Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 7971
Decision Date: August 23, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Janice Lok
Student Email: 20jl192@queensu.ca

Course: ENGL100
Term: Summer
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: FRST 120
Term: Summer
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: WRIT 120
Term: Summer
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline


Dear Janice Lok:

I have carefully considered your appeal to drop ENGL 100, FRST 120, and WRIT 120 (S21) 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 their control.

I certainly empathize with your situation and understand that this is a disappointing decision however I want you to know that competing commitments, such as working a job while taking courses is not typically grounds for an appeal. An extenuating circumstance is defined as a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond a student??s control and debilitating to his or her academic performance. In general, an appeal would be successful when there are significantly extenuating circumstances, which would merit the waiving of an academic regulation.

This is a disappointing decision I am sure however I want to remind you that repeating courses is a recommended strategy if you are concerned about a lower grade impacting your grade point average. When repeating the exact same course, both grades remain on your transcript but only the higher one is included within your cumulative GPA.

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).

Sincerely,


Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)

20280347Lok (7971)