ The Student Wellness Services Centre https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, offers personal and counselling free of charge to all Queen's students, as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
€¢ Going forward, you should be attentive to your progress and assess whether you are actively engaged and attending classes, completing your readings and assignments. If not, you should drop any courses in which you have fallen behind in by the drop date deadlines. Appeals for late drops are generally reserved for those who encounter extenuating circumstances after the drop date and a future appeal based on similar circumstances will most likely not be granted.
€¢ Familiarize yourself with the Academic Consideration options which you can review at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations for future reference.
Please also read carefully the document to follow. It contains important information concerning your current academic standing. If you have any questions about the information, please contact the Faculty Office to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
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 wish you success in your future studies.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: June 14, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Rodolfo Pena
Student Email: 17rxp@queensu.ca
Course: PSYC 100
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2020
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 111
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: MATH 121
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2018
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Rodolfo Pena:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you outlined in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your request to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to grant your request. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University.
After reviewing the supporting documentation that you supplied, I have decided to deny your request to drop MATH 111 and MATH 121 (Fall/Winter 2017/2018) after the academic deadline. 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 their control. I realize that this is a disappointing decision however, the documentation that you provided indicates that your extenuating circumstances began in September of 2019 and so do not support your request from the 2017/2018 academic year. Upon your return to studies, I encourage you to register for QSAS so that you can work with an advisor to help you manage your academics along with your health-related challenges.
I am willing to drop ENGL 100 and PSYC 100 (Fall/Winter 2020/2021) after the academic deadline as these courses do fall within the timeline of your extenuating circumstances as indicated in your supporting documentation but I but need to warn you that the appeals process is normally designed to be used to manage an ongoing chronic condition. A future appeal for the same circumstances may not be as successful. Going forward, you should pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term and drop courses that you are behind in, or not achieving the grades you desire, by that week 8 drop date deadline. The drop deadlines, as they have been outlined in the €œImportant Dates€ section on the Arts and Science web page, have been established by the Faculty of Arts and Science to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of all students at Queen's.
Due to the nature of your previous difficulties, I have made the decision to place you on part-time status. Note that as a part-time student you will only be allowed a maximum of 18.0 units in the Fall-Winter session with no more than 9.0 units per term. In order to be eligible to progress from part-time to full-time studies, you must fulfill the following conditions:
1. Completed a minimum of 24.0 Queen's credit units, excluding repeated courses, from the time at which they were admitted part-time on a degree Program; and
2. Achieved a minimum Cumulative GPA of 1.90;
OR
1. Completed a minimum of 18.0 Queen's credit units, excluding repeated courses, from the time at which they were admitted part-time on a degree Program; and
2. Achieved a minimum Cumulative GPA of 2.90.
It is my hope that the slower pace of part-time study will allow you sufficient time to remedy the personal and academic difficulties you have faced in the past and thereby enable you to be more successful in your future studies. See Admission Regulation 11.6 at: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-calendar for more information on the transition from part-time to full-time study.
As you continue in your course of study it is your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and maintain a GPA consistent with the requirements of your plan. These are some strategies that I strongly encourage you to consider:
€¢ Choose courses carefully. As you know, achieving a higher grade in a repeated course will improve your GPA. This course of action will help to ensure you will be in good academic standing and not at risk of being required to withdraw for three years.
€¢ Reflect on your program choice. Are you in the right plan for your interests and aptitudes
€¢ Seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance. Academic counselling is available through an advisor in the Faculty of Arts and Science Student Services Office (main floor Dunning Hall, phone 613-533-2470) or through your Plan department.
€¢ Student Academic Success Services (SASS) https://sass.queensu.ca/ in Stauffer Library also provides a range of services, including workshops designed to improve study skills and develop strategies for meeting the demands of academic life.
€¢ The Student Wellness Services Centre https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/ located in Mitchell Hall, offers personal and counselling free of charge to all Queen's students, as well as individual consultation to aid in coping with difficulties of a more personal nature.
€¢ Going forward, you should be attentive to your progress and assess whether you are actively engaged and attending classes, completing your readings and assignments. If not, you should drop any courses in which you have fallen behind in by the drop date deadlines. Appeals for late drops are generally reserved for those who encounter extenuating circumstances after the drop date and a future appeal based on similar circumstances will most likely not be granted.
€¢ Familiarize yourself with the Academic Consideration options which you can review at: https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/accommodations for future reference.
Please also read carefully the document to follow. It contains important information concerning your current academic standing. If you have any questions about the information, please contact the Faculty Office to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
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 wish you success in your future studies.
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated June 14, 2021 at 11:08:15 AM.