Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 7898
Decision Date: June 28, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Nimet Gato
Student Email: 16ng32@queensu.ca
Dear Nimet Gato:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for Three Years. I have also considered your request to drop BCHM 218 (F20), DEVS 100 (FW 2020/2021) and ENIN 301 (W21) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1) To grant your request to drop DEVS 100 (FW 2020/2021) and ENIN 301 (W21) as the impacts of your extenuating circumstances are supported withing the documentation that you supplied within your appeal request.
2) To deny your request to drop BCHM 218 (F20). 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 acknowledge that you have been experiencing mental health struggles as well as difficulties related to your living situation over the past few terms however, the documentation that you provided indicates that the impact of your circumstances on your academics began in February of 2021 and do not support granting late drops courses from the 2020 Fall term.
3) To deny your request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw. However, I am willing to amend that ruling and require you to withdraw for one year instead of three. While I understand that you experienced multiple extenuating circumstances that impacted your studies during the Winter 2021 term, I am ultimately not convinced that these circumstances should lead me to waive the requirement to withdraw fully. Your file demonstrates that you have been experiencing mental health related issues for some time and if they were impacting your ability to succeed in your classes, it was your responsibility to drop courses by the drop date. I am very sympathetic to your situation and acknowledge that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return to classes is warranted at this time. This type of ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. It seems to me that to invoke the three year withdrawal would have indeed seemed punitive and it is my sincere hope that when you resume your studies after one year, the challenges you have outlined will be resolved.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be 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.
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).
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: June 28, 2021
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Nimet Gato
Student Email: 16ng32@queensu.ca
Dear Nimet Gato:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for Three Years. I have also considered your request to drop BCHM 218 (F20), DEVS 100 (FW 2020/2021) and ENIN 301 (W21) past the academic deadline. After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1) To grant your request to drop DEVS 100 (FW 2020/2021) and ENIN 301 (W21) as the impacts of your extenuating circumstances are supported withing the documentation that you supplied within your appeal request.
2) To deny your request to drop BCHM 218 (F20). 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 acknowledge that you have been experiencing mental health struggles as well as difficulties related to your living situation over the past few terms however, the documentation that you provided indicates that the impact of your circumstances on your academics began in February of 2021 and do not support granting late drops courses from the 2020 Fall term.
3) To deny your request to Waive the Requirement to Withdraw. However, I am willing to amend that ruling and require you to withdraw for one year instead of three. While I understand that you experienced multiple extenuating circumstances that impacted your studies during the Winter 2021 term, I am ultimately not convinced that these circumstances should lead me to waive the requirement to withdraw fully. Your file demonstrates that you have been experiencing mental health related issues for some time and if they were impacting your ability to succeed in your classes, it was your responsibility to drop courses by the drop date. I am very sympathetic to your situation and acknowledge that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return to classes is warranted at this time. This type of ruling is not intended to be punitive, rather it is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success. It seems to me that to invoke the three year withdrawal would have indeed seemed punitive and it is my sincere hope that when you resume your studies after one year, the challenges you have outlined will be resolved.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be 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.
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).
Yours sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated June 28, 2021 at 11:01:13 AM.