Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Appeal Number: 9093
Decision Date: June 8, 2022
Associate Dean: Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Student Name: Sara Jamal
Student Email: sara.jamal@queensu.ca

Course: ECON 212
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Course: MATH 126
Term: Fall/Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline

Dear Sara:

I was sorry to read of the challenges you explained in your letter of appeal and I have carefully considered your appeal to drop ECON 212 (F 2021) and MATH 126 (FW 2021/22). After reviewing your file I have decided the following:

1. To grant your appeal to drop MATH 126 (FW 2021/22). I recognize that the circumstances you outlined inhibited your academic success during the timeframe of this course and that the documentation you submitted with your Consideration Request support this timeframe.

2. To deny your request to drop ECON 212 (F 2021). 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. I do not see a basis for granting the late drop of ECON 212 since I do not see how the circumstances impacted your studies during that term and see no explanation as to why you could not have dropped this course by 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.

Another tool to manage your academics in addition to dropping a course by the drop deadline is our Academic Consideration protocol. A student can request short term consideration if they need more time to complete an assignment or 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

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).

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.

Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) or Rules of Procedure for USAB are Queen??s University Senate approved appeal policies. If an inconsistency arises between these policies and Arts & Science regulations, SAAP and USAB will supersede.

Sincerely,

Jenn Stephenson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Academic)