Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 9264
Decision Date: August 25, 2022
Associate Dean: 0
Student Name: Akriti Shrivastava
Student Email: 18as62@queensu.ca
Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BIOL 343
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BCHM 218
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Akriti,
On Friday, 19 August, the Board of Studies reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson??s decision to deny your request to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year and to drop CHEM 281 (Fall 2021), BIOL 343 (Fall 2021), and BCHM 218 (Winter 2022) after the deadline. Board members present that day were Scott-Morgan Straker (Chair), Brooke Cameron (Faculty member), James Mingo (Faculty member) and Emma Farrell (Student representative). You attended a portion of the meeting, along with the Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson. Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present. After you and Dr Stephenson left the meeting, the Board carefully considered the information from the oral statements along with the written submissions contained in your file. The Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean??s decision to deny your appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year and to drop the three courses listed above.
The Board recognizes the difficult struggles you have faced since beginning your studies, and applauds the steps you have already taken to make positive changes; nevertheless, we wish to emphasize two points made by the Associate Dean in her decision. First, the requirement to withdraw is not a punishment, but is instead an opportunity for you to continue on your path to healing, so that when you return to your studies you can do your best work. Second, there is a limit to the number of units you may attempt in your degree. The Board notes the Associate Dean??s concern that the more unsuccessful terms you have, the sooner you will reach the point at which it is mathematically impossible to raise your GPA sufficiently to graduate. In view of these considerations, the Board finds the Associate Dean??s denial of your appeal to be reasonable. As to the late course drops, in the absence of documentation explaining why you were unable to drop these three courses by the deadline, the Board upholds the Associate Dean??s decision in this matter as well.
We understand that this result comes as a disappointment. We hope that you see it not as a punishment nor as an expression of a lack of confidence in you, but rather as an investment of time so that when you return to your studies, your health will be in a better state and will be able to thrive academically.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
On behalf of the Board of Studies, I hope that you continue to make progress on your health and wellbeing, and I wish you every success as you pursue your educational and personal goals.
Sincerely,
Scott-Morgan Straker
Chair, Board of Studies
Decision Date: August 25, 2022
Associate Dean: 0
Student Name: Akriti Shrivastava
Student Email: 18as62@queensu.ca
Course: CHEM 281
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BIOL 343
Term: Fall
Year: 2021
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Course: BCHM 218
Term: Winter
Year: 2022
Category: Drop a course after the academic deadline
Dear Akriti,
On Friday, 19 August, the Board of Studies reviewed your appeal of Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson??s decision to deny your request to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year and to drop CHEM 281 (Fall 2021), BIOL 343 (Fall 2021), and BCHM 218 (Winter 2022) after the deadline. Board members present that day were Scott-Morgan Straker (Chair), Brooke Cameron (Faculty member), James Mingo (Faculty member) and Emma Farrell (Student representative). You attended a portion of the meeting, along with the Associate Dean (Academic) Jenn Stephenson. Pamela Briand (Arts and Science resource staff) was also present. After you and Dr Stephenson left the meeting, the Board carefully considered the information from the oral statements along with the written submissions contained in your file. The Board voted to uphold the Associate Dean??s decision to deny your appeal to waive the requirement to withdraw for one year and to drop the three courses listed above.
The Board recognizes the difficult struggles you have faced since beginning your studies, and applauds the steps you have already taken to make positive changes; nevertheless, we wish to emphasize two points made by the Associate Dean in her decision. First, the requirement to withdraw is not a punishment, but is instead an opportunity for you to continue on your path to healing, so that when you return to your studies you can do your best work. Second, there is a limit to the number of units you may attempt in your degree. The Board notes the Associate Dean??s concern that the more unsuccessful terms you have, the sooner you will reach the point at which it is mathematically impossible to raise your GPA sufficiently to graduate. In view of these considerations, the Board finds the Associate Dean??s denial of your appeal to be reasonable. As to the late course drops, in the absence of documentation explaining why you were unable to drop these three courses by the deadline, the Board upholds the Associate Dean??s decision in this matter as well.
We understand that this result comes as a disappointment. We hope that you see it not as a punishment nor as an expression of a lack of confidence in you, but rather as an investment of time so that when you return to your studies, your health will be in a better state and will be able to thrive academically.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may appeal to the University Student Appeal Board (USAB). Grounds for appeal are listed in Section E of the Student Academic Appeals Policy (SAAP) at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-academic-appeals-policy and the Rules of Procedure for University Student Appeal Board (USAB) can be found at https://www.queensu.ca/secretariat/policies/senate/student-appeals-rights-discipline-policy/rules-procedure-usab. Appeals to USAB must be submitted within two weeks of this decision. For additional information on USAB, please visit https://www.queensu.ca/ombuds/appeal-process/university-student-appeal-board.
On behalf of the Board of Studies, I hope that you continue to make progress on your health and wellbeing, and I wish you every success as you pursue your educational and personal goals.
Sincerely,
Scott-Morgan Straker
Chair, Board of Studies
Generated August 25, 2022 at 11:14:18 AM.