Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 7899
Decision Date: July 16, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sarah Currie
Student Email: 18sc2@queensu.ca
Dear Sarah Currie:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you reported in your letter of appeal and want to offer my condolences for the death of your family member. 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 deny your request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The 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.
The Academic Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student??s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond their control and debilitating to their overall academic performance. In addition, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional that confirm that the impact on a student??s academic progress. Let me remind you that your appeal request did not include documentation to confirm any of your extenuating circumstances nor the impacts that they have had on your academic performance during the period in question. While I acknowledge that you have made some academic improvements during the 2021 Winter term and that you are eager to return to classes, I see that you recently attempted a 2021 Summer term course but were not successful. I understand that this is a difficult decision however, I am unable to waive academic regulations in the absence of documentation. Furthermore, as a third-year student, when difficulties begin to affect your academic work, you are expected to use the academic supports that are available to you at Queen??s, including Academic Consideration, and to drop impacted classes before the drop deadline at the end of Week 8 of each term. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve future academic success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to 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.
If you encounter extenuating circumstances that inhibit your ability to complete course work, consider seeking Academic Consideration. More information is available 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 ??Board of Studies?). 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,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: July 16, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sarah Currie
Student Email: 18sc2@queensu.ca
Dear Sarah Currie:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you reported in your letter of appeal and want to offer my condolences for the death of your family member. 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 deny your request.
The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The 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.
The Academic Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student??s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond their control and debilitating to their overall academic performance. In addition, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional that confirm that the impact on a student??s academic progress. Let me remind you that your appeal request did not include documentation to confirm any of your extenuating circumstances nor the impacts that they have had on your academic performance during the period in question. While I acknowledge that you have made some academic improvements during the 2021 Winter term and that you are eager to return to classes, I see that you recently attempted a 2021 Summer term course but were not successful. I understand that this is a difficult decision however, I am unable to waive academic regulations in the absence of documentation. Furthermore, as a third-year student, when difficulties begin to affect your academic work, you are expected to use the academic supports that are available to you at Queen??s, including Academic Consideration, and to drop impacted classes before the drop deadline at the end of Week 8 of each term. My sincere hope is that you will take this opportunity to make some changes and access the supports you need to achieve future academic success.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when one year has lapsed. Upon your return, we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. It will be your responsibility to take steps for the successful completion of your program and to 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.
If you encounter extenuating circumstances that inhibit your ability to complete course work, consider seeking Academic Consideration. More information is available 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 ??Board of Studies?). 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,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated July 16, 2021 at 9:16:55 AM.