Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 8922
Decision Date: April 13, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ciara Cafazzo
Student Email: 19ccc4@queensu.ca
Course: STAT 263
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ciara:
I have read with interest your appeal to drop STAT 263 (W 2022), taking note of the challenges you outlined. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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 circumstances and 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, often taking place after the drop deadline.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however the circumstances you have outlined are not extenuating in nature and I cannot in good conscience, amend your transcript based on the challenges you outlined. Going forward, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in courses by week 7 of the term and if you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline.
Another tool to manage your academics in addition to dropping a course by the drop date deadline is our Academic Consideration protocol. A student can request short term consideration if they need more time to complete an assignment or had to miss a class due to documented extenuating circumstances. Here is the link for information about that process:
https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/academic-consideration-for-students
Ciara, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from their GPA and the higher grade is included. Please note you must repeat the exact same course for that to be enacted. I encourage you to consider taking advantage of the services available at Student Academic Success Services (SASS) if you feel the support available in that office would also be helpful.
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).
Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) or Rules of Procedure for USAB are Queen??s university Senate approved appeal policies. In the event that an inconsistency arises between these policies and Arts & Science regulations, SAAP and USAB will supersede.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20213878Cafazzo
Decision Date: April 13, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Ciara Cafazzo
Student Email: 19ccc4@queensu.ca
Course: STAT 263
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Ciara:
I have read with interest your appeal to drop STAT 263 (W 2022), taking note of the challenges you outlined. After reviewing your appeal fully, 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 circumstances and 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, often taking place after the drop deadline.
I am certainly sympathetic to your situation and realize that this is a disappointing decision, however the circumstances you have outlined are not extenuating in nature and I cannot in good conscience, amend your transcript based on the challenges you outlined. Going forward, I encourage you to carefully evaluate your progress in courses by week 7 of the term and if you are finding the material too difficult or have not kept up with the course work, you should drop courses by the week 8 drop deadline.
Another tool to manage your academics in addition to dropping a course by the drop date deadline is our Academic Consideration protocol. A student can request short term consideration if they need more time to complete an assignment or had to miss a class due to documented extenuating circumstances. Here is the link for information about that process:
https://www.queensu.ca/artsci/undergrad-students/academic-consideration-for-students
Ciara, let me remind you that if a student repeats a course, the lower grade is excluded from their GPA and the higher grade is included. Please note you must repeat the exact same course for that to be enacted. I encourage you to consider taking advantage of the services available at Student Academic Success Services (SASS) if you feel the support available in that office would also be helpful.
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).
Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) or Rules of Procedure for USAB are Queen??s university Senate approved appeal policies. In the event that an inconsistency arises between these policies and Arts & Science regulations, SAAP and USAB will supersede.
Sincerely,
Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)
20213878Cafazzo
Generated April 13, 2022 at 11:17:02 AM.