Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 7895
Decision Date: July 16, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Hannah Veysey
Student Email: 19hwv@queensu.ca
Dear Hannah Veysey:
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 as well as your request to drop HIST 108 (Fall 2020) and ECON 110 (FW 2020/2021). After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1. To grant your request to waive the ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University. I have granted this request due to your strong academic plan and I strongly suggest that you remain connected with your health-care providers throughout the upcoming academic year so that you can better manage your academics along with your health-related challenges.
2. To deny your request to drop HIST 108 (Fall 2020) and ECON 110 (FW 2020/2021) 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. While I acknowledge that you experienced a difficult year at university, the documentation that you supplied appears to be based on self-reports and therefore do not adequately confirm the severity of your circumstances or how these specific classes were impacted. It is also not clear from your appeal letter as to why you didn??t request Academic Consideration or reduce your course load further when your issues worsened during the 2021 Winter term. Going forward, it is my hope that you make every effort to inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in the Important Dates section on the Arts and Science web page and ensure that impacted courses are dropped on SOLUS successfully before the posted drop deadline.
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.
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 ??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).
I wish you success in your future studies.
Yours sincerely,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Decision Date: July 16, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Hannah Veysey
Student Email: 19hwv@queensu.ca
Dear Hannah Veysey:
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 as well as your request to drop HIST 108 (Fall 2020) and ECON 110 (FW 2020/2021). After reviewing your file, I have decided the following:
1. To grant your request to waive the ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. You may now resume your studies at Queen's University. I have granted this request due to your strong academic plan and I strongly suggest that you remain connected with your health-care providers throughout the upcoming academic year so that you can better manage your academics along with your health-related challenges.
2. To deny your request to drop HIST 108 (Fall 2020) and ECON 110 (FW 2020/2021) 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. While I acknowledge that you experienced a difficult year at university, the documentation that you supplied appears to be based on self-reports and therefore do not adequately confirm the severity of your circumstances or how these specific classes were impacted. It is also not clear from your appeal letter as to why you didn??t request Academic Consideration or reduce your course load further when your issues worsened during the 2021 Winter term. Going forward, it is my hope that you make every effort to inform yourself of the academic regulations concerning deadlines as they are outlined in the Important Dates section on the Arts and Science web page and ensure that impacted courses are dropped on SOLUS successfully before the posted drop deadline.
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.
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 ??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).
I wish you success in your future studies.
Yours sincerely,
Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
Generated July 16, 2021 at 4:26:30 PM.