Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 8099
Decision Date: September 16, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Adrien Mindjimba
Student Email: adrien.mindjimba4@gmail.com
Dear Adrien Mindjimba:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the 21-day or one term deadline. After reviewing your appeal, I must unfortunately deny your request.
As you know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar and were clearly outlined in the Requirement to Withdraw for Three Years letter you received. The requirement to appeal that ruling within 21 days is in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information for their appeal.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. In the past, we have been lenient with decisions to grant your appeals to waive the requirements to withdraw and have based those decision largely on compassionate grounds but I cannot, in good conscience, continue to grant appeals when there is not evidence of extenuating circumstances nor documentation provided. Additionally, you have not provided a realistic detailed academic plan as to what you would do differently going forward so you would not be required to withdraw for 3 years again.
Adrien, you report that raising your GPA to 1.6 (not 2.7 as you note as the required GPA in your letter of appeal) was unrealistic. However, to reach the 1.6 GPA threshold, you would have needed mostly B grades in your courses this year,so it was not impossible. It would have required close attention to your courses each term, which you would have had to carefully evaluate in Week 7 to decide whether to drop courses in which you were not achieving that level or close to it.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when three years has lapsed from the end of Summer term 2021. 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 Support Services (SASS) in the 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 located in Mitchell Hall offers personal 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)
20008577Mindjimba
Decision Date: September 16, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Adrien Mindjimba
Student Email: adrien.mindjimba4@gmail.com
Dear Adrien Mindjimba:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the 21-day or one term deadline. After reviewing your appeal, I must unfortunately deny your request.
As you know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar and were clearly outlined in the Requirement to Withdraw for Three Years letter you received. The requirement to appeal that ruling within 21 days is in place to ensure fair decision making and provide the student with an opportunity to collect relevant information for their appeal.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. In the past, we have been lenient with decisions to grant your appeals to waive the requirements to withdraw and have based those decision largely on compassionate grounds but I cannot, in good conscience, continue to grant appeals when there is not evidence of extenuating circumstances nor documentation provided. Additionally, you have not provided a realistic detailed academic plan as to what you would do differently going forward so you would not be required to withdraw for 3 years again.
Adrien, you report that raising your GPA to 1.6 (not 2.7 as you note as the required GPA in your letter of appeal) was unrealistic. However, to reach the 1.6 GPA threshold, you would have needed mostly B grades in your courses this year,so it was not impossible. It would have required close attention to your courses each term, which you would have had to carefully evaluate in Week 7 to decide whether to drop courses in which you were not achieving that level or close to it.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when three years has lapsed from the end of Summer term 2021. 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 Support Services (SASS) in the 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 located in Mitchell Hall offers personal 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)
20008577Mindjimba
Generated September 16, 2021 at 11:26:02 AM.