Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 8055
Decision Date: October 4, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Michelle Pakulski
Student Email: 15mfp4@queensu.ca
Dear Michelle Paskulski:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you explained in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop the following courses:
Fall 2017
PSYC 271
CISC 121
Fall 2018
CISC 121
Winter 2019
CISC 101
CISC 121
Fall 2019
FREN 107
CISC 235
PSYC 370
CISC 124
CISC 204
Fall 2020
PSYC 473
PHIL 343
LLCU 354
BMED 270
Winter 2021
BMED 270
PSYC 320
After reviewing your file I have decided the following:
1. To grant your appeal to drop PSYC 271 and CISC 121 (F 2017). I recognize that the circumstances you outlined inhibited your academic success during that term and would be difficult to document.
2. To deny your request to drop CISC 121 (F 2018) because there is no documentation submitted to support the circumstances that led you to not perform well in the make-up exam you completed.
3. To deny your request to drop CISC 101 and CISC 121 (W 2019). I am sure losing your family member was difficult, but the obituary indicates that your grandfather passed away on November 24th which was not during the Winter term, and you made the decision to write the Winter term 2019 exams.
4. To grant your request to drop PSYC 370, FREN 107, CISC 235, CISC 204, CISC 124 (F 2019) past the drop deadline based on the documentation submitted related to the circumstances during Fall term 2019.
5. To deny your request to drop PSYC 473, PHIL 343, LLCU 354, BMED 270 (F 2020) as there is no documentation submitted to support the circumstances that you have outlined.
6. To deny your request to drop PSYC 320, BMED 270 (W 2021). You have been unable provide documentation related to the migraines you report and you chose to write the exams in these courses rather than request a deferral therefore they are considered valid exams.
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 his or her control. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance which occurred after the drop date deadline.
Going forward I suggest you pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term. If you have fallen behind in your studies due to your health or other extenuating circumstances, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline. I also suggest you continue to utilize our Academic Consideration process and work with your health care team.
Note that any change in academic registration may impact government or private-firm student financial assistance eligibility and/or funding. Please consult with the Student Awards Office, Office of the University Registrar, Gordon Hall, to understand the potential implications of changes to course or program registration and/or the consequences of not successfully completing the required course load.
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 continued success in your degree progression.
Sincerely,
Jill Atkinson Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20021540Pakulski
Decision Date: October 4, 2021
Associate Dean: Jill Atkinson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Michelle Pakulski
Student Email: 15mfp4@queensu.ca
Dear Michelle Paskulski:
I was sorry to read of the challenges you explained in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop the following courses:
Fall 2017
PSYC 271
CISC 121
Fall 2018
CISC 121
Winter 2019
CISC 101
CISC 121
Fall 2019
FREN 107
CISC 235
PSYC 370
CISC 124
CISC 204
Fall 2020
PSYC 473
PHIL 343
LLCU 354
BMED 270
Winter 2021
BMED 270
PSYC 320
After reviewing your file I have decided the following:
1. To grant your appeal to drop PSYC 271 and CISC 121 (F 2017). I recognize that the circumstances you outlined inhibited your academic success during that term and would be difficult to document.
2. To deny your request to drop CISC 121 (F 2018) because there is no documentation submitted to support the circumstances that led you to not perform well in the make-up exam you completed.
3. To deny your request to drop CISC 101 and CISC 121 (W 2019). I am sure losing your family member was difficult, but the obituary indicates that your grandfather passed away on November 24th which was not during the Winter term, and you made the decision to write the Winter term 2019 exams.
4. To grant your request to drop PSYC 370, FREN 107, CISC 235, CISC 204, CISC 124 (F 2019) past the drop deadline based on the documentation submitted related to the circumstances during Fall term 2019.
5. To deny your request to drop PSYC 473, PHIL 343, LLCU 354, BMED 270 (F 2020) as there is no documentation submitted to support the circumstances that you have outlined.
6. To deny your request to drop PSYC 320, BMED 270 (W 2021). You have been unable provide documentation related to the migraines you report and you chose to write the exams in these courses rather than request a deferral therefore they are considered valid exams.
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 his or her control. Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance which occurred after the drop date deadline.
Going forward I suggest you pause and evaluate your progress in your courses during week 7 of term. If you have fallen behind in your studies due to your health or other extenuating circumstances, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline. I also suggest you continue to utilize our Academic Consideration process and work with your health care team.
Note that any change in academic registration may impact government or private-firm student financial assistance eligibility and/or funding. Please consult with the Student Awards Office, Office of the University Registrar, Gordon Hall, to understand the potential implications of changes to course or program registration and/or the consequences of not successfully completing the required course load.
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 continued success in your degree progression.
Sincerely,
Jill Atkinson Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20021540Pakulski
Generated October 4, 2021 at 2:22:38 PM.